VER. 9. EPA to the H E B R E WS. unto our felves newhearts, that we may fear him; which at firft confideration feems fo to reprefent it not only as our Duty, but alfa within our Power, as though we had no need of any help from Grace for its Accomplifhment. In another he pro- mifeth abfolutely to circumcifè our heartr,and togive itt new beans to fear him, as though it were fo his work, as not tobe our concernmentto attempt it. But now thefefe- veral places being fj,iritually compared together, make it evident, that asit is our Duty tohave newand circumcifed hearts, fo it isthe Effectual Grace ofGod" that mutt work and create them in us. And the like may be obferved in all the important Truths that are ofDivine Revelation. And this, r. Difcovers the Root of almoll all theErrors and Herefies that are in theWorld, Men whofe hearts arenot fubdued by Faith and Humility unto the Obedience of the Truth, lighting on fome Expreffionsin the Scripture, that tingly confidered feem to give countenance to fotne fuch Opinion as theyare willing to embrace ; without far- ther fearch they fix it on their mindsand imagination, until it is tao late tooppefe any thing unto it. For when they are once fixed in their perfwafions, thofe other places ofScripture which they (houldwith Humility have compared with that whofe teeming fenfe theycleave unto, and from thence have learned the mindofthe HolyGhoff inthem all, are confidered by them tonoother End, but only how they may pervert them, and free themfelves from the Authority of them. This I fay, feems to be the wayof the molt of them, who pertinaciously cleave unto falfe and foolith Opinions, They rafhlytake up a feeming tènfe ofCome particular places, and then obtinately makethat fink the Ruleof interpreting all other Scriptures what ever. Thus in our own dayes, we have many who from the outward foundof thole words, Joh.r.9. He is the true light which lighteneth every man that comes into the world,having taken up a rath, foolifhand falfe imagination that Christ is that Light which is remaining in all men, and therein their Guideand Rule, do from thence either wreft the wholeScri- pture tomake it fuit and anfwer that fuppofal, or elfe utterly flight and defpife it when if they hadcomparedit with otherScriptures whichclearly explain and declare themind ofGod in thethings which concern thePerron and Mediationofthe Lord Chrit, with the Nature andWorks of natural, and faving ffriritual light, and fubmit- ted to the Authorityand Wifdom ofGod in them, they might have been preferved from their delufion. It thews alfo, e. The Danger that there is unto men unskilled and unexercifed in the Word of Truth : when without theAdvice, Aflítance, or Direáions of others who are able to guide them and inftruEt their Enquiry after the mind of God. They haffily embrace Opinions, which it may be'fome one Text or other of Scripturedoth feeemingly give countenance unto. By this meansdo men run themfelves into the fore-menti- oned Danger every day ; efpecially where any feducing Spirit applyes himfelf unto them, with (welling words of vanity, boating of fome mifundertood word or other. Thus have we teenmultitudes lead byCome generalExprellions in two or three par- ticular places ofScripture, into an Opinion about a general Redemption of all man- kind and every Individual thereof; when if they had been wife, and able to have fearched thofe other Scriptures innumerable,fetting forth the Eternal Love of God to bis Eletl, his purpofe to fave them byJefus Chrit, the natureand end ofhis Oblation and ranfom, and compared them with others, they would have undertood the vanity of their KatyConceptions. 3. From thefe things it appears, what Diligence, Patience, Waiting, Wifdom is requiredof all men in fearching ofthe Scriptures, who intend to come unto the ac- knowledgement of the Truth thereby. Andunto this end, and becaufe of thegreat- nefs of ourconcernment therein, doth the Scripture it felf abound with Precepts, Rules, Directions, to enable us unto a right and profitable difcharging of our Duty. They are too manyhere to be infected. I (hall onlyadd, that the Diligence of Hea- thens will rife up in judgement and condemn theJlathof many that are calledChriti- ans inthis matter. For whereas they had no certain Rule, Way, or means to come to, theknowledgeof theTruth, yet they ceafed not with indefatigable diligence and industry to enquire after it, and to trace the obfcure footffeps of what was left intheir own natures, or implantedon theworks ofCreation. But many, the mot ofthofe unto whomGod hath granted the ineftimable benefit and priviledge ofhis Word, asa fore and infallible Guide to lead them into the knowledge of all ufeful and Caving Tenth, do openly neglectit, not accounting it worthy their fearching, tudy, and di- ligent Examination. How wofully will this rife up in Judgement againt themat the sat III
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