who rob souls of truth shall be found, and condemned as greater felons than they who rob houses of gold and silver. See how God lays their indictment: "Behold I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my word every one from his neighbour," Jer. xxiii. 30. He means the false prophets, that enticed the people from those truths which the faithful servants of God had delivered to them. There will be none on the bench to plead the blasphemer and seducer's cause, when God shall sit as judge.

Use 3. Thirdly, this might well chastise the strange fickleness and unsettledness of judgment which many labour with in this inconstant age. Truths in many professors minds are not as stars fixed in the heaven, but like meteors that dance in the air; they are not as characters engraven in marble, but writ in the dust, which every wind and idle breath of seducers deface; many entertain opinions as some entertain suitors, not that they mean to marry them, but cast them off as soon as new ones come. Never was there a more giddy age than ours. What is said of fashion-mongers, that some men should they see their pictures in that habit which they wore a few years past, would hardly know themselves in their present garb, is most true in regard of their opinions. Should many, that have been great professors, take a few of their religious principles a dozen years ago, and compare them with their present, they would be found, not the same men; they have so chopped and changed, that they seem to have altered their whole creed; and it is no wonder that so many are for a new baptism, when they have forsaken their old faith; not that the old which they renounce was false, or the new which they espouse is true, but because they were either ignorant of the truth they first professed, or were insincere in the profession of it; and it is no wonder that the one should upon easy terms part with that, which he first took up upon as weak grounds as now he leaves it; or that the other who did not love or improve the truth he professed, should be given up of God to change it for an error. If the heathen (who did not glorify God with the light of nature they had) were righteously given up to a reprobate injudicious

mind to do that which was inconvenient and morally absurd; then they who dishonoured God, with the revealed light of Scripture truth, much more deserve that they should be given up to that which is spiritually wicked, even to believe lies and errors for truth. A heavy curse, did we rightly judge of it, to wander and wilder in a maze of error, and yet think they are walking in the way of truth.

Quest. But, may some say, how is it possible that ordinary professors should attain to this established judgment in the truth, when we see many of great parts and eminency much unsettled in their judgments?

Answ. We must distinguish, first, of persons; secondly, of truths. First, of persons: there are many eminent for parts, whose parts want piety to establish them; and no wonder to see wanton wits unfixed in the truths of God. None sooner topple over into error than such as have not an honest heart joined to a nimble head. The richest soil without culture is most tainted with such weeds. They have been men of unsanctified parts that have been the leaders in the way of error, though the more simple and weak that are led by them. They are knowing men, which first disgorge and vomit error from their corrupt hearts, and ignorant ones that lick it up. And therefore despair not of an established judgment, so long as thou desirest to have an honest upright heart, and conscientiously usest the means. The promise is on thy side: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and a good understanding have they that do his commandments." Psal. cxi. 10.

Secondly, We must distinguish of truths: some are fundamental, others are superstructory. Now though many eminent for piety, as well as parts, are in the dark concerning some of the superstructory and more circumstantial (because mysteriously laid down in the Word) yet there is a sweet harmony among the godly in fundamentals; and in those, poor souls, thou mayest come by a faithful use of means to be established. As for our bodies, God hath so provided that things necessary to preserve their life are more common, and to be had at a cheaper rate. than things for delicacy and state: so also

for our souls. If bread were as hard to come at as sweetmeats, or water as scarce as wine, the greatest part of men must needs famish: so if truths necessary to salvation were as hard to be understood, and cleared from the Scriptures, as some others, many poor Christians of weak parts would certainly perish, without a miracle to help them. But the saving truths of the gospel lie plain, and run clear to all but those who muddy the stream with their owncorrupt minds.

CHAP. III.

SOME DIRECTIONS FOR ESTABLISHING THE JUDGMENT OF PROFESSORS IN THE TRUTH.

QUEST. But what counsel can you give me towards the establishing of my judgment in the truths of Christ?

