o e.. their debates were not foon altogether huthed and worn out. idly, Thefe things being wonderful in themfelves, we hill come now to enquire a little into the reafons of this . and they are of two forts, t. Some fpeak finful infirmi- ty in men, even godly men. 2. Others (peak fovereign- ty in the holy God. For the firfk fort, that fpeak infirmity in us, and are culpable caufes of the thing, they may be thefe, i. Ig. norance, and unclearnefs in the underftanding and judg- ment: For the molt eminent believer in his belt condition knoweth but in part ; and, as his judgment is miftaken, fo readily will his Confcience be, which accufeth or excu- feth, according as the judgment is informed. Confcience pre-requireth, and fome way pre-fuppofeth knowledge; and therefore the man that wanteth knowledge, is called weak: So the Confcience of the weak brother is fpoken of, Rom. 14. and, I Car. 8. that is, weak through want of , knowledge. idly, The beft and moft eminent believers have a remainder of corruption in them ; and therefore are in hazard, and in a manner ready, to fide with, and entertain a miftake : If believers were free of corruption, it might be thought impoffible that they thould thus err, but that will not be till the foul be feparated from the Body; fo long as corruption remaineth, there will be a hazard, and readinefs in fo far, and in force things to Yñiftake, and to follow the mifguiding of a mifinformed Confcience. idly, Believers are fomerimes rafh and hafty in drawing a fudden conclufion, and too negligent in previous trying ; taking that for God's mind, which is not fo indeed ; as may be feen in Samuel, who taketh Eliab for God's anointed ; and in Nathan, who approveth of Davids refolution to build the temple, not only as it was a good work in itfelf, but as his prefent duty : Much of their error flowed from hafte, as he faith in a- nother. cafe, Pfal. 116. i I. I fail in my haf e, All men are liars. 4thly, There may much of this'evil arife from the fuffering of a prejudice to fir down or fettle. When a believer is prejudged, he may hear many things, and not take them well up ; fo the difciples had drunk in a prejudice at the crofs, and therefore) when Chuff
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