The Christian-man's calling: or, A treatise of making religion ones business. Wherein the nature…

I desire, ¹That I may never dare to play the Huckster with the Word of God, to sophisticate or adulterate it by my additions to it; but that I may receive from the Lord, what I deliver to men; and feed all my charge with the sincere milk of the Word, that they may grow thereby. If it be Treason to counterfeit the Kings Coin, what High Treason is it for me to imprint the King of Kings stamp on my brass Money? O that as I am an Ambassador, I might keep close to my Instructions; and as a Builder, may lay every stone in his Temple by the line and rule of his Word; and as a Physician, may never try experiments upon the souls of my people; but hold fast to the form of wholesome words, and ever prescribe those tried and approved receipts, which the Great Physician hath left me under his own hand. Because my work is to touch and pierce my hearers hearts, ²and not to tickle and please their ears, I wish, That I may preach a crucified Saviour, in a crucified stile: ⟨p. 509⟩That I may not blow up my Sermons (as Butchers some joints of meat, to make them show fairer) with a windy pomp of words; but by using all plainness, and stooping to the lowest capacity, may become all things to all men, that I may save some. I am a Barbarian to my people, whilst I preach to them in an unknown language: I starve their souls, whilst I give them such meat as they can never digest. Let me not read Authors, as the Butter-fly goeth to flowers, only to gild her wings; but as the Bee, to gather honey, and bring it home to the hive for the supply of her young. Lord, let me never be guilty by painting the windows, of hindering the light of thy glorious Gospel from shining powerfully into the hearts of men and women.

I desire, ¹That I may never dare to play the Huckster with the Word of God, to sophisticate or adulterate it by my additions to it; but that I may receive from the Lord, what I deliver to men; and feed all my charge with the sincere milk of the Word, that they may grow thereby. If it be Treason to counterfeit the Kings Coyn, what High Treason is it for me to imprint the King of Kings stamp on my brass Money? O that as I am an Ambassador, I might keep close to my Instructions; and as a Builder, may lay every stone in his Temple by the line and rule of his Word; and as a Physician, may never try experiments upon the souls of my people; but hold fast to the form of wholesome words, and ever prescribe those tryed and approved receits, which the Great Physician hath left me under his own hand. Because my work is to touch and pierce my hearers hearts,