The poor doubting Christian drawn to Christ. Wherein the main hindrances, which keep men…

No, Beloved; many sweet Promises, and many admirable precious Things of Grace and Salvation are revealed, but Men are negligent to take for themselves: In this Case our Markets stand upon ourselves; we pass not to lay out any thing here to benefit: Some carnal Plea or other mars all. This argues plainly the small Estimation that we have of Christ. But the poor hungry Sinner, one that is apprehensive of his own Weakness and Feebleness, longs 'till the Feast-Day cometh, ⟨p. 47⟩that he may partake of these and such Delicates. Oh how carefully doth he listen, and how diligently doth he attend what the Minister saith? And if the Word come home to his Conscience, enlightening his Heart, and reproving him of his Ways: Then he cries out; Oh, I am in great Trouble; good Lord comfort me: I am full of Doubts; good Lord resolve me: I am ignorant in spiritual Things; good Lord teach me: I have a proud, stout, stubborn Heart; good Lord humble me. He was never better than now. Therefore take this for a general Rule; That a good Heart is never better at ease, than when the Word works most, and most bitingly. Contrarily, A wicked graceless Person is never better than when the Word works least, or never a whit upon him. But when he thinks the Minister will come close to his Sore and Soul, he will not be at home that Day, he will be sure to be out of the Town, or not in Place. He knows the Word would awaken him, and affright him, and he cannot bear the Blow, therefore he keeps away, and shuns the Hearing of the Word, when it should work to his Reformation any Way.¹

No, Beloved; many sweet Promises, and many admirable precious Things of Grace and Salvation are revealed, but Men are negligent to take for themselves: In this Case our Markets stand upon ourselves; we pass not to lay out any thing here to benefit: Some carnal Plea or other marrs all. This argues plainly the small Estimation that we have of Christ. But the poor hungry Sinner, one that is apprehensive of his own Weakness and Feebleness, longs 'till the Feast-Day cometh, ⟨p. 47⟩that he may partake of these and such Delicates. Oh how carefully doth he listen, and how diligently doth he attend what the Minister saith? And if the Word come home to his Conscience, enlightning his Heart, and reproving him of his Ways: Then he cries out; Oh, I am in great Trouble; good Lord comfort me: I am full of Doubts; good Lord resolve me: I am ignorant in spiritual Things; good Lord teach me: I have a proud, stout, stubborn Heart; good Lord humble me. He was never better than now. Therefore take this for a general Rule; That a good Heart is never better at ease, than when the Word works most, and most bitingly. Contrarily, A wicked graceless Person is never better than when the Word works least, or never a whit upon him. But when he thinks the Minister will come close to his Sore and Soul, he will not be at home that Day, he will be sure to be out of the Town, or not in Place. He knows the Word would awaken him, and affright him, and he cannot bear the Blow, therefore he keeps away, and shuns the Hearing of the Word, when it should work to his Reformation any Way.