PROPOSITION XXII. t209, of explication. Though the writings of men may be of great; Service, yet you must use them only as helps not as determiners of your faith. IL 't Read the word with holy reverence and humility of soul," resolving to believe whatsoever you find there plainly re- vealed, whether you can reconcile it or no to your own fancies or former opinions. Read with an awful submission of your under standings to the authority of God speaking in his word. See proposition XVI. III. "Read and pursue your enquiries with a solemn con, cern about the importance of this doctrine :" Let not a vain, light, any spirit tempt you ever to think or speak of it as a trivial matter, nor to mix it with common careless talk, nor profane it by noisy janglings, and a vain affectation of disputes about so divine a mystery. I fear this is a most provoking sip in our day. IV. " Read with an abasing sense of your your own weak- ness and darkness of mind," and with importunate prayer to God for the teachings of his Spirit, who searches the deep things of God, and is promised to be given to those that ask it and to lead them into all necessary truth. V. ' Set yourself to this work with great solemnity," and let your judgment determine itself in this important article, as in the presence of Goíl.your Supreme and final Judge. Dare not to indulgeany old prejudices, or a vain affectation ofnovelty, Do not consult with flesh and blood, or suffer any carnal interests to have influence upon your judgment, or to bias your assent to any principle oropinion. Let nothing but the convincing evi- dence of scripture decide the question, and settle your faith. `fake heed lest you build your belief upon anyreasons or mo- tives which you cannot justify to your conscience under the sharpest and severest enquiry : nor take up merely with such á sliety of argument, either to confirm or renounce any im- portant article as you dare not produce at the bar of God, and speak it boldly as a proof of your faith in the face of men and angels. - VI. And while you read and meditate on this subject and pursue your enquiries about this 'important point of reli- gion, ° watch and preserve a pure and holy frame of soul." Take heed lest you induigë a haughty, or a sensual, sinful temper ; examine your hearts and your ways, and remove every iniquity ; lest the great and dreadful God, who is jealous for the honour of his name, should be provoked to leave you to your own darkness, or abandon you to the foolish fires of fancy ; lest he should give you up in judgment to the vain dictates of a proud and conceited mind, and thereby you may
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