CHAP·4· upon the Epiftle of J A M I s. ing ~ea! isfur], peacMblenefs and holy moderation is time[erving · :ind ba[e compliance, preffing humbling doctrine is Legali{m, &c. Thus do many dec~ve themfelves with names: Bur do not you judg the Law in all this? The Law [aich,Sitting at th~ Wine a!I da; is drunlzennefs, and you call this good fellowlhip>&c. But if thrJu judg the Law, thou art not aDoer ofthe Law, but a 1udg.] That is, when thou exercifefi fucha ralb fuperiority over the Law, thou dofidearly exempt thy felffrom obedience :md fub– jed:ion to it. Obferve hence, 495 Thofe that judg the Word, no Wonder ifthq hegiv_en over to the Ohj(rvat. difobedience of it. ~ns done grofly by thofe that euher deny the divine Authority of the Scriptures, or accu{e it (as the Papitls do) as an uncertain Rule, or examineall die Dod:rines·of i·t by their private Reafon, or the Writings and Prec€pts of men, &c. And ~cis done more clofelyby thofe that come eo judg the Word, rather then to be judged by it. "fis true, we have a liberty to examine, but we fhould not come with amind tocavil and cenfure ; the Polpit, which in a fence is qods Tribunal, l:hould not beour Bar : The matter delivered mull be examined byScripture modefily a11d .humbly, but we mull not defpife and flight Gods Ordinance, and come hither meerly to fit Judges of mens parts or weaknetles ; this is the ready way to beget an irreverent and fearlefs fpirit; and tht:n when men lofe their awe and reverence, their refiraint is gone, and they gro:w loofe, or defperately erroneous: God will pun1!h their pride with fame fudden fall. Look to your ends Chri!\:ians, you will find , a great deal of difference between foming to hear, and coming to cenfure; if you come with fuch avain~im, fee ifyou .gef any thing by aSermon but matter ofcarping, and fee if that do not bring you . to loofenefs, and that to Atheifm: Ufually this is the fad progrefg · of proud fpiritS; firfi preaching is cenfnrcd,not examined, then the manners are tainte'd; then the Word it felfisquefiioned, and then , men·lof~ allfear ofGotl andm~n. ·
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