Commentary Upon Colossians 1 and 2, Chapter 2 · Verse 2
VERSE 2. That their hearts might be comforted, and they knit together in love, and in all riches of the full aſſurance of underſtanding, to know the myſtery of God, even the Father, and of Chriſt.
THis Verſe openeth the matter for which he ſtrove with God by all meanes; in it two points:
1 The thing it ſelfe.
2 The antecedents or meanes leading to it.
The thing is, that their hearts might bee comforted at the knowledge of the myſtery of God the Father and of Chriſt, that is of the Goſpell, which told them that Ieſus Chriſt God-man was made light and ſalvation to them, as to other Gentiles: for the incarnation of the Sonne of God, and the calling them to be a people who before were none, were hidden myſteries, till God reveiled them. Now to this end he prayeth, that they might be knit together in love, and a more full knowledge, having with it fullneſſe of perſwaſion.
The better to underſtand it, we muſt remember that theſe Coloſsians were brought by Epaphras to know the Goſpell in truth. Secondly, you muſt know that they had love, yea true love. Thirdly, that they did not feele the joy of the Holy Ghoſt ſo plentifully as others, firſt becauſe through the Divels tares of diſſenſion, there was not that ſoundneſſe of love which ſhould make them fully of one heart.
Secondly, becauſe though they knew the Goſpell, yet they knew it not ſo plentifully, being in part ignorant of their Chriſtian liberty, of the all ſufficiency of Chriſts ſole mediation, as who looked and liſtened a little to the helpe of Angells this way.
Thirdly, from hence it came; that being weake in knowledge, they ſomewhat ſtaggered: the Apoſtle therefore wiſheth them the taſt of heavenly joy more fully in that they knew, and to this end wiſheth that all impediments of heavenly joy, as diſſenſion, doubting, ignorance being remooved, they might be one in love, rich in knowledge, and fully perſwaded and reſolved in the things they knew.
Firſt then, Doct. from Saint Pauls example: Miniſters muſt ſee what they muſt chiefely helpe forward, even the ſpirituall rejoycing of their people. It is a great matter of their office to ſerve Chriſtians this way. What are we (ſaith S. Paul) no Lords over your faith; but foreign Co-workers with GOD furthering your joy: this he prayed for,Rom. 1.10.12. this he made the intent of his journeyes, to give, and take comfort in them. To this end,Eph. 6.21, 22. hee diſpatched meſſengers to comfort their hearts. True it is, that ſometime they are forced to make ſadde, as Saint Paul did the Corinthians; but this is not their principall intent: for they doe this, not for it ſelfe, but that it may make way for rejoycing; as a Phyſitian is forced to make his Patients ſicke, that thus he may reſtore him to health.
There is great reaſon for this.
We are bound every one by the Commandement that ſayth, we ſhall not kill, Reaſ. 1 to be no way wanting to the life of others: even this bindeth us, that we doe every way ſeeke to make the lives of others comfortable unto them.
2 Againe Saint Paul knew how many things the Saints have to preſſe them downe, through the malice of Sathan, and keepe them from knowing the ſweet fruit of the ſpirit.
3 He knew that this was a friendly Sunne, which maketh all graces thrive the better in the heart where it is.
4 That if GOD ſhould not refreſh them this way by letting them feele this power of that life which is to come, they were in danger to ſhrinke from Chriſt in the midſt of ſuch diſcouragements, with which this world aboundeth: For as we ſay, without this, vita is not vitalis, no man liveth, or can live without a delight and joy. As we ſee kind men, when they taſt a thing that pleaſeth them more then ordinary, will invite others to taſt it with them: So the Communicative love of this Apoſtle was ſuch, that finding in his own experience what a ſoveraigne thing this was, he could not but wiſh it unto others.
5 Laſtly, S. Paul knew that this was forcible to draw others to the profeſſion, when men ſhould marke this in it, that it filled thoſe that imbraced it, with gladneſſe of heart, and that in the midſt of the greateſt evils, by ſeeing the joyfulneſſe of ſuch who were converted.
Wherefore it is a ſlander of ſinfull men that thinke a Preacher of the Goſpell killeth all good company, Vſe 1 cryeth down all rejoycing, ſo that none can be merry that live under them; indeed we kill that mirth that is nothing but madneſſe, that we may bring men to ſound rejoycing, even joy unſpeakable and glorious.
