We think it great pity, that he lived to preach but two Sermons in the world! That same poor ignorant dull Congregation, had not been instructed and awakened by his Doctrine; and his spiritual fervour had not by dispersed writings, inflamed the souls of thousands with the same Heavenly Love and Zeal. But who knoweth yet but that this one Narrative of his Holy exemplary Life and Death, may do as much as more numerous or Voluminous writings? The many Volumes of holy Lives, of ancient Doctors, Martyrs, and later Divines, Philosophers and others in Germany, England and other Lands, have done much good, and are still very useful, and a pleasant and profitable recreation, (O how much better than play-Books and Romances)? But ⟨image 4⟩experience tells us, that God still poureth forth as large measures of his spirit, as heretofore he did. If holy Augustine's life, after so much pollution, and holy Hieroms life, qui fatetur se non fuisse virginem, were so laudable and exemplary; O how much praise do I owe to God, for his grace upon his Servants, who am yet acquainted with so great a number of holy laborious faithful ministers, who I have great reason to believe, not only to have all their lives been free from all gross heinous sins, but also to have laid out their zeal, their time, their labours, so sincerely and self-denyingly for God, and the good of souls, as that I cannot but hope that, if those who are against their Preaching of the Gospel, were but as well acquainted with them as I am, they would be their friend and forward to promote their work.
We think it great pity, that he lived to preach but two Sermons in the world! That same poor ignorant dull Congregation, had not been instructed and awakened by his Doctrine; and his spiritual servour had not by dispersed writings, enflamed the souls of thousands with the same Heavenly Love and Zeal. But who knoweth yet but that this one Narrative of his Holy exemplary Life and Death, may do as much as more numerous or Voluminous writings? The many Volumes of holy Lives, of antient Docters, Martyrs, and later Divines, Philosophers and others in Germany, England and other Lands, have done much good, and are still very useful, and a pleasant and profittable recreation, (O how much better than play-Books and Romances)? But ⟨image 4⟩experience tells us, that God still poureth forth as large measures of his spirit, as heretofore he did. If holy Augustines life, after so much pollution, and holy Hieroms life, qui fatetur se non fuisse virginem, were so laudible and examplary; O how much praise do I owe to God, for his grace upon his Servants, who am yet acquainted with so great a number of holy laborious faithful ministers, who I have great reason to believe, not only to have all their lives been free from all gross heynous sins, but also to have laid out their zeal, their time, their labours, so sincerely and self-denyingly for God, and the good of souls, as that I cannot but hope that, if those who are against their Preaching of the Gospel, were but as well acquainted with them as I am, they would be their friend and forward to promote their work.
