Sermons preached

Secondly, The Manner how this is to be done, it must be set forth with all Evidence and Conviction, as to the Reason of Men, with all Earnestness and Affectionate Importunity to awaken their Affections. In short,

1. So as will become the belief of these things. We must not speak of them as a thing spoken in jest, and by rote, but as firmly persuaded of the truth of things, as if Heaven and Hell were before our Eyes, and as evident to Sense, Heb. 11. 1. We look upon these things naturally as at a distance, and so have but a cold apprehension of them; but we should by Faith see them as near at hand. As you would pull a Man out of the Fire, Jude 23. or as falling into a deep Pit or bottomless Gulf, as one in the greatest earnest. Belief puts a Life into Truths, which otherwise are but dead and weak in their Operation; I believed, and therefore did I speak: as if we had a deep sense of these things upon our own Hearts.

1. So as will become the belief of these things. We must not speak of them as a thing spoken in jest, and by rote, but as firmly perswaded of the truth of things, as if Heaven and Hell were before our Eyes, and as evident to Sense, Heb. 11. 1. We look upon these things naturally as at a distance, and so have but a cold apprehension of them; but we should by Faith see them as near at hand. As you would pull a Man out of the Fire, Iude 23. or as falling into a deep Pit or bottomless Gulph, as one in the greatest earnest. Belief puts a Life into Truths, which otherwise are but dead and weak in their Operation; I believed, and therefore did I speak: as if we had a deep sense of these things upon our own Hearts.