Miniſters muſt ſet an edge upon this grace and ſtirre up their people to it: Vſe the drooping and uncomfortable lives of Chriſtians maketh many affrayd to looke this way. For there are ſome men, when God hath touched them a little, they are affraid of progreſſe; they thinke they are brought into bondage, becauſe they meete with diſcouragement; and turne againe to ſinne, becauſe they find more ſorrow in goodneſſe then they did in ill. So there be others that are affrayd to enter into Gods way, leaſt they ſhould come out of Gods comforts: theſe are like the ſpies that brought an ill report of the good land: it was a good land and fruitfull, but there were Gyants, Anakims, Num. 14.&c. and for this they never entered into the land of Canaan; ſave only two faithfull, Caleb and Ioſhua. So theſe people ſpeake ill of the way to heaven, even of heaven upon earth: Oh ſay they, the land is good, the Kingdome of heaven is a glorious place, but the way thither is by a ſadde life, ſo full of troubles, that a man were as good be dead, as live ſo. But marke, becauſe they ſaid they could not enter, the Lord ſware, they ſhall not enter. Secondly, marke here; That beliefe of the Goſpell may bee, Doctr. where the conſolation of it, and rejoycing of it appeare not. Saint Paul need not to pray for this on their behalfe, but that he doth intimate that many of them wanted it. We reade indeed of firſt converſions of Chriſtians accompanyed with the grace of ſpirituall joy: as the City of Samaria very glad and full of joy, Mat. 13.46So the Merchant in the Goſpell finding the Pearle in the field, went away rejoycing. But this is a fruite that laſteth all the yeare, yea a babe in CHRIST may be borne crying; as we ſay of teares, Eſau may have them that wanteth true repentance, and another truely repenting may want them: So it is true of joy; a falſe Convert may have it,Luk. 8.13 as the ſtony ground received the Word with joy; Herod heard the Word gladly; when a true Chriſtian ere-while is without the fruite of it. The fruite I ſay, for he hath in him the ſeede of rejoycing which will budde forth, bloſſome, and ſhow the fruite in due ſeaſon; Light is ſowen for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart; but the harveſt of it laſteth not all the yeare without interruption. CHRIST telleth His Diſciples that after His departure they ſhould be heavy, though afterward their heavineſſe ſhould be turned into joy. Sometimes chaſtiſements which lie heavy upon us, doe over-caſt our comfort,Heb. 12.11 for the preſent they are not joyous. Sometime inward lawes of evill with which we conflict make us cry, o miſerable! Ro. 7.24.Sometime grievous falls whereby we have wounded our conſciences;Pſa. 51.12. Lord restore me to the joy of thy ſalvation. In a word, as civill rejoycings are upon many occaſions damped, though life continue; ſo is ſpirituall joy, though faith and grace faile not in us.
The uſe is to ſtrengthen and ſupport by this conſideration ſuch weake ones as doe call in queſtion the truth of their faith through want of this comfortable taking which the Scripture much ſpeaketh of, and they ſee others enjoy. One complayned to me, that ſure if his faith were right and living, he ſhould have more joy: So I asked him, what he would ſay to this reaſon; living men are merry: and goe cheerefully about their buſineſſe; but you are ſadde and full of griefe and heavineſſe, ſurely you are not alive; you could not be thus mournfull, ſadd and heavy, if you were: even as naturall life and naturall joy are not alwayes coupled; ſo ſpirituall life and ſpirituall joy, till we come to heaven, are not joyned together inſeparably. There is a wonder in Spaine, of a river that runneth fifty miles under ground: this river though it be ſometimes unſeene, yet it is continuall, and it breakes out againe: So the conſolations of GOD are ſometimes unſeen, not onelyonly of others, that goe away ſadde when they ſee us want the comforts of GOD; but alſo to our ſelves, the Lord hiding the ſweet Sunſhine of his countenance from us, which is yet in the skie, and giveth ſome meaſure of light to us; like as the Sunne, though ſometimes it be darkened, yet there will be a time of reviving againe.
