Ch. 6. Fundamentals. Heb Note z. People muft be taught but according to their capacity. 2. Harder things in Divinity muff be taught them that have learned the ea_ fier, and are fit for.them. But by [hard things) is not meant unneceffary Curiofities of humane Arts, nor unprofitable Words, or trifling Con- rroverfies ; But, 1. Amore dear, diftinh and fatisfying knowledge of the Evidence of the truthand fenfe ofthe Effentials. 2. A more or- derly knowledge of their method and mutual dependence as oneSyfteme,that as in a Tableor Scheme wemay let eachmember in its proper place. 3. Amore extenfiveknowledg ofthe ufe- ful confequencesof theEffentials and Principles. CHAP.VI. 1. -Therefore leaving the principles 1 of the doCtrine of Chrift, let us goon unto perfef&ion, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works,and of faith towards God, 2. Of the doitrine of baptifm, andof laying on of hands, and of -re- furrestionof the dead, and of eternal judgment. t, b. Therefore fuppofing the Principles of Chriftian Do&rine, I now pats over filch dif- courfe, and will go to lead you to Come addi- tional knowledge belonging to the more per- fed ; not now drfcourfing ofthefè Principles as ro men that have not received them; I mean, 1, Repentance and Converfion from a Rate of Death, and from Infidelity, and a wicked, un- godly life. 2. A livelybeliefand truftin God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft. ;. The preparatory Baptifm ofyohn, and theRaptifmof Chrift, which conftituteth us profeffed Chrifti- ans; what profeffon is prerequifite in the Adult, and what Covenant it folemnizeth, what Duties it binds us to, andwhat Benefits it deli- vereth and fealeth. 4. The great Gift to Chrift's Apoftles and Minifters ofAuthoritative Impolitionof hands, by which the fame Holy Ghoft was given to others, and Miracles wrought for the confirmation and propagation ofthe Chriftian Faith. 3. The certainty of a Refurreúion, and future Life, including the Immortality ofSouls. 6. The final Judgment, which will fentence men to their everlafting Rate, and ufe them accordingly. 3. And this will we do, if God per- mit. 3. And fo I will now pailto tome additio- nal further Truths, by God's afliftance. ç. For it is lmpoflible far thofe who were once enlightened, and have tafted of the heavenlygift, and were made partakers of the holy Ghoft, revs. The kemedilef Sin. Ch. 6, 5. And have tailed the good wordof God, and the powers ofthe World to come; 6. If theyPAall fall away, tore- new them again unto repentance; Pee- ing they crucifie to themfelves theSon of God afrelh, andput him toan open fhame. 4> s, 6. I will not nowgo back to preach Regeneration to you that profefs to be already regenerate, tho' you are tempted to Apaftacy; For it is itnpofliblefor thofe that were illumi- nated to believe in Chrift, and were Baptized, and have not only heard of the 5gnal Gifts of the Holy Ghoft from Heaven, but have them- felves had an experimental tafle thereof, and been themfelves partakers of the Holy Ghoft, as well as leen his miraculous Gifts in the Church, and have had an inward experimental tafle of the truth and goodnefs of the Gofpel, and the powerfulpreparations and hopes of the World to come; If they (hall really lofe all this, and fall from the beliefofChrifttanity, to regenerate or renew thefe men again to Caving Repentance, facing after believing Chrift to be the Mefliah, they are turned to take hint for a Deceiver and Blafphemer, and confent to the pretended Juftnefsof hisCrucifixion, and foex+ pole him by Slander to the fame reproachas his Crucifiera did. Note, a. That the Apoftie fpeaketh of no other falling away, but to Infidelity, denying Jefus ro be the Chrift. 2. That it is not temptations tö Unbelief, nor a degree of Unbeliefmixt with Faith, or doubting, that he fpeaketh of, but a forfaking and renotm» cing Chrift. 3. He fpeaketh not of the meer denyal of the Tongue in a paillon or fear, but of the renouncing Chrift by heart and tongue. 4. Hefpeaketcinot oftheadofa man in madnefs or melancholy, who is not himfelf, but ofa man's deliberate ad, that bath free,ufe of realon. 5. He fpeaketh of no Infidels, or total Apoftares, but thofe that had themfelves been partakersof the fignal Gifts ofthe Holy Ghoft, and were convinced by experimental guff of the Truth. 6. Therefore it muû be noted, that not only truly holy perlons, but abundance (if not the greateft part) that did but fo believe as to imbody with the Church, had then one fort or other of thefe miraculous or rare Gifts for Confirmation of the Gofpel, which made Chrift, Matth. 7. bring in the wof- kers, of iniquity, as wonder-workers in his name; and Petal, Gal. 3 3, 4, S. appealeth to the quarrelfomGalatians, which way they half the Spirit and Miracles, 7. That this mutt needs be the Came lllafphemy of the Holy Ghoft, which Chrift pronounceth unpardonaa ble : For they who had not only feen the Mira- cles, but had the Holy Ghoft themfelves for gmel
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