g CHR.1i sT's darrn "' their deadneffe by his preaching, when the manner of it is dead.. Preaching may be dead in the manner of it, leven Waies, Firft, When it is too generali, when they preach only in general. That which we lay is very good, for the gene- tall, but wee doe nor apply our (elves to every particular mans Confcience,thïs deads peoples hearts. Beloved, it is particular Preaching that does people good; When Nathan told David, thou art the man, 1 Sam. 12.7. this flirted Da- vids heart. When Peter had (aid to his hearers, Tee have crucified Chrif, 4t7. 1.36. This prickt them to the heart. Generals preaching cannot quicken, Firfi, beeaufe gene- rails cannot aft, .AElso eft fingularium,as we fay. Its one - ly a particular, works. Let a man preach home and in par- ticular,and this wtl work on the hearers.This made Mschah a.powerfill Preacher, when he preached particularly to his peoples Coofcience. Truly, I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord , and of judgement, and of might, to de- clare unto Jacob his tranfgreflion,and to Ifrael his fin, 4lic. 3, 8. his made him a powerful! Prophet toquicken up his people, becaufe he told everyman his finne,and (mote every mans confcience for his tranfgreflion. No man is flirted till heefeeles his cafe laid open, till hee fees the Minifter beates upon him, and hit him; till the Minifter treads hard upon his toes, he will never cry out. Secondly, Generali preaching leaves the Sermon to the peopleto apply it; now the people will never apply it while the world ftands. Nay, David himfelf would not apply, as long as Nathan dealt with him in generali, as long as Na- than was fpeaking of a man in the clouds, a rich man that had wronged a poor man, Davids heart was as whole as a fifh, till bee. came to Thou art him. Now he cries out, 1 have finned. Nathan was fain to make application : For David would never have done it elfe, Will a truantly Boy ever whip himfelfe ? the Matter may lay the rod before him, but except the Matter lay it on, he will goe (cot -free ifhe can. . The words of the wife areas goads and as miles fafle .
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=