ON HOSEA XIV. -VERSE 9. 299 intents of the heart, Heb. iv. 12. Isa. xlix. 2. This act of discovery cannot but exceedingly gall the spirits of wicked men : it is like the voice of God unto Adam in Paradise, " Adam, where art thou ?" or like the voice of Ahijah to the wife of Jeroboam, " I am sent unto thee with heavy tidings," 1 Kings xiv. 6. The plainness and simplicity of the gospel is like- wise matter of offence to these men, 2 Cor. x. 10. and that partly upon the preceding reason; for the more plain the word is, the more immediate access it hath unto the conscience, and operation upon it. So much as is merely human elegancy, fineness of wit, and delicacy of expression, doth oftentimes stop at fancy, and take that up, as the body of Asahel caused the passers by to stand still and gaze, 2 Sam. ii. 23. And wicked men can be contented to admit the word any whither, so they can keep it out of their conscience, which is the only proper subject of it, 2 Cor. iv. 2. When I hear men magnify quaint and polite dis- courses in the ministry of the word, and speak against sermons that are plain and wholesome, I look upon it not so much as an act of pride, (though the wis- dom of the flesh is very apt to scorn the simplicity of the gospel,) but indeed as an act of fear and cowardice, because where all other external trimmings and dresses are wanting to tickle the fancy, where the word bath the more downright and sad operation upon the conscience, and must consequently the more startle and terrify. The great difficulty and indeed impossibility of obeying it in the strictness and rigour of it, is another ground of scandal, that God in his word should com- mand men to do that which indeed cannot be done ; this was matter of astonishment to the disciples them- selves, when our Saviour told them that it was " easier
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