VnneceOrary Knowledge, and Delight theretn. 17 I againft it ; and they catch here and there a little, and make what their lift of it, and force it to their carnal fenffe, and to fpeak for that which their minds are moft affeCted to. But the fanCtified{Indent, begins at the botom, and firft feeks to know the Ellen tials of Religion,and Points that life lieth aloft upon And fo he proceeds in order, and takes the leffon which God and his Teachers fet him, and take up truths as they lie in or- der of neceflity and ufe. 8. And in the manner alfo the difference is great. The Carnal fludent fearcheth prefumptuoufly felf-conceitedly and unreverently, and fpeaks ofholy things accordingly, and cenfureth them, when he fhould cenfure himfelf and aeti- ons by them, and bendeth the words of God to his own car- nal intereft and will. But the Spiritual fludent fearcheth meekly with fear and reverence with felf-fufpicion and con- fcioufnefs of his exceeding darknefs, and with a willingnefs and refoltition to fubmit to the light, for conviction and for theguidance of his converfation. And now you fee what carnal ftudies are, remember that to avoid them is part of yourfelf-deni41. Reitrain your ranging fantafies and underffanding, as you would do a ranging appe- tite. If you have a mind that would fain reach higher then Godbath given you light in Scripture, or a mind that muit needs be fatisfied of the reafons ofall Gods ways, and mur- mureth if anyof its doubts be unrefolved, remember that this isfelf that muff be denied ; and if any be wife in his own eyes, be muff become a fool that he may be wife, I Car. 3. 18. and as little children mull you come to the School of Chrift , if you will indeed be his Difciples. And remember that this In- telledlual voluptuoufnefs, licentioufnefs, and prefumption of Carnal minds, is a higher, and in fome refpeas, greater and more dangerous vice, then brutifh fenfuality. And you may cheat and undo your fouls in a civil courfe of carnal 'felfilh {Indies, as well as' in a courfeofmore grofs and fenfual volup- tuoufnefs. C 11 A P.
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