Thirdly obſerve, Doct. What kind of joy the ſpirit worketh in believers, viz. not a hollow; but a hearty rejoycing: he maketh our hearts glad, and ſpirits rejoyce in God our Saviour. As the groanes Gods ſpirit helpeth us with are inward, ſuch as cannot be uttered: So is the joy hearty which in believers it worketh,1 Pet. 1.8. yea a joy unſpeakeable and glorious. Why glorious? partly in reſpect of the principall object of it, which is the glory of the life to come; and partly in reſpect of the quality and kind of it, as it is oppoſite to that contemptible, beggarly, baſe and filthy rejoycing of beggarly, baſe and filthy perſons. There is a joy that men are aſhamed of; ſuch is the joy of ſinners, that have overgrowen the controle of Nature it ſelfe. Otherwiſe take them in their meriment, let there come in a man of gravity or civill honeſty, and you ſee what a dampe he caſts upon the joy of carnal and wicked men, as if he had taken all their tongues from them; ſome goe one way, and ſome ſlinke another way, they are afraid he hath overheard ſome words that they have ſpoken. What a baſe joy is this, that men are aſhamed of? Such is the joy of all naturall men, compared with the joy and rejoycing of a ſanctifyed man; it is baſe and contemptible joy. He can goe no higher then to rejoyce in his riches, becauſe he is rich; in his eaſe, and that he hath a good houſe: he feeles no evill, money comes in apace, trading laſts well, and the like: a poore baſe joy. What are theſe things to the things of eternity? what is thy houſe, thy plate, thy furniture, what are theſe riches and theſe houſes of clay, to the houſe, whoſe builder and maker is God? what are theſe riches, which the moath ſhall eate or the canker corrupt, to thoſe riches which are eternall and glorious? The joy of worldlings, yea of temporizers reacheth not beyond the teeth; it is but the joy of a deluded dreame, which a man waking, findeth nothing ſo. Hence Salomon compareth carnall laughter to the cracking of thorns under a pot; it is a widdowes blaze, aſſoone almoſt extinct as kindled and this is it that cauſeth the wickeds joy ſoone to come to an end: His joy is like ſeede that hath no depth of ground, it deweth not his heart; and therefore wanting this deepe rooting, it fodainly fadeth away.
Wherefore if ever any would bee glad at heart indeede; Vſe let him know that it is God through His Spirit who muſt worke this in him; he cannot, till the Lord give it him, through the knowledge of Chriſt be truly joyfull.
True it is, Object. you may ſay, who merry to wicked men? they ſpend their dayes in merriments, laugh their hearts fat.
But alas! Anſw. have you not ſeene mad men whoſe phrenſie lyeth in bloud, have you not marked them notably addicted to laughter, frequent in it, till they tickle at conceits which within themſelves they apprehend? there is nothing more common: yet we count not this mirth, but pitty it as a woefull fruite of a crazed braine and deluded ſenſes: Such is thy joy till thou commeſt to GOD; it commeth from the abſence of all heavenly underſtanding, with which thou ſhouldeſt deſcry the miſery of thy eſtare.
Finally, from the thing intreated in the end of the verſe, joyned with the beginning, that their hearts might be comforted, in their comming out of the darkeneſſe of ſinfull ignorance, for that is the force of the Word foreign, to know the myſtery of God in Chriſt.
Obſerve hence: Doct. What muſt be the matter of ſound joy, the Goſpell of CHRIST. The Goſpell is called glad tydings, becauſe it maketh glad; no wonder: good newes as (Salomon ſaith) from a farre Country is very delightfull. What then is newes from heaven? of Gods mercy to a ſinfull ſoule in the pardon of his ſinne, in giving him a Title to a Crowne of everlaſting glory? A carnall man joyeth when his bags are full, when Corne and Wine and earthly commodities abound with him: but the Saints have another joy, ſet upon matters ſo high, that in compariſon of them, they count all droſſe and dung.
But one may ſay, Object. may not wicked men rejoyce in the Goſpell?
Yes, in the novelty of it, Anſw. as a matter they have not before thought of; Iohn was a burning Candle, and yee would for a while rejoyce in his light; or from a licke and taſte which they may get of ſweetneſſe in it. Hebr. 6. They may have a taſte of the powers of the life to come; they may have a flaſhing and momentany lightning of joy in them: Or finally, from an ungrounded overtly perſwaſion that they ſhall have pardon of ſinne, and ſalvation by CHRIST; they may ſhew forth for a time great gladneſſe: but ſoundly to take joy in theſe things is only proper to true believers, who humbled in ſight of their unworthineſſe and guilt, rejoyce in Chriſt as the onelyonly Soveraigne ſalve of their ſoules; not as a thing of rare and pleaſant knowledge.
