Of Knowledge. 137 him wife unto falvation. Much more is SERM. the New Teftament the doétrine of Chrifl, V. which himfelf calls, a fountain of living water, our fure guide to all neceffary truths and he who fearches and enquires into it care- fully, and without prejudice, (hall have that falutary knowledge which (hall be a well of water in him fringing ap to everl f ing life. But, thirdly, it is above all things necef- fary, that we ufe the means of knowledge, and particularly the lift mentioned, namely, that we fearch the holy fcriptures without prejudice and prepoffeffion. If we fuffer our minds to be under any bias, and corrupt incli- nations, or worldly interefts to get into our religious counfels, and influence our enquiries; or if we give up ourfelves implicitly to the di- reäion of human authority, in matters of faith and confcience, this is not the way to attain to the knowledge of truth, but to imbibe error, to be overwhelmed with thick dark- nefs, and to run into fuperftition and a con- tentious party-zeal, inftead of rational piety, meeknefs and charity, which are pure and undefiled religion before God the Father. And, befides an unprejudiced fearch of the fcrip- Lures, after the example of the generous Bereans,
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