SERM.
IX.

The Faith we contend for is not a Thing yet unknown, a Futurity, a Referve for fome politer Age, and fome inquifitive Genius, but it is once delivered to the Saints. The Word äπα¿ fignifies both that it's delivered already and at once. We have not this Doctrine, as fome others; like the Light of the Morning, fhining more and more, but the Spirit gave it in perfect Day. The Church of Chrift has got no farther in this Article, than they did at the Beginning, and I hope never will. And therefore for Perfons to be pleafed with Imaginations of fome Discoveries that are yet to come, looks as if they thought the Secret of God was with them, and they had restrained Wisdom to themselves. May I never deliver any thing but what you have heard from the Beginning. We write no other Things to you 2 Cor. i. than what you read and acknowledge, and I truft fhall acknowledge them to the End.

13.

1 Cor. i.

20.

1 Tim. vi.

4.

. I obferved that the Word Profeffion pozíc fignifies a fpeaking together. 'Twould be all Confufion for every one to have ȧ Pfalm, every one a Doctrine: It argues an Imperfection in the Scripture, a Deficiency in the Holy Spirit; but what God has done fhall be for ever, no Man can put to it, nor any Man take from it. There's nothing that the Holy Ghoft has expreffed more of his Contempt againft, than the Humour of those who would be thought the Wife, the Scribes, the Difputers of this World, or the Enquirers

Ciral, who are always doting about Questions. And becaufe there are fome who value themfelves upon an inquifitive fearching Humour, let me only put you in Mind of what the Scripture itself has faid against thofe who feek out many Inventions. The Things that thou haft 2 Tim. ii. heard of me among many Witnefles, the fame commit thou to faithful Men, who fhall be able

2.

ot

IX.

6-10.

to teach others alfo. We read of fome, who SERM creep into Houfes, and lead captive filly Women laden with Sins, and led away with divers Lufts : Ever learning, and never able to come to the Know- 2 Tim. iii. ledge of the Truth; now as Iannes and Iambres did refift Mofes, so do these also resist the Truth, Men of corrupt Minds, and reprobate concerning the Faith: But they fhall proceed no farther, for their Folly fhall be manifeft as theirs also was; but thou haft fully known my Doctrine, manner of Life, Purpose, Faith, Long-fuffering, Charity, &c. Evil Men and Seducers fhall wax worse Ver. 13, and worse, deceiving and being deceived. If 14∙ we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gal. i. 8, Gofpel than that we have preached, let him be 9accurfed. As we faid before, fo fay I now again, if any Man preach any other Gospel to you, than you have received, let him be accurfed. Bishop is to hold faft the faithful Word as he has been taught, that he may be able by found Doctrine both to exhort and convince the Gain-fayers. Whoever denies the Son the fame has not the Father, Let that therefore abide in you which 1 John ii. ye have heard from the Beginning; if that which 23, 24. ye have heard from the Beginning fhall remain. in you, ye shall continue in the Son and in the Father.

A Tit. i. 9.

I

8. If we hold faft our Profeffion we must run all Hazards both in our Reputation and Intereft. The Man who is not content to be called a Fool or an Enthufiaft for Chrift's Sake, has more of fleshly Wisdom in him than the Grace of God. All that will live godly in Chrift 2 Tim. Jefus fhall fuffer Perfecution. A timorous cautious Temper that makes us afraid to speak what we think, and to teftify what we know does but prove that Men are lovers of themselves. O 3

There

iii. 12.

SERM.

IX.

There are Riches not only in the Perfon and Doctrine but in the Reproach of Chrift; Mofes thought fo, when he had no other Choice before Heb. xi. him but either of a Palace or a Brick-kiln. And 2 Cor. xii. the Apoft!e took Pleafure in Infirmities, in Reproaches, in Neceflities, in Perfecutions, in Diftreffes, for Chrift's Sake.

26.

10.

Matt. x.

Buke

Luke vi.

22.

Col. ii.

6, 7.

'Tis a plaufible Excufe, but it will scarce ever hold in a Day of Temptation, that we are to live in Peace. Chrift tells us, nay; he came into the World to fend Divifion; that is, if Men will feparate you from their Company, and fpeak all Manner of Evil against you for his Sake, let them go on, commit yourselves to him that judges righteously. I have been pleafed with a Paffage in Dr. Owen, and hope I can adopt it into my own Cafe.

"I can freely fay, that I know "not that Man in England, who is willing to go "farther in Forbearance, Love, and Commu"nion with all that fear God, and hold the "Foundation, than I am; but this is never to "be done by a Condefcenfion from the Exact"nefs of the leaft Apex of Gofpel-Truth."

9. Holding this faft is promoting it to the uttermoft. This is what you owe to Chrift by way of Homage, and to the Souls of Men by way of Pity.

10. Endeavouring to be more established in it. We ought often to hear of thofe Truths that we are always to ufe. This is like your daily Bread; there's not a Prayer that you put up, but it must regard three Perfons in one glorious Nature. Thus as ye have received Chrift Jefus the Lord, fo walk in him, rooted and built up in him, and established in the Faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with Thanksgiving.

SER

SERMON

X.

The Principles upon which People waver in the Faith; a Conceit of our own Capacity to discover more of God than others. A modern Inftance of this in our Schememakers. A Fancy that we have found out the great Secret. Human Inventions as bad in Doctrine as in Worfhip. (Calvin and Dr. Owen, compared with another Author,) a Suppofition that God wants our Help to clear up his Revelation. A Love of Praise. An ungodly Charity. A wrangling Humour. An Indifference. An Independence upon Divine Teaching.

III.

Τ

HE Apostle has told us with what SERM. an Unity of Conduct, what Tem- X. per of Mind, and Stability of Soul, we are to hold faft this Profeffion of our Faith and Hope; it must be done anx without wavering. We are not to waver either about the Faith itfelf that God has delivered to us, or the Profeffion in which we deliver it to others. The Faith is to be kept pure and uncorrupted, our Profeffion of it open and unconfounded. Each of these are to be held faft with Steddinéfs and Refolution. Watch ye, ftand faft 1 Cor. in the Faith, quit yourselves like Men, be ftrong. xvi. 13. 'Tis in Profeffion as it is in Practice, we have

SER M. but one Rule for them both. Let thine Eyes X. look right on, and let thine Eye-lids look ftraight before thee; ponder the Path of thy Prov. viii. Feet, and let all thy Ways be established, turn 25, 26, not to the Right nor to the Left, remove thy Foot

27.

from Evil.

You fee by this Caution, that it's not enough we don't deny the Truth, but we are to hold it faft without any Pofture of Cowardice, not like James i. 8. the double-minded Man, who is unstable in all his Ways. Not allowing ourselves in the leaft Appearance of a Departure from the Things we have received and been affured of.

There are feveral Ways of Shuffling and Wavering that don't amount to a grofs Infidelity, (i. e. there are Hypocrites as well as Unbelievers) but they bring us into the Danger of going farther. A Man may indulge himself to the Humour of a Quærift, fo long 'till he grows an 2 Tim. ii. Apoftate. There are profane and vain Babblings that will increase to more Ungodliness. The Principles by which many are defiled, you see in the following Collection.

16.

1. A Conceit of our own Capacities, as if by searching we could find out the Almighty unto Perfection. This Boldnefs makes us venture, where Humility would make us tremble, to unravel Mysteries, and arraign the Things of Faith at the Bar of Reason.

2. Another Root of Bitterness is an Opinion that we have found out the great Secret of Knowledge, which other Ages have laboured at in

vain.

3. There's the Vanity to fuppofe, that God ftands in Need of our Help, to make what he fays more easy and evident.