Secondly, as they have not a licke, but by beliefe bring CHRIST to dwell in their hearts, and abide with them; ſo their joy is a permanent, abyding, and durable joy. No mans building can be better or firmer then his foundation; nor no mans rejoycing better then the matter of his rejoycing: if it be but meate and drinke, both that and thou ſhalt periſh, and what ſhall become of thy joy? yea, if thou hadſt a ſtately pallace, like that of Nebuchadnezar, which hee built for his royalty; what is that to thee? where is thy rejoycing, when either thou ſhalt bee taken from it, or it ſhall be taken from thee? This is the ſtate of all worldly comfort, and of all things, till we come to that which is above all, that is to ſay, the favour of GOD, the eternall grace of GOD in our Lord Ieſus Chriſt; My peace I leave with you, not as the world giveth: the world gives a peace, but what manner of peace? why, like the world it ſelfe; but another manner peace is that which I give: I give eternall peace and conſolation, as the Apoſtle calls it, God hath given us good hope and everlaſting conſolation.
Thirdly, as they doe not by vaine preſumption apply CHRIST, but by humble beleefe joyned with care of forſaking the love of all ſinne; ſo their joy ſtandeth firme like a ſure foundation, when the other is turned into ſhame and confuſion, becauſe it was grounded upon miſconceit.
Wherefore labour if you be true beleevers, Vſe to make theſe things your joy. Can a condemned fellow or a traytour get his pardon, but it gladdeth him at the heart? How can we heare all ſinne forgiven, Heaven opened, God become a Father, and take no contentment in them? When a poore ſoule apprehends this, it gives a man enough. As Iacob ſaid of his ſonne Ioſeph, I have enough that my ſonne is alive: So the ſoule of a beleever can ſpeake it in the preſence of God; My God liveth, I have enough: my Lord Chriſt hath redeemed mee, I have enough; the Spirit of God hath ſealed mee to the day of redemption, I have enough;Pſal. 16. that I may ſay; My line is fallen in a faire ground, I have a goodly heritage.
Now for the meanes, Being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full aſſurance of underſtanding; that ſo they might come to joy in the knowledge of that myſtery.
Obſerve hence: Doct. That ſoundneſſe of love, and fulneſſe of affiance and underſtanding, bring us to heartie rejoycing. This may bee ſhewed by the contrary: for theſe three things are great impediments to true beleevers intercepting that joy which otherwiſe they might have.
1 Want of love, when there creepeth in ſome little ſtrangeneſſe, that they are not one, as they ſhould be, all of one heart, Act. 4.32.as the multitude of beleevers. Looke as a family full of contentments while all are friendly and linked in love; let ſome ſpice of diſcord enter, all the muſike of the houſe is marred; every thing as dolefull, as before joyfull: And no doubt but this hindered the Coloſsians joy, ſome leaning to mediation of Angels, Ceremonies; ſome keeping to CHRIST only: difference of opinion bred variance of affection, as it commonly falleth out. For Satan ſtriveth nothing more than to disband the Church, we being knit by ſinewes; if he can but cut the ſinews of love and doctrine, and croſſe it, he hath enough. And as light vapours or exhalations, being drawne up from the earth, come downe with great tempeſts; ſo from light differences in opinion (if not a great meaſure of grace) doe proceed often great ſtormes, and tempeſts of wrath and envie.
2 Want of full Perſwaſion, eclipſeth joy; for tell a man never ſuch joyfull things, if he cannot reſolve himſelfe that they are ſo, hee will take no pleaſure in them. The things are good he wil ſay, but I am afraid too good to be true. Nay, let a man be troubled in matters of leſſe moment, with a ſcrupulous conſcience, being at a ſtand whether to doe this or that, or not to doe it; it is ſuch a ſickneſſe, as till it be out-growen, doth much weaken the joy of the ſpirit: Even as a man that hath a ſtone in his ſhooe cannot travell comfortably.
3 Finally, want of knowledge doth much hinder joy; for further then we know things, we cannot be glad of them? beſide, want of underſtanding breedeth ſcruple, as in young children, who will be afraid of any thing almoſt through weakneſſe of underſtanding: But ſay they were fully perſwaded; yet if wee want underſtanding wherewith to give a reaſon of that wee beleeve, it is a great damping to us: wheras on the contrary, love of our brethren, O quàm bonum & jucundum; Pſal. 13 3.1.How good and pleaſant a thing is it to ſee brethren to live together in unity! It is as pleaſant as a fragrant ointment, it maketh a ſowre ſallad better than a ſtalled exe, and it prepareth and fitteth us for that GOD of joy and love, to come and dwell with us, ſe…led perſwaſion and plentifull knowledge, in one word fulneſſe of faith; for faith is nothing but an affianced knowledge, this bringeth joy. Rom. 15.13. Now the God of hope, fill you with all joy and peace in beleeving, that yee may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghoſt. By faith we rejoyce in afflictions. For as in earthly things the further we come to get aſſurance, and to know good things towards us, the more we take joy in them: So in heavenly things, the further we grow up in the apprehenſion of them, the more are our hearts cheered and revived.
