EndandBute are both tobe eyed. 205 ]DIRECT.' xXXvIr; Inyour judgingof Difciptine, aformatioan andany means ofthe Churches good,6efurl your Eye be both upon the true End, and upon the particular Rule, and, not on ther of them alone : rake not that for a means, which is either contrary to the word of God, or is in its nature de traive of the _End. orHere aregreat inifcarriages come for want of the true obfervation of this rule. Firff, Ifa thing feem to you very needfill to a good endD, andyet the nord be againft it, avoid it : For God knoweth better than we , what means is fitteff, . and what he will biefs. As for inftance, force think , that many felf- devifed ways of worfhip, contrary to Col. 2.2T, 23. would be veryprofi- table to the Church: And force think that ffri king with the fword as Peter did, is the way to refcue Chriff or the Gofpel : But both are bad, becaufe theScripture is againft them. Secondly, and if you think that the Scripture comrntandethyou this or that pofitive means, if Nature and true Reafon affure you that it is a- gainff the End, and is like to do much more harm than good, be affured that youmiflake that Scrip- ture. For firif, God telleth us ingeneral that the means as foci) are for the End, and therefore, are oameans- when they are Digairft it ! The Miniftery
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