374 The Life of Faith. r. Afolid and clear underftanding of all the great, the need- ful and pra(ical matters of the facred Scriptures, 2 Tim. 3, t 6. (And ifhehave the undertlanding of the Scripture Ianguages, and the cuttoms ofthof times, and other fuck helps, his un- derftanding ofthe Scripture will be the more compleat, 4th 26. 3. If he have not, he muti make ufe ofother mens.) 2. A fettled well grounded Belief of all Gods fupernatural Revelations (as well . as . the knowledge of natural ve- rities.) 3. 'Experienceto make this knowledge and belief to be fatif- fattory, powerful and firm. Efpecially the experience of the Spirits tffe6tual operations inour film, by the means of this word, Rem. 5.4. & 8.9. Gal, 4.6. 4. The hiftoricat knowledge of the Scripture matters Of fa6t, and how God in all ages (lince Scripture times) path fulfilled his Word, both promifes and thrcatnings, and what Chrift, and Satan, Grace and Sin, have been doing in the world. Therefore the Scripture is written fo much by way ofhiftory ; and therefore the Jews were fo often charged to tell the hifory of Gods works to their children, a Cor, 10.1,2, 6, 7, at. Exod. t 2.29 Deut. 26.22.3.íh. 4. 6, 21, 22.,& 22: 24, 27. Therefore the writing of Church-hifiory is theduty ofall ages, becaufc Gods Works arc to be known, as well as his Word : And as it is your forefathers duty towrite it, it is the childrens duty to learn it (or elfe the writing it would be vain.) He that knoweth not what Rate the'Church and world is in, and hathbeen in, in former ages, and what God bath been doing in the world, and how'errour and fin have been refittinghim, and with what fuccefs, doth want much to the compleating ofhis knowledge. 5. And hemull have prudence to difcern particular cafes; and to confider of all circumtiances, and to compare things with things, that hemay difcernhis duty, and the fcafons and manner of it; and may know among inconfttcnt-.fccming duties, which is tobe preferred ; and when and what circum- fiances or accidents do make any thinga duty whichcite would [be noduty orja fin ; and what accidents male: that a fin which without them would be aduty. This is the knowledge which 'scut:} make a Chritlianentire orcompleat, 2. Arts#
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