To return therefore, it is profitable for the hearers to be oftentimes convinced, and otherwise our ministry doth them little good, but so it is also hard to wind in with them, and to pierce their hearts, as I said; I mean to bring the hearers to this point, that they shall cry out and say, every one for his own part, I have sinned. For concerning the ministers, who should be one special means to do it: they, for the most part abstain from this work altogether; either winding up all in obscurity, that they are not understood, or at least contenting themselves with the bare propounding of the truth, without applying it to the conscience, or discovering the corruption of the heart, that so the hearer may not escape. This work they leave to the peoples discretion. And alas they are so far from working the word upon themselves, that they have many starting holes and excuses for their sins, and extenuate them, and allege their own infirmities, and other 1mens examples, so that though they be stricken by our preaching as with an arrow, yet they be harnessed and bumbaced in such wise, that they will shift off the blow, and not be wounded thereby, but rather will follow their own evil courses the more, and harden their hearts still, who may well set the best side outward (I deny not) and for a while carry a fair show, as though all were well with them, but God knoweth their harts, and let them be sure that their sin shall find them out, and it shall not go well with them in the end. The use of this is, that we so look to our selves in the whole 2carriage of our lives, that we fear not what may be said to us, or brought against us (so verifying the proverb, the righteous is bold as a Lion) and 3the rather seeing we have judged our selves, that we may not be judged of the 4Lord; and have kept our consciences pure and good, to the end we may not fear convincing of them, (for the word of God can offer no violence to 5them who offer it first to themselves) especially for any wilful offending: but yet if for all this we be found too light, and in somethings worthy to be blamed, (as who can look so narrowly about himself but he may be justly charged) or if we break out amiss, then our duty is to desire that the word may challenge us even for that:
To returne therfore, it is profitable for the hearers to be oftentimes conuinced, and otherwise our ministery doth them little good, but so it is also hard to winde in with them, and to pierce their hearts, as I said; I meane to bring the hearers to this point, that they shall cry out and say, euery one for his owne part, I haue sinned. For concerning the ministers, who should bee one speciall meanes to doe it: they, for the most part abstaine from this worke altogether; either winding vp all in obscurity, that they are not vnderstood, or at least contenting themselues with the bare propounding of the truth, without applying it to the conscience, or discouering the corruption of the heart, that so the hearer may not escape. This worke they leaue to the peoples discretion. And alas they are so farre from working the word vpon themselues, that they haue many starting holes and excuses for their sinnes, and extenuate them, and alleage their owne infirmities, and other 1mens examples, so that though they be stricken by our preaching as with an arrow, yet they be harnessed and bumbaced in such wise, that they will shift off the blow, and not bee wounded thereby, but rather will follow their owne euill courses the more, and harden their hearts still, who may well set the best side outward (I denie not) and for a while carrie a faire shew, as though all were well with them, but God knoweth their harts, and let them be sure that their sinne shall find them out, and it shall not goe well with them in the end. The vse of this is, that we so looke to our selues in the whole 2carriage of our liues, that we feare not what may be said to vs, or brought against vs (so verifying the prouerbe, the righteous is bold as a Lion) and 3the rather seeing wee haue iudged our selues, that wee may not bee iudged of the 4Lord; and haue kept our consciences pure and good, to the end we may not feare conuincing of them, (for the word of God can offer no violence to 5them who offer it first to themselues) especially for any wilfull offending: but yet if for all this we be found too light, and in somethings worthy to be blamed, (as who can looke so narrowly about himselfe but he may be iustly charged) or if wee breake out amisse, then our dutie is to desire that the word may challenge vs euen for that:
- 1Note.
- 2Numb. 32. 23.
- 3Prou. 28. 1.
- 41. Cor. 11. 31.
- 5Note.
