480 Chap. 3'3. An Expofition upon the Book of Jo B. Verf.3;. thing.Sèlomen faith (Ecc!:.3.6.) There is a time to keep f le "ce,ard' a time to fpeake ; but this kind of filence is in feafon at all times, we ought alwayes to be filent thus, that is, alwayes fubmit to the sninde of God. We need to beended of this, becaufe the prid and over - weening of Lean is great. We have need toput a bridle upon our tongues, muchmore upon our hearts; is is hard to bring- our wills and our underftandings under; we are apt to (Drive and ßruggle when truth comes neere us ; yea to kick at it, when it & ruesvery necre and home to us, though indeed the 'neerer it comes the better, nor can itever come toaneere. The Apofile fumes apprehended this when he give that admonition (('hap: a. 2 a.) Receive with meekreffe, the ingraffed word, which is abloto- (aveyourfoules : Meekneflè is that gracewhich moderates anger; a pail:onate or fierce fpirit, receiveth not the word, but rifeth up ssgainfl ir, turnes not to it but upon it ; and, which is wort+ of- all, turnes it to evill; not to good, turnes light intodarknefle and fo the word of life becomes -a favour of death for want of a due fubmillìon to it. Thereforehearken, andholdyour peace when the wordof God is fpoken. Da not fay it is but the word of man, becaufe delivered by man ; God fpeaks in and by his faithful!, Meflengers ; ye oppofe the authority of the living God , not a mortali dyingcreature, when you rejetî the word. And remem- ber , it is not only our duty but our liberty to give up our felves prifoners to the truths of God ; we are never fo free as when bound by it or to it. And as we _fhould hold our peace at or fubmit toall .the truths of God in all cafes, fo efpecially in thefe three. Fir[l, Whenwe are reproved forour fins in pra8icethen we should not fund excufin$_ what we have done, but repent' of it. Secondly, Whenwe are (hewed our errour in opinion ; then we should not f}and difputing, and arguing for what wehold, but recant ir. 'Tis time toholdour peace, when once it appeares to us, that we doe not hold the truth. To erre is common to man, but to perfevere in anerrour, to the defence and patronage of ir, is more then inhumane, devilith. . Thirdly, We fhould hold ourpeace when our duty is plaine before us; thenwe thou Id not'Iland queflionirig it, but dáe ir. whátfoever thy hsnd finder!). to doe (faith Solomon, Ecal: 9. -r O. that
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=