and sensuality which they learned themselves; and being ignorant, yet the honour of their functions must be maintained, and therefore their ignorance must be hid, which yet themselves do weekly make ostentation of in the pulpit, where they should be shining lights; and when their own tongues have proclaimed it, those of understand. ing that observe and loathe it, must be maligned and railed at for knowing how little their teachers know.

Nothing without long and hard studies furnisheth the mind with such a stock of truth, as may be called real wisdom. "That God is the reward of them that diligently seek him," (and not of the lazy neglecters of him) is the second principle in religion. (Heb. xi. 6.) They that cannot be at this labour, must be content to know but little, and not take on them to know much. For they are not able to discern truth from falsehood; but while they sleep the tares are sowed: or while they open the door, all crowd in that can come first; and they cannot make a just separation. Ignorant persons will swarm with errors, and he that erreth will think that he is in the right; and if he think that it is a divine and necessary truth which he embraceth, how zealously may he pursue it!

Direct. XV. Take heed of the bias of carnal interest, and of the disturbing passions, which selfish partiality will be apt to raise. Men may verily think, that they sincerely love the truth, when the secret power of a carnal interest,—their honour, their profit or pleasure, is it that turneth about their judgment, and furnisheth them with arguments, and whets their wits, and maketh

ssionately confident; and they are not

aware of it. Observe: Is your worldly interest on that side that your opinion is for? Though that prove it not false, it proveth that you should be very suspicious of yourselves.

Direct. XVI. Keep up unfeigned fervent love to others, even as to yourselves. And then you will not contemn their persons and their arguments, without certain cause. You will not turn to passionate contentions, and reproaches of them when you differ; and the reverence of your elders, teachers, and superiors, will make you more ready to suspect yourselves than them. Most of our self-conceited pretenders to knowledge, have lost all love and reverence, and are bold despisers of the persons, reasons and writings of all that contradict their error. And most that venture to cast the churches into flames, and their brethren into silence and sufferings, that they may plant their own opinions, are great despisers of those that they afflict, and either hate them, or would make them hateful, lest they should be thought to be unjust in using them like hateful persons. "Love that thinketh no evil of others, is not apt to vaunt itself."(1 Cor. xiii.) Direct. XVII. Reverence the Church of God, but give not up your understandings absolutely to any men; but take heed of taking any church, sect, or party, instead of the infallible God. With the Universal Church, you must embodynot hold concord: it is certain, that that erreth not from the essentials of Christianity: otherwise the Church were no Church, and no Christians could be saved. If a Papist say, and which is this Church?' I answer him, it is the universality of Christians, or all that hold these essentials; and when I say, that this Church cannot fall

from these essentials, I do but say, it cannot cease to be a Church, the Church is constituted of, and known by the essentials of faith; and not the estentials of faith constituted by the Church, nor so known by it; though it be known as the teacher of it.

He that deserteth the Christian universality, in deed though not in words, and cleaveth too close to any sect, whether Papal or any other, will be carried down the stream by that sect, and will fill his understanding with all their errors and uncertainties, and confound them with the certain truths of God, to make up a mixed religion with; and the reverence of his party, church or sect, will blind his mind, and make him think this his duty.

Direct. XVIII. Above all pray and labour for a truly humble mind, that is well acquainted with its own defects; and fear and fly from a proud, overvaluing of your own understanding. Be thankful for any knowledge that you have, but take heed of thinking it greater than it is. The devils sin, and the imitation of Adam, are not the way to have the illumination of God's spirit. It is not more usual with God to bring low those that are proud of greatness, than to leave to folly, deceit and error, those that are proud of wisdom; and to leave to sin and wickedness, those that are proud of goodness.

Direct. XIX. Lastly, keep in a childlike, teachable, learning resolution, with a sober and suspended judgment, where you have not sure evidence to turn the scales. When Christ saith, Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven :" (Matt. xviii. 3 :) as he hath re

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spect to the humility of children in general (and their inception of a new life), so in special he seemeth to respect them as disciples.

But two things here I earnestly advise you : 1. That you spend more time in learning than in disputing not but that disputing in its season is necessary to defend the truth; but usually it engageth men's wits in an eager opposition against others, and so against the truth which they should receive; and it goeth more according to the ability of the disputants, than the merits of the cause. And he that is worsted is so galled at the disgrace, that he hateth the truth the more for his sake that hath dishonoured him : and therefore Paul speaketh so often against such disputing, and saith that the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle, and apt to teach, and in meekness instruct opposers.

I would ordinarily, if any man have a mind to wrangle with me, tell him; If you know more of these things than I, if you will be my teacher, I shall thankfully hear and learn,' and desire him to open his judgment to me in its fullest evidence : and I would weigh it as the time and case required; and if I were fully satisfied against it, I would crave leave to tell him the reasons of my dissent, and crave his patient audience to the end. And when we well understood each other's mind and reasons, I would crave leave then to end in peace; unless the safety of others required a public dispute to defend the truth.

2. And my special repeated counsel is, that you suspend your judgment till you have cogent evidence to determine it. Be no further of either side than you know they are in the right; cast

not yourself into other men's opinions hastily, upon slight reasons at a blind adventure. If you see not a certainty, judge it not certain. If you see but a probability, judge it but probable. "Prove all things, and hold fast that which is good." (1 Thess. v.) The Bereans are commended for searching the Scripture, and seeing whether the things were so which Paul had spoken. (Acts xvii.) Truth feareth not the light. It is like gold, that loseth nothing by the fire. Darkness is its greatest enemy and dishonour. Therefore look before you leap you are bid, "Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they be of God." (1 John ii.) Stand still till you know that the ground is safe which you are to tread on. When poisoners are as common as physicians, you will look well to what you take. It is safer when once you have the essentials of Christianity, to take too little than too much : for you are sure to be saved if you are mere true Christians; but how far Popery, Antinomianism, &c., may corrupt your Christianity is a controversy. Wish them that urge you to forbear their haste in a matter of everlasting consequence: these are not matters to be rashly done. as long as you are uncertain, profess yourselves uncertain; and if they will condemn you for your ignorance when you are willing to know the truth, so will not God. But when you are certain, resolve in the strength of God, and hold fast whatever it cost you, even to the death: and never fear being losers by God, by his truth, or by fidelity in your duty.

And