28 2 Àttending public In/lrutlion, S ERM. doctrine received without referve ; but the XI. inftrudions of all other teachers ought to 4--"--j be examined and compared with the authen- tic declarations of a well- attefted revelation, and no farther received than as they are founded upon inquiry, by every one judging for himfelf, agreeable to them. And thus our Saviour, the author of cur religion, hath taught us to diftinguifh between him and others, Matt. xxiii. 8. He will not al- low his profeffed followers to be called, or to call any man rabbi, malter, and that be.. caufe one is their teacher and mailer, even Chrift. To allow men an equal authority with him, or which is in effect the fame, to regard them as infallible interpreters of his mind, is to deny him. An implicit faith in him, is what he requireth from his difciples, and is the very fpirit of chriftia. nity ; an implicit faith in men is the bane of it. Laßly, Hearing wifdom importeth an ab- blute unreferved obedience. A multitude of inflances might be produced to ibew that, aecording to the Rile of the facred writers, this is the fenfe of hearing God ; and that for this good reafon, becaufe obedience will be the certain effe t of hearing, as it bath been already explained, If we hear with attention
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