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

The word is compared to rain Deut. 32.2. now the rain falls upon flints and doth no good; makes no impression. Ministers drop it on many to as little purpose as Bede did when he Preached to an heap of stones. They spend their strength in vain, and labour in vain; nay like many high-ways and low grounds, they are the worse for these showers. But this rain falls on others to much advantage; My Doctrine shall drop as the rain, and my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender grass, and as the showers on the herbs. Deut. 32.2. The fine soft showers of the word, soaks into their affections, softeneth their hearts, and makes them fruitful in holiness.

The word is compared to rain Deut. 32.2. now the rain fals upon flints and doth no good; makes no impression. Ministers drop it on many to as little purpose as Bede did when he Preached to an heap of stones. They spend their strength in vain, and labour in vain; nay like many high-ways and low grounds, they are the worse for these showres. But this rain fals on others to much advantage; My Doctrine shall drop as the rain, and my speech shall distill as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender grass, and as the showers on the hearbs. Deut. 32.2. The fine soft showrs of the word, soaks into their affections, softeneth their hearts, and makes them fruitful in holiness.

The Naturalists observe of the Salamander, that though she live in the fire constantly, yet she is never the hotter. How woeful is the condition of thousands who live all their days under the Word of God, in which is kindled the heavenly fire of Gods infinite love in Christ to poor sinners, and the hellfire of the hideous horrid nature of sin, yet they are never the hotter! neither warmed with the former, nor scorched with the latter; nay though these fires are sometimes by the workmen who divide the word aright, heated (as I may say) seven times hotter then ordinary (by discovering the freeness (without, yea against desert) fullness (a known; unknown love) and fastness (whom he loveth he loveth to the end) of this divine affection, and by declaring the ugliness and loathsomeness of corruption, in its contrariety to a righteous law, and a gracious Lord; and in its opposition to the souls happiness and perfection, that the very Ministers who take them up, to put them into this fire, are themselves with the extremity of its heat, turned into a live Coal, or all in a flame of love to the blessed God, and hatred against his and their enemy, sin; yet these hearers like the three Children are not touched with all this fire, their garments are not so much as singed, nor the least smell of the fire on them. O woeful wonder!