Of Knowledge. 13i nefs of chriftians in underftanding is hurtful SERm. to the church in general, and obftru is their V. ufefulnefs to others. So, In the next place, it is the unhappy occa= fion of much difcomfort and perplexity to themfelves. It produces endlefs fcruples, and forne degrees of fuperftition; imagining things to be good and evil, which really are neither, and placing religion in points wherein it does not confift. How difficult is it for a man who has very narrow notions about the lawfulnefs of things, and weakly fancies that to be either injoin'd or forbidden by the di- vine law, which is of no moment at all, which commendeth us not to God, neither if we do it are we the better, nor if we forbear are we the worfe; how difficult, I fay, is it for him to preferve an uninterrupted ferenity and com- fort in the approbation of his own mind, and according to the apoftle's exprefiion, to be fo happy as not to condemn himfelf in the thing that he alloweth? Againft all thefe evils and inconveniencies, an increafe of true religious knowledge would be a good remedy. It would thew men the right way, make them ufeful in inftruEting and directing others, and enable them to go on Readily with confi- dence and refolution, according to our Sa- K a viour's
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