The truly blessed man

4. It hath great influence on the Affections in teaching. Indeed the main thing is information; all that doth us saving good, must come in by the Understanding; they that seek only to raise the affections confusedly, do no good: but still, we have to do with the affections; and the best way to raise them, is to express our own: it is vain to think to make another concerned, with that which we show no concernedness in; whereas experience stirs these affections: that which one feels, he will speak feelingly; he feels the misery of the Unregenerate, & speaks compassionately to them; feels the distress of deserted souls, and applies tenderly; feels the wounds and broken bones of such as have fallen, and handleth them with great caution, &c.

4. It hath great influence on the Affections in teaching. Indeed the main thing is information; all that doth us saving good, must come in by the Understanding; they that seek only to raise the affections confusedly, do no good: but still, we have to do with the affections; and the best way to raise them, is to express our own: it is vain to think to make another concerned, with that which we shew no concernedness in; whereas experience stirs these affections: that which one feels, he will speak feelingly; he feels the misery of the Unregenerate, & speaks compassionately to them; feels the distress of deserted souls, and applies tenderly; feels the wounds and broken bones of such as have fallen, and handleth them with great caution, &c.

4. It furnisheth him with skill of applying to particular cases. Many can discourse very distinctly, upon a subject in Divinity; but when they meet ⟨p. 419⟩with the doubts and objections of tempted Christians, they are mere bunglers, for want of experience; Peter is winnowed, to be fitted to strengthen others, Luk. 22.32. To be sure, in cases of Desertion, nothing more proper to apply than experience; besides that it helps to do every thing with compassion,