Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

First, Their preaching must not be a general discourse, ¹but a particular. And this is gathered from the text thus, because general discourses fit not, neither heal nor nourish, but are like lightnings that break the air, but light upon no particular subject; if they do it is seldom; so these general discourses make great shows, but men are not inflamed with them. As if a Minister should find faith in a text, and discourse of it, but never apply it, Ministers are fullones animarum the fullers of the souls, and it is not enough for them to bring soap, though it be of the best, but they must apply it to scour the blots out of mens hearts and consciences.

First, Their preaching must not be a general discourse, ¹but a particular. And this is gathered from the text thus, because general discourses fit not, neither heal nor nourish, but are like lightnings that break the air, but light upon no particular subject; if they do it is seldom; so these general discourses make great shewes, but men are not inflamed with them. As if a Minister should find faith in a text, and discourse of it, but never apply it, Ministers are fullones animarum the fullers of the soules, and it is not enough for them to bring soap, though it be of the best, but they must apply it to scour the blots out of mens hearts and consciences.

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They are builders, therefore it is not enough to square the stones, and bring profitable matter, but application makes the building go forward, and that is the laying of one stone upon another, yea it is that wherein practising consists, interpretation and application, to expound and apply; what else did Paul mean, when he bad Timothy ¹to divide the word, to wit, not to deliver it in gross, but tell them in particular, such a thing serves to cut down such a sin: for when the word is applied it is a searching plaster. First to draw out corruption and then to heal. I appeal to every mans breast, if the word be not more effectual when it is applied, for then men fall down and say that God is in them of a truth, viz. you speak in the evidence of the spirit,