Christ the fountain of lifeChrist the fountaine of life

Use, It may serve first, to let us see a reason why so many Writings of godly men to so good purpose, and by such holy men, and so effectually by many, have so little prevailed against the Papists, and Heretics in any kind, a man would wonder to read so many Writings of so many holy men, and to see so few of the Church of God brought on to God by this means; Why what's the reason? surely it is no wonder, the Apostles themselves, though they should ⟨p. 184⟩never prosper in writing to men that believed not, but to such as believed, that they might have joy in believing, they knew reading would not prevail; It is true, it may be some means of conviction, and leaving men without excuse; and their Writings have not been in vain, to establish them in the truth that believed it before, and for satisfying the judgements of them that are studious in the truth, to seek out the truth of Gods will; but for men that are unbelievers, and settled in the dregs thereof, never any Writer in England, France, or Germany did any good, some have come over that have pretended, that this and that mans learned Writings hath been of much help to them, but those who have professed such conviction, have been but mere counterfeits, and deluders of the State, and did it only to provide for their honour and credit here in this Country; and as little hath been done by the Writings of godly men, against the adversaries in this kind; So in very deed, ¹if you shall look at all the good that hath been done by reading in poor Congregations, that have had no means of preaching, the people are as ignorant as those that never heard of the name of Christ, as empty of faith, and of the knowledge of Christ, and of every grace of his, as those that never heard of them.

Vse, It may serve first, to let us see a reason why so many Writings of godly men to so good purpose, and by such holy men, and so effectually by many, have so little prevailed against the Papists, and Hereticks in any kinde, a man would wonder to read so many Writings of so many holy men, and to see so few of the Church of God brought on to God by this meanes; Why what's the reason? surely it is no wonder, the Apostles themselves, though they should ⟨p. 184⟩never prosper in writing to men that beleeved not, but to such as beleeved, that they might have joy in beleeving, they knew reading would not prevaile; It is true, it may be some meanes of conviction, and leaving men without excuse; and their Writings have not been in vaine, to establish them in the truth that beleeved it before, and for satisfying the judgements of them that are studious in the truth, to seeke out the truth of Gods will; but for men that are unbeleevers, and setled in the dreggs thereof, never any Writer in England, France, or Germany did any good, some have come over that have pretended, that this and that mans learned Writings hath been of much help to them, but those who have professed such conviction, have been but meer counterfeits, and deluders of the State, and did it only to provide for their honour and credit here in this Country; and as little hath been done by the Writings of godly men, against the adversaries in this kinde; So in very deed,