The wells of salvation opened, or, Words whereby we may be saved

1. Ministers should labour to speak so as to convince the Judgement of the truth which they preach. They must not only assert Truths, but prove them; they must hold forth the Word of ⟨p. 73⟩Faith with a clear evidencing light, and hold fast the Word in a strenuous defence of it against opposers, and with sound doctrine they must not only exhort but also convince gainsayers, Tit. 1.9. Ministers should make manifest the words of salvation which they preach, that they are the words of the God of truth, with whom dwells no error or falsehood: They should prove by undeniable Arguments that the Scriptures are of Divine Authority, and therefore as full of truth as the Sun is full of light; and then they should prove the doctrine which they preach by the Word, and that with such reason for the belief of it, that no reason may be left to contradict it. Ministers should be shining lights in the places where they live, dispersing abroad the bright beams of Gospel-truths with such power and conviction, as may be sufficient through the concurrence of the Spirit to vanquish and dispel all those clouds of ignorance which the minds of men naturally are filled withal.

1. Ministers should labour to speak so as to convince the Judgement of the truth which they preach. They must not only assert Truths, but prove them; they must hold forth the Word of ⟨p. 73⟩Faith with a clear evidencing light, and hold fast the Word in a strenuous defence of it against opposers, and with sound doctrine they must not only exhort but also convince gainsayers, Tit. 1.9. Ministers should make manifest the words of salvation which they preach, that they are the words of the God of truth, with whom dwells no errour or falshood: They should prove by undenyable Arguments that the Scriptures are of Divine Authority, and therefore as full of truth as the Sun is full of light; and then they should prove the doctrine which they preach by the Word, and that with such reason for the belief of it, that no reason may be left to contradict it. Ministers should be shining lights in the places where they live, dispersing abroad the bright beams of Gospel-truths with such power and conviction, as may be sufficient through the concurrence of the Spirit to vanquish and dispell all those clouds of ignorance which the minds of men naturally are filled withall.