Strange things to our ears
It is the melancholy remark of an excellent man, that he who now preaches the most essential duties of Christianity runs the hazard of being esteemed, by a great part of his hearers, a setter forth of new doctrines. Most men have so lived away the substance of that religion, the profession of which they still retain, that no sooner are any of those truths proposed which distinguish the Spirit of Christ from the Spirit of the world, than they cry out, "You bring strange things to our ears (Acts 17:20); we would know what these things mean."
Yet he is only preaching to them Jesus and the resurrection (Acts 17:18), with the necessary consequence of it. If Christ is risen, you ought then to die to the world and live wholly to God.
1771 text
Circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter.
1. ’TIS the melancholly remark of an excellent man, that “He who now preaches the most essential duties of Christianity, runs the hazard of being esteemed by a great part of his hearers, a setter forth of new doctrines.” Most men have so lived away the substance of that religion, the profession whereof they still retain, that no sooner are any of those truths proposed, which difference the Spirit of Christ from the Spirit of the world, than they cry out, Thou bringest strange things to our ears; we would know what these things mean.――Though he is only preaching to them Jesus and the resurrection, with the necessary consequence of it. If Christ be risen, ye ought then to die unto the world, and to live wholly unto God.