If the patients wound bleeds, nay rankles, it is better for him to have a deep incision made in the flesh, than to bind it about with silk, or dress it with aromatic ointments. True it is, Ministers ought to ⟨image 5⟩cloth the truths they preach in decent expressions to preserve them from contempt; (though they must come in plainness of speech, not in rudeness of speech.) But, let them take heed, lest with their affected new coined phrases, (unsuitable to that gravity the Apostle speaks of*) they adulterate and corrupt the simplicity of the Word, like some kind of sauces and compounds which take away the natural taste, and savour of the meat. As for you (my friends) I hope the Lord hath given, (at least some of you) a spiritual palate to relish and thirst after, [Greek or Hebrew], the sincere milk of the Word, ⟨image 5⟩1 Pet. 2.2. A savoury heart is for wholesome doctrine: How glad should I be (dear friends) if I might either by preaching, or writing become savingly instrumental for your good, and before I die, might help to make up an happy match between Christ and you*: I bless God that I see some of you walking in the truth; 3when so many in the world are marching apace towards hell. But O that I might see an increase of holiness among you, that more converts might be brought in, and as so many jewels make the Crown of Christ shine the brighter; do not hearken to the Siren songs of the world; ⟨image 6⟩the sins you commit in hast, you will repent at leisure; sugared poisons go down pleasantly, but afterwards they wring and torment the bowels. Let me earnestly beseech you to put a bill of divorce into the hand of your sins; let not Error gangrene, lust burn, malice boil, pride swell, intemperance overflow, covetousness root in any of your souls. Purge out the old leaven; and as ever you expect to go to the new Jerusalem, when you die, become new creatures while you live; Rest not in baptismal privileges: all are not Israel which are of Israel*; what is a man the better to have Christs Name ⟨image 6⟩upon him, and Satan's image? What is he advantaged to have the Oracles of God, and want the Spirit of God? Think not that an empty profession will save; millions will be sent to hell in Christs livery*, Matth. 8.12. Oh labour to know the grace of God in truth*. The Lord hath been at much cost and charges with you to bring you near to himself; let not God be a looser by you.
If the patients wound bleeds, nay rankles, it is better for him to have a deep incision made in the flesh, than to binde it about with silk, or dress it with aromatick oyntments. True it is, Ministers ought to ⟨image 5⟩cloath the truths they preach in decent expressions to preserve them from contempt; (though they must come in plainnesse of speech, not in rudenesse of speech.) But, let them take heed, lest with their affected newcoynd phrases, (unsutable to that gravity the Apostle speaks of*) they adulterate and corrupt the simplicity of the Word, like some kind of sauces and compounds which take away the natural taste, and savour of the meat. As for you (my friends) I hope the Lord hath given, (at least some of you) a spiritual pallate to rellish and thirst after, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, the sincere milk of the Word, ⟨image 5⟩1 Pet. 2.2. A savoury heart is for wholsome doctrine: How glad should I be (dear friends) if I might either by preaching, or writing become savingly instrumental for your good, and before I die, might help to make up an happy match between Christ and you*: I blesse God that I see some of you walking in the truth; 3when so many in the world are marching apace towards hell. But O that I might see an encrease of holinesse among you, that more converts might be brought in, and as so many jewels make the Crown of Christ shine the brighter; do not hearken to the Syrene songs of the world; ⟨image 6⟩the sins you commit in hast, you will repent at leasure; sugred poisons go down pleasantly, but afterwards they wring and torment the bowels. Let me earnestly beseech you to put a bill of divorce into the hand of your sins; let not Error gangrene, lust burn, malice boyle, pride swell, intemperance overflow, covetousnesse root in any of your souls. Purge out the old leaven; and as ever you expect to go to the new Jerusalem, when you die, become new creatures while you live; Rest not in baptismal priviledges: all are not Israel which are of Israel*; what is a man the better to have Christs Name
- *Tit. 2.7
- *2 Cor. 11.2.
- 32 John 4.
- *Rom. 9.6
- *Mat. 7.22
- *Col. 1.6
