Col.::~.19. ::Thef "· Spiritual Perfection. ~an the meafure of all things. This. is the proper Principle of that horrible Compo. ~!liOn of Hcrefie: an_d _exec~ablc ~mp1ettes, wh1c~1 fo many that are Chrifhans in Pro· kffion, but Annchnlhans rn Behef, boldly Publr!b. They will chufe to Err in matters ~t~-c!·";~,\t~·;a~IT~r~~~~~\:~~~; r;~e 0 ~ef~~f~et~~ef: ~?"~~:~f,~· w~~dr~~~~ !~ a~1~0~~~~~~ Handing ?f them[dves ;. but infolendy arrogate, a ng hc to dererm10e things in the Nature at God . )Tis tr~e, ~gnorance th~ ~ore in_vincib!e, is the more excuf3ble: but when the Error of the Nhnd 1s from the VICious \V~ll, both thc~Enor and the Cauf{: of it are finfu! and in~x:cu.f~b!e: . \VI~en r_hc co~rupt \VIII has an Influence ll~on t~e Un_derl1anding, and the l\1111d JS fia1n d ~vah fame Carnal Lufl, when a Temptation diverts_ a from a ~erious and llncere confi.dtrtnl5 lhc Reafons that fhould induce us to believe D1vioc DoElno~s their Unbdid: will b.e JU!tly puni~'d. The ~cripture declares, that an tvit heart i1 theca11 [t of ,..bduf: Pndo, and ob!lmacy of Mrnd, and Carnal Lulls, are the Caufc that {o rmny renounce thofe Eternal Truths by which they fhou ld be faved • • ,, 'Tis a~!dged, That freculative Errors cannot. be Damnable. To th~s I anEver, t. The Undcrllaoding of Man in his Original State, was Light in the Lord, and regular in irs dire8IDns, now 'tts dark and difOrder'd: and in the poims of Religion tlut are rcvea l'd, any Error induces guilt, and if obtlinately defe-nded expofes ro Judg. ment. SDme Truths are written becauf~ nccdfary to be believed, others arc to be: bt:li~ved bc:caufe wr\tteo. . 2. According to the quality of the Truths rcvea l'd io1Scripture, fuch is the burtful~ ndS of r: ,·e Errors that ar.e oppofire to t hem. Some Trurbs are neceJTary, others profiuble: lome Errors are drreilly oppofite to the Saving Truths of rhe Gofpel, or hers by Confc:quc:nce underrni.ne them. Tho{e wh.o deny the Lord that hought them, ar~ grti!ty of damnable J.'-ltrrjiu! capaal Errors, not ho!dtng tJg head. ~· The. DoEl:nne of the Trinity is not a mere fpccul.ativc Truth, not: the denyal .of it a fpeculative Error: rhe Trimty is not only a~ Objc8: of Faith, but of Worfhtp. I n B3ptifin, we are dedicated to the Sacred Trimty, in the Name of the Father , Son, and Holy Ghojl, which clearly proves they are of the fame Authority and Power, and c .> . tf~q Jendy of the fame Nature: for 'cis impofi1ble to Conceive of three Infinite Bdngs, for by neceffity one would limit another. The Apollle declares, liflirbo11t Cont roverfie ~Y<at is the myfterJ ofGodlinefs, God m•nifejl in the fltfo' The Nature and End of dus Divine M~tb:ry , is to form the fpirits of Man to belte\'e, ~nd love, and obey God. For in ir there is t he cleareft Revelation of God's admirable Love to Men, of his unfpotted Holinefs, his incorruptible j ullice, the great Motives of Religion. In that Divine n~)8rine we have the moft ravtfhmg Image of Ptety and Yerrue, the moll becoming t he Na.cure of God to give, and of Man to receive. Dridly; God Commands us to believe in his Son : without Faith i~ him we are uncapJbk of Redemption by hirn. When Chrdt perform'd Miraculous Cures, he requir'd of the Pcrfoos whether they did believe in h1s D1v1ne Power, and what he declar'd him· fdf 10 be. Elelling Mercy ordains the Means and the End: The Apollle givn thanks to God, buaufe be hM cho{tn the The,Q'alonians to Salvation, through SanOijicttti 'n of th~ Spiril, .a~:d the befit[ of riJe Tr~#h. HolineiS and Faith in the Doarine of the Gofpel, arc:.: ind1fpenf~blc: quai1Ji~a tions m the Learn'd and Igooranr, that would be faved by the Soo of God. 'Tis a high Contempt of the Truth and GoodnefS of God, nor to yield a firm Aif~:nt to what he has reveal'd concerning our Salvation by his Incarna te Son. 1 Job..!· ro. He that believes not the Record that God hath given at his Son, malus God A Liar. This 1nfinitelv provokes him, and inflame~ hi~ Indign.ation. To dif:believe t~e Tefiirnony rlia'. J erus Chrilt has given of the Drvinlly of hiS Perfon anJ Doilrine, IS to defprle hi n 11 robs him of his Efiootial and his acquir'd Glory by the work of our Redt:Ulp[ion. 1 here can be no true Love of God without rhc trut: knowledge .ofhun, as: ht: is n:vcal'J not only in his Works~ but in his Word. Our Savipur, whots the Wa7, the Tmth, o~nd the Lift, has declar'd, when he gave Commiffion to his Apotlles ro pn:..1.ch the GofjJcl to the World, whotvrr bdievu 41Jd is bt~ptiud, fbaO he favtd, wboevtr bdicves not {1.;.;/1 be d4mned. We cannot mal<e Laws to be the Rule of God,s Judgm~nr, but mutl: r..:ccive chcm. HJ .vever fame may fl atte r Erring Perfom in th.eir Secuncy, ic will b·, fouo I in the great Dq, that Infidelity in the Light of the glorrous Gofpd, ,vill have no Excufc betorc God .. , The
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