Difcourfes fhall be reprefented, as proceeding rather from Ill-will than a Religious Zeal; and the Sharpness of their Satyr fhall be interpreted to point, not fo much at Vice it felf, as at thofe that are guilty of it; who upon this Account will be tempted to take up a grievous Difguft at them for their Pains.

Thus again; let a Clergyman's Behaviour in the Coduct of his Life be never fo harmlefs and inoffenfive, there will not be wanting fome, who, by the falfe Colours that are put upon it, fhall be perfuaded to make him the Object of their lafting Displeasure.

Of Prejudice rais'd by the former of these Means, John the Baptift had very woful Experience. For tho' Herod the Tetrarch knew bim to be a juft Man and an Holy and did for fome time bear him gladly; yet when he told him of the heinous Sin he committed, in having his Brother Philip's Wife, his Anger and Diflike grew fo great, that he imprifon'd the Preacher for his Plain-dealing: And then he was not fecure from the spiteful Refentment of Herodias; for the burn'd with fuch prodigious Prejudice and Hatred, as would be quench'd by nothing, but the Blood of the bold Reprover.

And of Prejudic

rais'd upon Account of a Minifter's Behaviour in the Conduct of his Life, we have Inftances, with Relation to the fame John the Baptift, and our Bleffed Savibur, from the Jews; which are taken notice of by Chrift himself.

JOHN the Baptist came neither eating Bread, nor drinking Wine, and they faid, he bath a Devil. He did not eat and drink fo freely as other Men; neither did he converfe much with them; but led a very abftemious and folitary Life: Upon which Accounts they reckon'd him poffefs'd with a Devil, and took up a Prejudice against him.

But the Son of Man, that is, Chrift Jefus, came eating and drinking, and they faid, Bebold a gluttonous Man, and a Wine-bibber, a Friend of Publicans and Sinners. Our bleffed Saviour convers'd with the Jews in a very familiar Manner; he went and feafted with them when invited; and kept Company with wicked Men, upon Profpect of making them better. But this innocent Deportment could not fkreen him from the Slander of malicious Tongues: The Famifiarity of his Behaviour was mifconftru'd by the perverfe Jews; and his Freedom offended them no lefs than the Rejervedness of his Fore-runner.

And thus it happens to the Minifters of Chrift in thefe Days. If we feverely lafh the prevailing Vices of the Age, and acquaint People with the dangerous Confe quences of being enfnared by 'em; we are often efteemed their Enemies for telling them the Truth, tho' our Difcourfes are owing to akcharitable Concern for their Welfare.

Thus again, if our Behaviour is close and retir'd, and we take Delight in Solitude, or being much alone; we shall be cenfur'd by Ec 3

many

many as proud and haughty, be our Humility never fo deep.

But if we are of an open Conversation, of a fociable Temper and Difpofition; 'tis ten to one that we are condemn'd and defam'd as luxurious and intemperate, tho' we were never known to exceed the Bounds of Sobriety.

After this Manner are the Minifters of Religon fet in wrong Lights, and painted in falfe Colours; that fo the People may be

prej gainst them, and the End of

their Office may be thereby defeated.

One might reckon up feveral other Caufes of this Prejudice, was it needful. But it fignifies little from whence it fprings, fince by whatfoever Caufe 'tis affected, 'twill very much obftruct the Efficacy of the Word Preach'd, and deprive thofe in whom it is predominant, of that Benefit they might otherwife receive thereby.

Our Lord and Mafter perceiv'd this himfelf, in the Execution of his Prophetical Office: All his admirable Difcourfes prevail'd not upon those who cherish'd a Prejudice against him, tho bis Lips dropp'd as the Honey Comb, and his Tongue was as the choice Silver. He could not affrighten them from their Sins, by denouncing the fevere Judgments which hung over them; neither could he foften their ftony Hearts by difplaying the mild Rays of unbounded Mercy.

"And they to whom be bath committed the Miniftry of Reconciliation, find the like Un3018 (2100 fruit

fruitfulness of preaching among those who are prejudic'd against them. By fetting the Terrors of the Lord in array, they cannot perfuade fuch Perfons to forfake their evil Courses; neither by declaring the Goodness of God, can they lead 'em to Repentance.

a

Sixthly, Another Caufe, and the last I shall now mention, why the Word Preach'd doth not profit, is Unbelief. This is taken notice of by the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, in the fourth Chapter, at the fecond Verfe: The Word Preach'd, lays he, or the Word of hearing, did not profit them, not being mix'd with Faith in them that heard it. Which Words were fpoken with Reference to the Jews, but are equally true when applied to other unfruitful Hearers of the Word. Wherefoever an evil Heart of Unbelief prevails, it will certainly hinder the Efficacy of Preaching: Sermons that are deliver'd to fuch Perfons as difbelieve the Truths contain'd in them, are like Seed scatter'd upon Rocks ;' one may as rationally expect that a Crop of Corn should be produced out of thefe, as that any substantial Advantage should redound from preaching to those.

Indeed Unbelief is the chief Caufe of the Unprofitableness of preaching; and that to which the other Caufes, in a great Meafure, owe their Original. Hence, there is Reafon to think, it chiefly is, that Men contentedly. lay themselves down in fpiritual Ignorance

Ο λόγος τῆς ἀκοῆς

That

That they fix their Hearts upon the Things of this World: That they are inattentive to the Word Preach'd: That they are puffed up. with vain Imaginations of their own Abilities: And fower'd with Prejudice again the fpiritual Guides.

A Lively Faith, is a vigorous and active. Principle; and were People endued with it, they would then be careful to get acquainted with the Truths and Grounds of their Religion: They would not inordinately cleave to the Intereft of this Life, but would make it their main Bulinefs to lay up for themselves Treasures in the next: They would attentively hearken to the Word Preach'd: They would be humble and lowly minded: They would not be prejudic'd against their Teachers; but efteem them as the Minifters of Chrift, and Stewards of the Mysteries of God.

Thus have I enquir'd into the principal Caufes, why the Word Preach'd doth not profit. There are other Caufes which might have been enlarg'd upon; but, I conceive, they are Branches of, and reducible to, or have been hinted at under, thefe which I have examined: And, I believe, I may be bold to fay, , that if thefe were remov'd, the Seed of the Word would be received into good Ground, and would bring forth Fruit, fome an hundredfold, fome fixty-fold, and fome thirty fold.

In order therefore to remove thefe Causes, I proceed to the

Second Thing propounded, Namely, to repre