Honefty the belt Prefervative, &c. 2 3 5 here in the Text, when he fays, Tho' We, or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gofpel unto you, than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accurfed. I will conclude all with that Counfel which the Spirit of God gives to the Churches of Afia , Rev. 3. 3. Remember therefore how thou haft received and heard, and hold fall ; and Chap. 2. so. Fear none of thofe things which thouflair fuffer, be thou faithful unto the Death, and Iwill give thee a Crown of Life. SERMON XXXIII. Honefty the beltPrefervative againft dangerous Miílakes in Religion. JOHN Vll. 1 7. If any Man will do his Will, he ¡ball know of the Doarine, whe- ther it be of God, or whether I fpea4 of my felf. there are fo many different Opinions and Apprehenfions in the World SInce about Matters of Religion, and every Sell and Party does with fo much confidence pretend that they and they only, are in the truth ; The great difficulty and queflion is, by what means Men may be fecured from dan- gerous Errors and Miflakes in Religion. For this end fome have thought it ne- ceffary that there fhould be an Infallible Church, in the Communion whereof every Man may be fecured from the dangers of a wrong Belief. But it feems God hath not thought this neceffary : If he had, he would have revealed this very thing more plainly than any particular Point of Faith whatfoever. He would have told us exprefly, and in the plaineft terms, that he had appointed an Infal- lible Guide and judge in matters of Faith, and would likewife have told us as plainly who he was, and where we might find him, and have recourfe to him upon all occafions ; becaufe the fincerity of our Faith depending upon him, we could not be fafe from miftake in particular Points, without fo plain and clear a Revelation of this Infallible judge, that therecould be no miftake about him ; nor could there be an end ofany other Controverfies in Religion, unlefs this Infallible judge (both that there is one, and whohe is) were out ofControverfie. But neither of thefe are fo : It is not plain from Scripture that there is an Infallible judge and Guide in Matters of Faith; much lets is it plain who he is; and therefore we maycertainly conclude, that God hash not thought it neceffary that there fhould be an Infallible Guideandjudge in Matters ofFaith, becaufe he. hath revealed no fuch thing to us; and that Bifbop, and that Church who only have arrogated Infallibility to themfelves, have given the greateft evidence in the 'World to the contrary; and have been deteaed and ftand con, vinc'dof the greateft Errors : And it is in vain for any Man, or Company of Men,to pretend to Infallibility, fo long as the Evidence thatthey are deceived is much greater and clearer than any Proof they can produce for their Infallibility. If then God hath not provided an Infallible Guide and judge in Matters of Faith ; there is fume other way whereby Men may be fecured againft dangerous" and damnable Errors in Religion, and whereby they may difcernTruth from Im- pofture, and what Doftrines are from God, and what not ; and this our Saviour declares to us here in the Text, namely, That an honeft and fincere mind, and 1-1 h 2 a hearty
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