Wherefore, Vſe 1 we may ſee here what cauſeth ſo little ſpirituall joy among us Chriſtians; even this with other things, there wanteth that ſound Vnion through love. We are eſtranged one from another in opinions of doctrine, government, Ceremonies, which is no ſmall cooler of that ſpirituall joy, which otherwiſe we might ſee. For the avoiding of this impediment or ſtumbling block, let Chriſtians follow the Apoſtle in his exhortation in matters of religion and opinion therein; he would have them labour to be of one minde, 2 Cor. 13.11.to come as neere as poſſibly they can to the Vnity of Faith; He doth be ſeech them by vertue of this bond,Epheſ. 4.1, 2. to walke worthy of the Lord; and how ſhould that be? in all long-ſuffering, and lowlineſſe of minde, ſupporting one another in love; endeavouring to keepe the Vnity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace. Lowlineſſe of minde and Patience will bring men to Vnity; as Pride, and ſelfe-love, and impatience, doth make men eaſily diſſent in affection and opinion. Againe, private Chriſtians are like the Coninthians, very contentious, to law for every trifle; joy dwelleth not in diſagreement.
So for the ſecond, here is much unbeleefe, we fix not our perſwaſion, nor provoke not our hearts confidently to reſt and truſt in GOD's promiſes, we fight not againſt doubtings; we cry not for eye-ſalve which might heale our fight, that all ſcales done away, we might ſee clearely, to our comfort, the things of our peace.
Let us, Vſe 2 as ever we would taſte theſe heavenly joyes on earth, labour to grow up in ſound hearty love to Chriſt and all that are His, in full perſwaſion, and to get ripe underſtanding: As love to CHRIST increaſeth, ſo joy encreaſeth. If any woman had the greateſt Potentate on earth to her husband, if ſhe love him not, what pleaſure hath ſhe in him? If ſhe love him but little, ſhe taketh but ſmall joy, but the more fervently ſhee loveth him, the more abundantly ſhe rejoyceth in enjoying of him: So with us, the more we get up to love CHRIST and His, the more ſhall we rejoyce in our Vnion and communion one with another: Hence it is that when knowledge ſhall be perfected in fight, and when love ſhal be abſolute, lacking nothing, then our joy ſhall be full in the higheſt degree of it.
Secondly obſerve, when he prayeth for theſe things; Doctr. In what things true Chriſtians may be much wanting, viz. in love, confidence, and ſpirituall underſtanding. Had there not beene a defect this way, henceded not to have laboured them in their behalfe. We ſee how it was in Corinth; ſchiſmes tooke place, rents, diviſions and uncharitable contentions ever amongſt beleevers; even as brethren together agree not often: So it is in the body of Chriſt, the members are often jarring. So for aſſurance, it is weake in Chriſtians; even as babes ſo hold this or that, that they may bee eaſily brought to bee of another minde: So a weake Chriſtian, hath a levity and unſetledneſſe dwelling in great meaſure, with the perſwaſion which hee hath in the points of his faith: Thus the Galathians for this cauſe, who before had gladly received Paul's truth, were quickly turned to a new Goſpell. Galath. 1.Thus Iſrael wanting this fulneſſe of perſwaſion, quickly corrupted themſelves, and made a molten calfe. Finally, we ſee what doubtings and ſcruples are frequently found with true beleevers. In the third place, for underſtanding; how ignorant a great while were the Apoſtles after the beginnings of grace in them? As the underſtanding in civill things, it commeth not all at once, but is little in child-hood, and ſo getteth up as yeares ripen: So it is in the babes of GOD: Yea, our want of giving aſſent, and confident reſting upon that GOD revealeth, doth keepe us from underſtanding; for beleeving things upon God's Word, which I am not able to underſtand, at length I come underſtandingly to know thoſe things, which above that I could conceive, I religiouſly beleeved.
