SECTION II. 605 ber to distinguish the different characters of saints and sinners, the converted and the unconverted, the sincere christian and the formal professor, the stupid and the awakened, the diligent and backsliding, the fearful or humble soul, and the obstinate and presumptuous : and in various seasons introduce a word for each of them. Thies you will divide the word of God aright, and and give to every one their portion ; 2 Tito. ii. 15. The gene- ral way of speaking to all persons in one view and under one character, as though all your hearers were certainly true chris- tians and converted already, and wanted only a little further re- formation of heart and life, is too common in the world, but t think it is a dangerous way of preaching : it bath a powerful and unhappy tendency to lull unregenerate sinners asleep in security, to flatter and deceive them with dreams of happiness, and make their consciences easy without a real conversion of heart to God. Let your hearers know that there is a vast and unspeakable difference betwixt a saint and a sinner, one in Christ and one ont of Christ; between one whose heart is in the state of corrupt natureor unrenewed, and one that is in a state of grace and re- newed to faith and holiness ; between one who is only born of thoflesle and is a child of wrath, and one who is born again, or born of the spirit, and is become a child of God, a mem- ber of Christ, and an heir of heaven. Let them know that this distinction is great and necessary ; and it is not made (as some have imagined) by the water of baptism, but by the operations of the 'word and Spirit of God on the hearts of men, and by their diligent attendanceon all the appointed means and methods of converting grace. It is a most real change and of infinite importance, and however it has been derided by men, it is glo- rious in the eyes of God, and it will be made to appear so at the last day in the eyes of men and angels : but it will bring with it infinite terror to those, who thought themselves safe in acommon careless profession of Christianity, without any inward and di- vine change of heart. That little treatise writtenby the learned Mr. John Jenningsconcerning the preaching of Christ and ex- perimental preaching, has many valuable hints relating to these two last particulars of my exhortation. V. Lead your hearers wisely into the knowledge of the truth, and teach them to build their faith upon solid grounds. Let them first know why theyare christians, that they may be firmlyestablished in the belief and profession of the religion cf Christ ; thatthey maybe guarded against all the assaults of temp- tation and infidelity in this evil day, and may be able to rendera reason of the hope that is in them: furnish themwith arguments in opposition to the rude cavils and blasphemies, which are fre- quently thrown out in the world, against the nameanddoctrines of theholy Jesus.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=