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

2. This reproveth such as take upon them to be Ministers, and are no Preachers. God maketh use of Ministers to preach the Gospel rather than Angels, therefore they ought to preach, or they are unworthy to be Ministers. Such as call themselves Ministers, but are ignorant and unskilful in the work of preaching, which Ministers are called unto; such as ⟨p. 18⟩take upon them to be teachers of others, and have need to be taught themselves which be the first Principles of the Oracles of God, and are children, yea babes in understanding, being unacquainted with the Word of righteousness and mysteries of salvation: Such who know not how to divide the Word of God aright, and give every one his portion; whose Sermons are like wood, and hey, and stubble, without any silver, or gold, or precious stones of spiritual, heavenly and soul-saving doctrine; who give men chaff instead of corn, and stones instead of bread; who fill their Sermons with frothy wit, or husky quotations of Authors, or knotty School-notions, and distinctions, or secret, bitter invectives, and scorpion-slings and lashes at the power of godliness, instead of convincing, soul-edifying truths, which may administer grace unto the hearers; they will have a fearful account to give unto the great Shepherd, when he shall appear to make inquiry concerning the flock committed to their charge, and shall charge upon them the guilt of the blood of so many souls as have perished through their neglect. Are there not many such Ministers at this day in England that can neither pray without a book, nor preach without a book; I do not speak of those Ministers who road their own Notes which they have studied in their Closets, but of them which read others Notes, as if they were their own unto the people. It is not long since I spake with a Bookseller, who hath sold many Manuscript Sermons unto such, who signified plainly enough unto him the use they intended to put them unto. Yea some have been so audacious as to preach out of the Printed Books of others, as is well known both in the City ⟨p. 19⟩and other places;

2. This reproveth such as take upon them to be Ministers, and are no Preachers. God maketh use of Ministers to preach the Gospel rather than Angels, therefore they ought to preach, or they are unworthy to be Ministers. Such as call themselves Ministers, but are ignorant and unskilfull in the work of preaching, which Ministers are called unto; such as