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See 2Sam. 12.1-7. When John preached generally, “Herod heard him gladly;” when he came to particulars of application—“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife”—the preacher lost his head. ‘The Minister’ (as an excellent old Divine observes) ‘should desire to have that knowledge of all his hearers, that he may be able to speak as particularly to every one as is possible. (Jer. 6.27.) Though he may not make private faults public, or so touch the sin, as to note and disgrace the sinner; yet he may apply his reproofs particularly, so that the guilty party may know and feel himself touched with the reproof. We must in preaching aim as directly as we can at him, whom we desire to profit. Our doctrine must be as a garment, fitted for the body it is made for; a garment that is fit for every body, is fit for nobody. Paul says of himself, that in his preaching he laboured to admonish every man, to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.’ Hildersham on John 4. Lect. 80.