Owen - Houston-Packer Collection BT300 .O9 1679

whereon the C/;urcl) i1 built. 3 trary Errours and Imaginations inconfiil:ent with the1n; though it be the duty of all men to obtain the exprefS know– ledge of them in particular, , a<Zcording unto the means there– of which they do enjoy. The danger of mens fouls lyeth .not in a difabihty to attain a comprehenfion of longer ormore fubtle Confeilions of Faith, but in embracing things contrary unto, or inconfiil:ent with this foundat~on thereof. Whatever · it be, whereby men ceafe to hold the Head, how finall foever it feem, that alone is pernitious, Col.. 2. I 8, I 9· This Confej/ion therefore as containing the fumme and fub– fiance ofi:hat Faith, which they were called to give Tefl:imo– ny unto, and concerning which their Trial was approaching; is approved by our Saviour. And not only fo, but eminent priviledges are granted unto him that made it, and in him un· to the whole Church, that fhould live in the fame Faith and Confeilion, 'Ver. 17, I8. And Jefus anfwered and.faid unto him, Bl~[/edart thou Simon Bar-jona, for fiefh and blood hath not re'Vealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in Hea·ven And Ifqy aljO unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this ' Rock will I buildmy Church, and tf;e Gates of Hell jhall not prevail ag,ainjl it. . £C Two things cloth our ~aviour .confider in the Anfwer re- ._~ turned unto his enquiry.- (1.) TheJ'aith ofPeter in .this Con– feilion, the Faith of him that made it. (2.) The Nature and Truth of the Confejion; .both ·which are required in all the Difciples of Chrift; For with the heart man belie'Veth unto .Rig,bteoufnefi, and with the mouth confe.J]ion is made unto Sal– vation, Rom. IO. 10. · The firfr thing which he fpeaks unto is the Faith ofPeter, who made this Confeilion ; without this no outward Con– feffton is ofany ufe or advantage. For even the De'Vils knew him to be the Holy One of God, Luke4· 34· yet would he not permit th~m to fpeak it, Mark r. 34· That which gives B 2 glory

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