HI\ OIIR WORKS. 481 3. And yet to be supercilious, and to disdain the weak, or shut out any as ungodly, whom Christ bath not warranted us to shut out, and to make stricter rules of trial and church communion than he hath'made, this is justly displeasing,both to God and man. It tèmpteth men to abhor that religion which tendeth more to men's reproach than to their cure, and causeth professors to set themselves higher above the weak, and at a greater distance from their neigh- bors than God would have them. Christ is tender of little ones, andwould not have them scandalized. His own apostles were very low in knowledge all the time that he was with them on earth. It is not mere want of words that will warrant us to take men for ungodly ; even he that is "weak in faith must be receiv- ed, but not to doubtful disputations;'" Rom. xiv. 15. To cull out a few that have learned to speak better than the rest, and shut out with the dogs alt the infant Christians, who must be fed with milk, because they want expressions, is one of Satan's ways of overdoing, by which he would banish religion out of the world. XVI. He that will glorify, God by his good works must be zeal- ous and diligent in them, and make them the serious business of his life ; he must live so that men may see that indeed he doth be- lieve and hope for heaven. That- which a man coldly speaks of, and coldly seeketh, men will think he coldly desireth ; and therefore that he doth but doubtingly believe it. A cold, slothful Christian proclaims his unbelief to others, and so inviteth them to the like. , When Christians bestir themselves, as for their lives, and ply God's work with greatest diligence, and redeem their lives, as knowing that all is short enough to prepare for an endless life, this wakeneth others to life and thoughtfulness, to inquire into the matter ofour hopes. XVII. He that will glorify God must be wise and watchful, to see and take the opportunities of good before they are passed by, and to avoid temptations to error and iniquity, and especially te- merity in matters of great and public consequences. 1. Good works have their season. You lose them if you take them hot in their time ; that may be done now, which, if you pass this time, you can never do. 2: Temptations have their season, and must just then be resist- ed, lest many a year rhpair not an hour's loss ; and they are very many ; and narrow-sighted, careless persons, who avoid two and fall into the third, or avoid ,nineteen and are conquered by the twentieth, are always scandalous. 3? And rash adventures on any opinions or actions, but especi- ally of public consequence, are usually most scandalous and per- nicious to the church. As in military affairs, and in physic, ubi non licet Lis errizre, men's-lives must pay for our temerity and er- VOL. II. 61
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