517 / 808
V
a>a.14.
Ephefan.r,
Chap.
4.,
497
3.
They
are void
of
difcerning ,
they
cannot well judge
of
things
,
this
is
made
a
property
of ripe
age, tò
difcerne
good from
evil!
:
thus in us, while
we arc children
in
our
profeffion
,
we are
cafily
carried about , but becaufe
we
want
that
wifdom which fhould
make
us
cautelous,looking
And
alto us
in
before we
leap,trying
before we truft,and are
too too
light
point of Reli-
of
beliefe.
z.-
We
are
inconftant and fickle,becaufe we
arc
not yet rootedand
grounded while
we are children.
3.
Wee
have not
the
fpirit of
difcerning,
that
fhould make
us fee
things
that
differ,
that
fhould make
us
be able to difcerne
of
the
fpirit,
to try
all
things,
and
therefore, no wonder
if
this be incident to
thofe
that
are
children,
to be
carried
to
and
fro.
Now
we mull apply
it;
for thus
it
is
with
us
that
are flill
childifh,
rfe
1
experienceproveth.
When
the
doarine
of
theBrownifts began,how
many, not
of
the worft,were tranfported
in
it?
how
many applauded
them, which commeth from
our childifhneffe,
that our
fenfes are
not
exercifed
to
difcerne
betwixt good
and
evil!.
We
muff
labour,feeing
wee
know the
caufes
of
this difeafe,to take
rfe
z.
them
away,that
the
frckncffe
if
fclfe
may be
removed: we mutt
feche
for witdome,
reek
to
be ettablifhed,
fecke
elpecially for
that
fpirit
of
difcerning.
For
need
havewee, when
fuch
feducers, fuch books,fuch
Preachers, that neither
have wholefome forme
of wotds,
nor matter,
are fo frequent amongft us.
This
is
the propertie ofchildren,
they
will
be
eafily
carried,
a
truth
for the
mat
part proved
by
experience:
though
in
this doctrineyou mutt adde this exception;
That
fometinie
children
it pleafeth
God to
make
children
Rand
fteadie, when
old
ones
(hake,
fou when
ivicodemen
and
tofeph,
when
all the
Difciples
withdrew
themfelves,
old oncsfnake.
freely profeffed.
The
z. thing
laid
dowse,
is
a
duty that
tyeth
us
all,
viz.
That
we
Dolt.
muff
grew
to
refolution in
the de-trine
we
profefe
;
Be
not
wavering,
thus
r
elcuk
grow
the
Apoltle
fpeaketh,
Heh. 13.
g.
Be
not
carried
about
with
divers and
poin[ of rdigi_
flrange dohirines,
for
et
is a
good
thing that
the heart
be
eftablifleed
with
on.
grace.
Wu
mutt not hold the points
of
Religion'as
uncettaine
opini-
ons, but
as
matters
of
beliefe,
not haltingly,
like
thofe
Ifraelites
that
walked, hanging betwixt God
and
Baal;but
like
lofteah
who refolved,
though
all fhould
goe
to othergods, yet
he and
his
houfhold would
feare
the
Lord.
And this
is
fleecing
to be urgedupon
us
,
who
hold
as
opinions
rather then
as
articles
of
beliefe,
the truth
of God,who
are
Scepticks in our
Religion,
and
know
not
but
other
things may be truer
then thefe
which
are
taught us.
,;Zefl. But
you
will fay,
How
may we
come
to be
rcfolute
in
the
truth
e
Anfw.
By
thefe 4.meanes.
a.
Uwe
receive this
or that truth
fincerely ,
as
the truth
in
the
me
anw robe'
love of
ir,
not for novelty,
as
thofe,loh.5.35.
Becaufe
john
wits
co ne
reiom[e.
a
fhining
candle,
they
would
rejoyce
in
his
lightfor
of
a
boa;
for
X x
then