190 now TO LEAD A HEAVENLY [Chap. 12. when you might have better, and find most delight in such, you are so far from a heavenly conversation, that, as yet, you have no title to heaven at all, and in that state shall never come there. If your treasure was there, your heart could not be on things so distant. In a word, our company will be a part of our happiness in heaven, and it is a sin- gular part of our furtherance to it, or hinderance from it. 4. Avoidfrequent disputes about lesser truths, and a religion that lies only in opinions. They are usually least acquainted with a heavenly life, who are violent disputers about the circumstantials of religion. He whose religion is all in his opinions, will be most frequently and zealously speaking his opinions ; and he whose religion lies in the knowledge and love of God and Christ, will be most delightfully speak- ing of that happy time when he shall enjoy them. He is a rare and precious Christian, who is skilful to improve well- known truths. Therefore let me -advise you who aspire after aheavenly life, not to spend too muchof your thoughts, your time, your zeal, or your speech, upon disputes that less concern your souls; but when hypocrites are feeding on husks or shells, do you feed on the joys above. I wish you were able to defend every truth of God, and to this cad would read and study; but still I would have the chief truths to be chiefly studied, and none to cast out your thoughts of eternity. The least controverted points are usuallymost weighty, and of most necessary, frequent use to our souls. Therefore study well such Scripture precepts as these : " Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. Foolish and unlearned ques- tions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive." "Avoid foolish ques- tions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law for they are unprofitable and vain." " If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doc- trine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, per- verse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness; from such withdraw thyself." 5. Take heed of a proud and lofty spirit. There is such
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