Serin. LXIII. Proving fefusto be the Meílias. 457 never more endangered, nor never more corrupted, than by thofe who have been in greateft Authority in that Church, who ought to have underftood Religion belt, and have been the principal Support of it. Menmay err : but God cannot So that when God fends a Prophet, or by his Word does plainly declare his Will to us, Humane Example and Authority ceafeth, and is of no force. The laß Prejudice I thall mention, which the Jews had againft our Saviour and hisllo&rine, was, that it did abolith and fuperfede their Religion, as of no longer Life and Continuance; though it was plain it was Inflituted by God. This had been a very fpecious Pretence indeed, had not this been part of their Religion, and had not their own Prophets foretold, that theMeffias thould come and perfe&what was wanting and defehtive in their Inftitution. It is ex- prefly faid in their Law, That God would raife unto them another Prophet, like to Mofes, and that they Mould hear him, when he came. So that in truth it was the Accomplifhment of all thofe Revelations which were made to the Jews, and did not reprove the JewiJh Religion as falfe; but as imperfea: And did not con- tradili and overthrow ; but perfeïí and fulfil the Law and the Prophets. And thus I have gone over the chief exceptions and Offence's which the Jews took at our Saviour and his Do&rine; and I hope fufficiently Chown the Linreafo- nablenefs of them. I have not now time to proceed to what remains: But by what bath been Paid, you may eafily fee, upon what flight and unreafonable Grounds Men may be prejudiced againft the belt Perlon and Things, and yet be very confident all the while that they are in the Right. For fo no doubt many of the Pews, who oppofed our Saviour and his Do&fine, thought themfelves to be. Therefore it concerns us to put on Meeknefs, and Humility, and Modefly, that we may be able to judge impartiallyof things, and our Minds may be pre- ferved free and indifferent to receive theTruths of God, when theyare offer'd to us : Otherwife Self-Conceit and Paffion will fo blind our Minds, and biais our Judgments, that we (hall be unable to difcern, and unwilling to entertain the plainett and moti evident Truths. We fee here by the fad Example of the Jews, that bygivingway to Paffion, and chetithing Pride and Self Conceit, Mtn may be fo deeply prejudiced againft the Truth, as to refill the cleareft Light, and rejefi even Salvation it felf, when it is offer'd to them. So that it is not in vain, that the Scripture faith, let every Man be fwift to hear, and flow to Wrath ; for the Wrathof Man worketh not the righteoufnefs of God, and exhortsus fo earneftly, to receive with Meeknefs the Word of God, which is able to fave our Souls. Nnn SERa-
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=