The saints everlasting rest

1. I would have you well understand what is this work which I am persuading you to. Know then on the negative.

1. It is not to invade the office of the ministry, and every man to turn a public preacher. I would not have you go beyond the bounds of your calling: we see by daily experience, what fruits those men's teaching doth bring forth, who run uncalled of GOD, and thrust themselves into the place of public teachers, thinking themselves the fittest for the work in the pride of their hearts, while they had need to be taught the very principles of religion: how little doth GOD bless the labours of these self-conceited intruders, even if they be ordained!

2. Neither do I persuade you to a zealous promoting of factions and parties, and venting of uncertain opinions, which men's salvation is little concerned in. Alas, what advantage hath the devil always got in the church by this imposture! The time that should be employed in drawing men's souls from sin to Christ, is employed in drawing them to opinions and parties: when men are fallen in love with their own conceits, and think themselves the wisest, how diligently do they labour to get them followers? as if to make a man a proselyte to their opinions, were as happy a work as to convert him to Christ! and when they fall among the lighter, ignorant sort of men, whose religion is all in the brain, and on their tongue, they ⟨p. 197⟩seldom fail of success. These men shall shortly know, that to bring a man to the knowledge and love of Christ, is another kind of work, than to bring him to be baptized again, or to be of such a church, or such a side. Unhappy are the souls that are tal• […] their snare; who when they have spent their lives in contending for the circumstantials of religion, which should have been spent in studying and loving the LORD JESUS, do in the end reap an empty harvest, suitable to their empty profession.