Subjection to Christ in all his ordinances, and appointments, the best means to preserve…

Reas. 3. Reas. 3 From the righteous judgement of God, in leaving men to be blinded and made deaf, from and by the means whereby they should hear and know; that as it is with the Saints, all evil things are for their good, so all good things are for their hurt, Isa, 6.10. the meriting cause is unbelief and sin, but the deep and hidden rise of all is Gods eternal dereliction of them, God never intended love, special love to them; hence he never speaks one word to them; 2 Cor. 4.3. John 6.65. Many were offended at his words and forsook him. Now to take off this offence. I said, None can come to me, except it be given him of the Father, what is that? see vers. 45. and 37.

Use 1. Use. 1 Hence see the reason, why the Word is so wonderfully ineffectual to the souls of many men, that it never stirs them, that it's a strange thing to them; it's Heb. 12.19. like the law, a voice of words, a sound of words, so they hear men spake, but understand no more then if they speak in a strange language, or if they do, it concerns not them; or if it stirs, 'tis but as ⟨p. 161⟩the blowing of the wind upon a rock, which blusters for a time; but when the wind is down they are still. Truly they hear the word spoken, but they do not hear God speaking. They heard Latimer speak, but not God speaking, they hear a sound, which every one says, and they think is the word, but they hear not God speaking it.

Ʋse 1. Ʋse. 1 Hence see the reason, why the Word is so wonderfully ineffectual to the soules of many men, that it never stirs them, that it's a strange thing to them; it's Heb. 12.19. like the law, a voice of words, a sound of words, so they hear men spake, but understand no more then if they speak in a strange language, or if they do, it concernes not them; or if it stirs, 'tis but as