The plain mans path-way to heaven

Theol. This is a thing that must be exceedingly laboured in of us which are the Ministers and Preachers of the Gospel. And here is required diligence, and (as we say) double diligence: for the people are every where very ignorant. Some are stones, altogether uncapable of ⟨p. 355⟩instructions: others are froward and wilful: some will receive the doctrine, but not the practice: some again are altogether set upon peevishness and cavilling. So that a man were better take upon him the charge of keeping Wolves and Bears, then the charge of souls. For it is the hardest thing in the world to reform mens disorders, and to bring them into order; to pull mens souls out of the Kingdom of Satan, and to bring them to God. It is, as we say, an endless piece of work, and infinite toil, a labour of all labours: I quake to think of it. For men are so obstinate and irrefragable, that they will be brought into no order: they will come under no yoke. They will not be ruled by God, nor bridled by his Word. They will follow their own swing. They will run after their own lusts and pleasures. They will rage and storm if you go about to curb them, and restrain them of their wills, likings, and liberties. They will have their wills, likings and liberties. They will have their wills, and follow their old fashions, say what you will, and do what you can. Is it not, think you, a busy piece of work to smooth and square such Timber-logs, so full of knots and ⟨p. 356⟩knobs? Is it not a tedious and irksome thing to think upon? And would it not kill a mans heart to go about it? For how hard a thing is it to bring such into frame, as are so far out of frame?

Theol. This is a thing that must be exceedingly laboured in of us which are the Ministers and Preachers of the Gospel. And here is required diligence, and (as wee say) double diligence: for the people are every where very ignorant. Some are stones, altogether uncapable of ⟨p. 355⟩instructions: others are froward and wilfull: some will receive the doctrine, but not the practice: some againe are altogether set upon peevishnesse and cavilling. So that a man were better take upon him the charge of keeping Wolves and Beares, then the charge of soules. For it is the hardest thing in the world to reforme mens disorders, and to bring them into order; to pull mens soules out of the Kingdome of Satan, and to bring them to God. It is, as wee say, an endlesse piece of worke, and infinite toile, a labour of all labours: I quake to thinke of it. For men are so obstinate and irrefragable, that they will be brought into no order: they will come under no yoke. They will not be ruled by God, nor bridled by his Word. They will follow their owne swinge. They will runne after their owne lusts and pleasures. They will rage and storme if you goe about to curb them, and restraine them of their wills, likings, and liberties. They will have their wills, likings and liberties. They will have their wills, and follow their old fashions, say what you will, and doe what you can. Is it not, thinke you, a busie piece of worke to smooth and square such Timber-logs, so full of knots and