Wherefore we muſt not be diſmaid to ſee theſe things in Chriſtians, Vſe nor yet to finde them in our ſelves: all is in part, and the reliques of the fleſh are every where luſting againſt the frame of grace which GOD hath begun in us. Neither muſt we be out with all whoſe hearts are a little bitter towards their brethren, who ſometimes through weakneſſe cannot tell what to thinke of their religion; who make ſcruple and doubt of many moſt plaine things, not knowing their liberties, who are much wanting in underſtanding; all theſe may be in true Saints of GOD.
Laſtly, Doct. marke hence, what we muſt all labour for, viz. ſoundneſſe of love, fulneſſe of perſwaſion, and underſtanding: That which any asketh for us, or we aske for our ſelves, that we muſt ſtrive for: to pray for things we endeavour not to, is to mocke GOD. Seeing then the Apoſtle doth ſtrive with GOD for theſe things; it doth ſhew that theſe are things wee muſt labour after, things which faithfull ones ſhall in their time come unto: Strive to perfection; I forget that which is behinde, and ſtrive to that which is before, for the price of the high calling of God in CHRIST. Looke at little ones: were it not a ſhame for them ſtill to continue falling out, comming with complaints for every trifle, as they will, while they are young ones, to be afraid of bug-beggars, and made beleeve every thing, to bee ignorant alwayes as in child-hood? So it were a ſhame for us to have no more love, no more ſettledneſſe in our perſwaſion, no more underſtanding, than when we firſt beleeved.
Which meeteth with Papiſts, and carnall Goſpellers: Vſe their religion teacheth doubting, they count it preſumption to perſwade our ſelves firmely, and infallibly that our ſinnes are forgiven. Yea, in matter of faith they take away certainty of knowledge, for they will not have us know the doctrines are true we receive, but becauſe the Church telleth us ſo; which is to hang all upon the word of man, who may deceive, and be deceived, unleſſe he hath a ſpeciall priviledge to ſhew; for all men are lyars: I know not, but the Church telleth me ſo; I cannot ſay certainly, but I hope well; here is their certainty of doctrine and ſalvation. So we have many that are halfe Papiſts in this point; they thinke this particular application but a tricke; they conſtrue the Creed all in generall termes for the Church; further than uncertaine hope, will ſay nothing of themſelves; for riches of knowledge, they thinke to be able to repeat the Creed, Lords Prayer, and Commandements are enough, to know they are baptiſed and ſerve God at home and at Church; deeper knowledge than this belongeth to Doctors and teachers in the Church; men of corrupt mindes, who would have God's people lye in darkneſſe of ignorance, leſt their owne darkneſſe ſhould be diſcerned. Yea, how many of the people that not being willing to obey the wayes of God, care not for knowing them? they are willing to keepe without light, that they may ſleepe more quietly. Such finally who are babes in knowledge, though for time they might be teachers, who are ready to wagge at every wind of doctrine, who upon every croſſe and temptation are ready to call into queſtion God's love, forgiveneſſe of ſin; muſt hence be rebuked.
In the ſecond place, Vſe 2 wee muſt, ſeeing it is our duties, labour to grow up from one degree of love to another, from aſſurance to aſſurance, from knowledge to knowledge.
I, Object. but how may we out-grow our doubting?
1 Labour to know that experimentally which thou knoweſt: Anſw. when thou heareſt a thing at Church, labour, comming home, to get God by His Spirit to witneſſe to thy ſpirit the truth of it, to make thee in His light to ſee light, and to feele the power of it working in thee, and thy affections moved, as the nature of the word requireth; that which a man thus knoweth, you cannot beat him out of it with all the ſhew of reaſon that can be pretended.
2 We muſt acknowledge the corruption of our mind, which will not yeeld aſſent further than wee ſee reaſon; and deny our reaſon, becomming fooles, that God may make us wiſe. Nay, we muſt know, ſuch is the vanity of our mindes, that wee can ſooner perſwade our ſelves of any fabulous matter, than of that God revealeth to us.
3 We muſt hang upon CHRIST, the Author and finiſher of our faith, and pray Him to heale this trembling palley of our ſoules.
4 We muſt be good husbands with the knowledge we have, obeying it carefully. Ioh. 7. If ye obey, ye ſhall know my doctrine whether it be of God.
5 We muſt attend upon the publike miniſtery of the Word, which God hath appointed for the edification of the Church, Epheſ. 4.