The saints everlasting rest

3. Do not daub, or deal slightly with any; some will not tell their people plainly of their sins, because they are great men; as if none but the poor should plainly be dealt with: do not you so, but reprove them sharply, (though differently and with wisdom) that they may be sound in faith. GOD doth sufficiently engage us to deal plainly; he hath bid us speak and fear not: he hath promised to stand by us; and he will be our security. I had rather hear from the mouth of Balak, GOD hath kept thee from honour; or from Ahab, feed him with the bread and water of affliction; than to hear conscience say, Thou hast betrayed souls to damnation by thy cowardice and silence; or to hear GOD say, Their blood will I require at thy hands; or to hear from Christ, the judge, Cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness, where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth; yea, or to hear these sinners cry out against me in eternal fire, and with implacable rage to charge me with their undoing.

And as you must be plain and serious, so labour to be skilful and discreet, that the manner may somewhat answer the excellency of the matter. How oft have I heard a stammering tongue, with ridiculous expressions, vain repetitions, tedious circumlocutions, and unseemly pronunciation, spoil most precious doctrine, and make the hearers either loath it, or laugh at it! How common are these extremes, while one spoils the food of life by affectation, and new-fashioned mincing, and pedantic toys, either setting forth a little and mean matter with a great deal of froth, and gaudy dressing; or hiding excellent truths in a heap of vain rhetoric on the other side! How many by their slovenly dressing, make men loath the food of life, and cast up that which should nourish them! Such novices are admitted into the sacred function, to the hardening of the wicked, and the disgrace of the work of the LORD; and those that are not able to speak sense or reason, are made the ambassadors of the most high GOD.

And as you must be plain and serious, so labour to be skilful and discreet, that the manner may somewhat answer the excellency of the matter. How oft have I heard a stammering tongue, with ridiculous expressions, vain repetitions, tedious circumlocutions, and unseemly pronunciation, spoil most precious doctrine, and make the hearers either loath it, or laugh at it! How common are these extremes, while one spoils the food of life by affectation, and new-fashioned mincing, and pedantic toys, either setting forth a little and mean matter with a great deal of froth, and gaudy dressing; or hiding excellent truths in a heap of vain rhetoric on the other side! How many by their slovenly dressing, make men loath the food of life, and cast up that which shoul nourish them! Such novices are admitted into the sacred function, to the hardening of the wicked, and the disgrace of the work of the LORD; and those that are not able to speak sense or reason, are made the ambassadors of the most high GOD.