2 of the Hearts Eftablifinent by Grace, S e c r. VII. mangolden Talents, not to fall down and werfhip them : 1f therefore title Opinions and Difputes are:fie fewel, tobeget prideand vainglory, and to make men look after viEtory overeehers, more then the truth howmuch better had it been for thee to be exercifing thy felt in godlinefs, and to walk humbly with God ! The pride ofpartsandOpinions, is far greater then thatof Cloathes or Beauty, or any other earthly thing, becaufe we judge chofe excellenciesof the mimic, above any temporal excellency ; therefore confiderwith thy felf, what is the iffue of all thy inquifitions and debates into Religious truths, is it to make thee morefelf-conceited, moreboafiing, and confident in thy felf. The igno- ranceof a Pimpleman, will not be fo great adamnation, as thepride of a know- ing man. Labor then for that which will keep thee low, humble and Pelf-de- bared, and this Grace onely in theheart will accomplifh : Worms do not fooner breed in ripe and Tweet fruir, then Prideand Self confidence doch in knowledge and intelledkual abilities. 1I. ' Secondly, eAnothercorroptendef `Parts and DifpùtesinReligion, L to be(elf willed, and ftiff-necked, not Willing tayieldto any like the Motto upon the Ro man god Terminus ,Cedonnlli; and this is that whichmakes a mananHeretique; when a man after feveraladmonitions, doth obflinately and willfully adhere to that opinion which he bath chofen, and will not, as Religion which is from above, would incline, Be pore, peaceable, and eafily to beentreated , James 3.17. The Pharifees they were frequent in Difputes with Chrift, and defpifed thepeo- ,tli;,äithofethat knewnot the Law, when they had nothing to fay, and their ffioiïilheswere (lopped, yec they would adhere to their former way. Its true inidétt conftancyand fiedfaflnefs in the truths of God is neceffary: Herein (Ifii b Luther) We ought to be more Pertinacious then Steickr; and it was a PRAYerbial fpeech in Galen, whenmenwould exprefs a difficulty, Toumay[mate badñie'à ChrifliánfromChrft, theywere fach holdfatt men : But this dothno WityVescufe erroneous pertinacy, or felf-willed obflinacy infalfe ways, or in &tiff ARAdifputations : Its like removing a mountain out of his place,when we dioutë`perfwadea man againfl that Tenetor Opinion he is ingaged in. III. -Thirdly.ThofeD;fputatioasandOpinionsmaybecarried on,forcarnal andtemporal adv;:tínages,for- covetónfnefi andfilthy lucre as we may fee is was in the Pharifees And the Apoille difcovers theendsof thefalle Apoftles, that they thought gain vä'aigödlïnefs,a Tim.5.6.and the love of money made many fullerfhipwrack in 'their faith : Howttiencati thatbebefl,which may be proftituted to the worfl and Moll ignoble refpéls? It was Pauls comfortable Proteflation, That he had not ufeda cloakof Covetcofnefs r Theff. a, 5. The reafon why the falle Apoffles k vented their vainOpinions was, that they might not fuller perfecution for the Göiei of Chrift. And thus Anftindefined anHeretique, one that took up any 14aMIfe4ay, Ahceojtes temporalis commodigratiá, for any temporal advantage and 'Oa& How then can the quinteffenceand fafety of Religion be laid in that, f*bbA'may be fubfervient tofuck finful lulls of the foul. IV Its better toget Grace, then to be exercifed in theft Difpntes,.becaufe <948jlrimes head-D;fpotations are ufedfor tomakeParties andSchirms in theChurch; l' Páfawmany Dilri piesafter `them, and fo to (land-a-divided body from others. ztph'chApoffle,IiiMcareful Washe to prevent fchifms and divifions ? therefore he att3í^I pre(fed'lBV i nd think -die fame thing,and to (peak the fame thing,com- a4tiiñifing all thibgelobe done in charity, and nothing through contentionand -4äi8lgkory; "lélteOttläbe a fad flo y, to tell you what rents the Leaders of any ¢dlfeOpinioñi+hyrwe táade;wbichcould notbe cured intome hundreds ofyears I "afterwards ; andwhich is the greater wonder, while the Apollles were alive, .,,, r HBvereinfallible Judges, and could have determined any doubt of Religion, yet in theirdaysxvädsdid come up in.Chri[is Garden, and the envious pue did fow tares amongftthegoodwheat. t'. Fifthly, Therefore it tsbetterto exercife ourJellies in Grace then on Parts,bä fnt
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=