.Vera. the i7thChapter óf St: JOHN.9 when Men (hake off the Ordinances. of Men, he ftirreth up others ro iltieftion the Or- dinances of God. And I have obferved, that kirk out Of a pretence of grdwing in Knowledg, pút themfelves upon a flat Scepticifm, and wary Refervation; holding no- thing certain for the prefent, but waiting for new Light; fuel] as there the APOftle tendeth, 2 Tim. S. 7. Ever learning; and never coming to the knowledg of the Truth : they make profef &on of being Itudious in Sacred Things, but never come to any fettlemenr; and are loth to hold to any Principles, left they Ihoúld Phut the Door upon new Light. New Light is become a dangerous Word, efpecially now in the latter Times, now wè have a Promife, that Knowledg 'hall be increafed, Dan. la. 4. Aims at Knbwledg, is the dangerous Snare of there Times, as the .Gtr flicks pretended to more Knowledg. This is a great Snare; Satan promifed more Knowledg to our fìrff Parents : Gen. 3. 5. God doth know; that in the day ye eat thereof, then your Eyes (hall be opened; and ye filiall be as Gods, knowing Good and Evil. Which, Eframple the Apoftle fetteth before our Eyes, 2 Cor. 1 I. 3. But I fear; left by any meant, as the Serpent begioiletl Eve through his fubtilty, fo your Minds fhould be corrupted from the fmplicity that is in Chr: And he telleth us, Satan tnrneth hinsfelf into an Angel of Light, Verf. 13, 14. Now for your Direalon'know ; 1. Progrels in Knowledg is rather in Degrees than Parts ; nót in new Truths, but greater proportions of Light. Light refpeíteth the Medium, Truth the Object. I fay, It is rather, not altogether ; a Man may walk in prefent Praftices, which future Light may dilprove and tetrad : But uluall the inereafe of a Chriftian, is rather in the mea- fure of Knowledg, than difference ofYObjeds.. Our old Principles are improved and perfected. Prov. 4. 18. The 'Path of the tuft is as the finning Light, that fhineth mare and more to the perfeel Day. To know God more, and Çhrift more, to be more pra- dically skilful in the Word of Righteoufnefs : Heb. 5. 14. Strong Meat belongeth to them that are of full Age, who by reafen of nfe, have their Senfes exercrfed to d f ern both Good and Evil. . 2. That Fundamentals in the Scriptureare clear and certain. God hath not left us in the dark, but pointed out a clear way to Heaven, of Faith and good Works. EpheC 2.10. We are his Workmanfl» p, created in Chriff lefts unto good Works, which God bath before ordained, that, we fhould walk in them. It is a difparagement to the Word, to malte it an uncertain Rule. The Way to Heaven is beaten, and we may obferve the Track and Foot-prints of the Flock. It is a good Obfervation of Chryfoftom, That the Saints do not complain of the darknefr of the Scripture, but of their own Hearts : Open thou mine Eyes, not make a new Law. 3. There neceflary Doctrines mutt be entertained, without doubt and hefitancy : It is dangerous when Foundation- ftones lie look. We are preffed to Rand fall in the Faith, a Cor. 16. 13. and to hold the Profeffion of it without wavering, Hob.'i6. 23. Not to enquire after the Gods of the Natidns, Deut. 12.30. and Gal. 1. 8. Though an An- gel from Heaven fhould preach any other Doltrine to you, than that which ye have heard, let him be accurfed. The notion of new Light, chiefly aimeth at undermining the old Doctrine of the Scriptures. For the main of Religion, a Man fhould be Celled above doubt and contradiftion. Till we have certainty, there cannot be Grace ; the Soul is not broughtunder the Power of Truth ; for things that are controverfial, have no efficacy and force. The great hindrance of Saving - knowledg, is that natural Atheifm, and thofe habituated Doubts which are found in the Heart. 4. We mutt be zealous for Idler Truths, when we have received them upon cer- tain Grounds. Every piece and parcel of Truth is precious; a little Leaven of Error is dangerous ; Gal. 5. g. A little Leaven leaveneth the whole Lump. Error fretteth like a Gangrene, and grows hill higher and higher. Men think it is enough Co be careful of Fundamentals, all other Knowledg is but Scientia Obleflans, for delight, not fafety. Oh it is dangerous to Rain the Underftanding, though you donot wound it : There are Macula and Vulnera Intellellîrr. Iris dangerous to be wanton in Opinions,that feem to be of a fmaller concernment. Men that play with Truth, leave themfelves open to more dangerous Errors. Some fay, Fundamentals are few, believe them, and live well, and you are faved. This is, as if a Man in building fhould be only careful to lay a good Foundation, no matter for Roof, Windows, or Walls : If a Man fhould umile your Houle, and tell you, the Foundation, the main Buttereffes are fafe, you would not be pleafed. Why fhonld we be more weld's ha Spiritual Things ? g. Take
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