'Chap. 34. An cxpofitioniition the Boolk, of j o B. Verf. 3. 503 foreought not to be judgedby us;tbeword of God is pe ;fe&,and howcan we chat are imperfebf judge that which isperfe&. The word of Godistruth,and all-men are lyars ;..we are not therefore to judge the word of God,nortry that : Yet when any min (peaks of or from the word-ofGod, we are to trywhat he ípeakes ; that is, whether what he fpeaks be according to the word of God, and his doorineor interpretationgrounded on the Text. Every one- that fpeakes about fpirituall things profeffethhe brings the word of God, and it mull be-tryedwhether he doth fo or no. It is a truth towhich all are to fubmit (without difpute) by beleeving thatTefiuChrift came ixte theworld tofave'inners, to- wafh away theirfins with his61,od. This is the word ofGod : yet when this truth isPreached, we may confider whether it be mannaged ac- cording to the word of God or no, This great doóìrine, which-. contains the funneof the Gofpel,mayhave filch Things mingled with it, as are not to bereceived for the word of God. Some in the primitive time thought and taught that there was no falvatiot;. by Chrift unieífe they !till kept the ceremonial!Law and were circumcifed ; though they held that fundamental! truth, that Chrift dyed to favefinners ; yet when they came to the explica- tion ofit, they defiroyed it by urging a neceflìtyofcontinuing . the ceremonial! Law::whereas others judged rightlythatfaith on- ly, without the ufeofany Jewifh ceremony, purtfieth theheart. Thereforea counfell of fpirituall and godlywife men was called to confider ofthis matter. (APIs z 5. 6.) What to doe ? not to try theWord of God,but to trywhich of thofe two different opi- nions was according to the Wordof God. Thus when we hear aSermon, though the Wordof God andChrift crucified be the generali fubje& of it, and that is not to be tryed, but received by faith and obeyed ; yet what is fpoken upon it and delivered a- bout it as the mind ofGod in the Scripture, that is to be tryed. (; z Cor. z. -z 5.) He that isfpirituall, tryeth,or judgeth all things And againe (z Cor. 14.29.) the Apof}le gives this - counfell about prophefying, Let one or twofpeak,, and let the others judge ; what ? the Word ofGod, no ! but whether they fpeake accord- ing tothe word ofGod,or no;In this fenfe everyone mull judg for himfelfe, we mull not take all for granted, but try what we heare. by-the -eare, as we doe what we ear by themouth. Thirdly,.
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