A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

xxxivMEMOIR OF THEconsidered as the summary of his long experience andprofound observations upon one of the most interesting^branches in theology.His mode of preaching seems to have been a combinationof earnestness and aflPection. Thus those whowere wounded by his appeals became healed by hisconsolations. He appears to have been remarkable forhis bold and uncompromising exposure of sin in all itadestructive and polluting influence upon the sinner;and not less so in his fervent exhortations to all thathave believed in God, that for the sake of the gospel,for their present comfort and future reward, they shouldbe careful to maintain good works. Like Luther, heseems to have been prepared to sustain the hatred andviolence of the whole world. This led to his consummateimpartiality. Totally forgetful of every otherdistinction among mankind than sin or holiness, hedelivered the will of God with an entire disregard of theaccidental or acquired distinctions of those present.Still his zeal seems to have been tempered with discretion.He studiously avoids as highly dangerous theminute description of his hearers, which might haveexcited the mere displeasure of the sinner, not againsthimself, but against the preacher. He appears to havebeen anxious, at every step of his discourse, to adducethe authority of the scriptures for his assertions ; andto this very ready and appropriate usage of the word ofGod, much of the success of his ministry, as a meanssubordinate to the influences of the Spirit, may beascribed. May not one great reason why the discoursesof many able and excellent clergymen have not beenattended with similar advantage, be sought for in theabsence of that marked and even formal appeal to the