The prophecy of Haggai, interpreted and applied in sundry sermonsThe prophesie of Haggai, interpreted and applyed in sundry sermons

And that this sword may the better strike and wound, we must remember that it must be applied to the limbs and members, we must take heed that we content not our selves to run on the generalities; and to stand upon flourishes, but apply this sword to the special faults of our hearers, for so it is like to pierce the better: there are some also which although they use this sword, yet they cover it with such a scabbard, that by reason thereof it is not able to wound in such sort as it should, as either with intermingling of strange language without any necessity or heaping up of many testimonies, or other things not so fruitful, so that although they come near with the sword yet because of these scabbards they perform not that duty which they ought to do, wherefore we may remember that the builders which the Apostle speaketh of, the Corinthians are reproved not only for the matter which they built, as for raising hay and stubble upon the foundation, but also for the form and manner they used: let these men set before their eyes the examples of the Prophets and Apostles in their preaching, yea of the Fathers themselves, whom they like so well: and mark in what sort they apply this ⟨p. 78⟩sword to the mortifying and slaying of the old man.

And that this sword may the better strike and wound, we must remember that it must be applyed to the limbes and members, we must take heed that we content not our selves to runne on the generalities; and to stand upon flourishes, but apply this sword to the speciall faults of our hearers, for so it is like to peirce the better: there are some also which although they use this sword, yet they cover it with such a scabbard, that by reason thereof it is not able to wound in such sort as it should, as either with intermingling of strange language without any necessity or heaping up of many testimonies, or other things not so fruitfull, so that although they come neere with the sword yet because of these scabbards they perform not that duty which they ought to doe, wherfore we may remember that the builders which the Apostle speaketh of, the Corinthians are reproved not onely for the matter which they built, as for raising hay and stubble upon the foundation, but also for the forme and manner they used: let these men set before their eyes the examples of the Prophets and Apostles in their preaching, yea of the Fathers themselves, whom they like so well: and marke in what sort they apply this ⟨p. 78⟩