Answ. First, let thy aim be sincere in embracing truths. A false naughty heart and an unsound judgment, like ice and water, are produced mutually by one another. The reason of the fickleness of some mens' judgments proceeds from the guile of their hearts. A stable mind and a double heart seldom meet. That place speaks full to this, 1 Tim. i. 5, "The end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned;" now mark what follows, ver. 6, "from which some having swerved (or as it is in the original, not aiming at) have turned aside to vain jangling." They never aimed at the power of holiness in receiving truth, that by it they might advance in their love, faith, and other graces; and, taking a wrong end and aim, no wonder they turn out of the right way. A naughty heart can easily bribe the judgment to vote on its side. This shall be truth now, and no truth a month hence, if it please. That is truth with many which serves their interest: they tie their judgments to their purse-strings, or preferments, &c. and such men are ready

(with that weathercock in Queen Mary's days) to sing a new song upon any change in their carnal concerns. When love receives a truth, it is held fast; but if lust after any worldly interest be the cause, then it may be packed away again, when the turn is served. Amnon was soon as sick of Tamar as ever he was for her; and have we not in our days seen some truths and ordinances kicked away, with as much scorn and contempt as he did her, and by those that have been sufficiently fond of them a few years past, but never truly in love with them?

Secondly, attend on the ministry of the Word. One great end of its appointment is to establish us in the truth: "He gave some pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the saints." Eph. iv. 11. And mark, ver. 14, "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro," &c. He that runs from his guide, will soon be out of his way. It is no small testimony that God hath given to his faithful ministers in this present age, that few leave them but the leprosy of error appears soon on their forehead. And in thy waiting on the ministry of the Word, be sure thou attendest to the doctrinal part of the sermon, as well as to the applicatory. The former is necessary to make thee a solid Christian, as the other to make thee a warm Christian. Indeed, hot affections, without solid knowledge, are but like fire in the pan when the piece is not charged. The Levites, we find, Neh. viii. 7, 8, "gave the sense of the law, and caused the people to understand it." Planting goes before watering, and so should teaching before exhorting. And the same method people should learn in, that we are to preach in.

Thirdly, enslave not thy judgment to any person or party. There is a spiritual suretiship hath undone many in their judgments and principles; be not bound to or for the judgment of any. Weigh truth and tell gold thou mayest after thy father. Thou must live by thy own faith, not another's. Labour to see truth with thine own eyes. That building stands weak which is held up by a shore, or some neighbour's house it leans on, rather than on any foundation of its own; when these go, that will fall to the ground also. Let not authority

from man, but evidence from the Word, conclude thy judgment that is but a shore, this a foundation. Quote the Scripture rather than men for thy judgment. Not, So saith such a learned holy man; but, Thus saith the holy Scripture. Yet take heed of bending this direction too far the other way, which is done when we contemn the judgment of such whose piety and learning might command reverence: there is sure a mean to be found between defying men, and deifying them. It is admiring of persons that is the traitor to truth, and makes many cry" hosanna" to error, and "crucify" to truth. Eusebius out of Josephus tells us of Herod (that Herod whom we read, Acts xii. to be eaten up of worms) coming upon the theatre gorgeously clad, and that while he was making an eloquent oration to the people, his silver robe, which he then wore, did by the reflection of the sunbeams shining on it, so glister as dazzled the eyes of the spectators; and this, saith he, occasioned some flatterers to cry out, "The voice of God, and not of man." And truly the glistering varnish which some men's parts and rhetoric put upon their discourses, does often so blind the judgments of their admirers, that they are too prone to think all divine they speak; especially if they be such whom God hath used as instruments of any good to their souls formerly. O it is hard then (as he said) amare hominem humaniter, to love and esteem man as a man, to reverence such so as not to be in danger of loving their errors also. Augustine had been a means to convert Alypius from one error, and he confesseth this was an occasion why he was so easily led by him into another error, no less than Manichism: Alypius thought he could not pervert him here, that had converted him. Call therefore none Father on earth: despise none, adore

none.

Fourthly, Beware of curiosity. He is half gone into error that vainly covets novelties, and listens after every new-fangled opinion. We read of itching ears, 2 Tim. iv. 3. this itch commonly ends in a scab of error. Tamar lost her chastity by gadding, castitas mentis est fides incorrupta. The chastity of the mind is its soundness in the faith. And this they are in danger of losing who