PART ,III. of gracious 4fe51ions. 3 2 from all others . to be infitfed on. Which is an invincible Argument that it is the Chief of all the Evidences of Godlinefs: Unlefs we fup- pole that when Chriff and hisApoffles on Defign, set themfelves about this Bufinefs of giving Signs, by which profeffing Chriffians in all Ages might determine their State, they did not know how to choofe Signs fo well as we could have chofen for 'em. But if we make the Word of Chriff our Rule, then undoubtedly thofe Marks which Chritt and his Apoffles did chiefly lay down, and give to us, that we might try ourfelves by them, thofe fame Marks we ought especially to receive,and chiefly to make ufe of,in theTrial of ourfelves. i, And furely thofe Things which Chriff and his Apoffles chiefly infitfed on in the Rules they gave, Miniffers ought chiefly to infift on in the Rules they give.To infift much on thofeThings that theScripture insists little on, and to infift very little on thofe Things on which the Scrip- ture infiffs much, is a dangerous Thing ; becaufe it is going out of God's Way, and is to judge ourfelves, and guide others, in an un- fcriptural Manner. God knew which Way of leading and guiding Souls was fafeft and heft for them : He infitfed fo much on fome Things, becaufe he knew it to be needful that they fhould be infitfed on ; and let other Things more alone, as a wife God, becaufe he knew it was not belt for us, fo much to lay the Weight of the Trial there. As the Sabbath was made for Man, fo the Scriptures were made for Man ; and they are by infinite Wifdom fitted for our Ufe and Benefit. We should therefore make them our Guide in all Things, in our Thoughts of Religion, and of ourfelves. And for us to make that great which the Scripture makes little, and that little which the Scripture makes great, tends to give us a monffrous Idea of Religion ; and (at least indirectly and gradually) to lead us wholly away from the right Rule, and from a right Opinion of ourfelves, and to ettablifh Delusion and Hypocrify. Argument V. Chriffian Practice is plainly fpoken of in the Lord of God, as the main Evidence of the Truth of Grace, not only to o- thers, but to Men's own Consciences. It is not only more fpoken of and infitfed on than other Signs, but in many Places where it is fpoken of, it is reprefented as the Chief of all Evidences. This is plain in the Manner of Expreffion from Time to Time. If God were now to fpeak fromHeaven to refolve our Doubts concerningSigns of God- linefs, and fhould give fome particular Sign, that by it all might know " It is a lure Rule, ( lays Dr. Ar on ) that what the Scriptures 44 W beffow much ords on, we should have much Tho'ts on ; g4 and what the holyGhoft urgeth molt, we should prize molt." Churches Carriage. whether
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