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may help us to come, in the unity of the faith SERM. and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto XV. a perfect man, unto the measure of the ftature of the fulness of Chrift. And what should be the confequence of this, but that we henceforth be no more children, toffed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine? It may perhaps be excused in novices and children, in thofe who have but newly learnt, or heard of the doctrine of falvation, if they be drawn afide by bold pretences, and yield to the fallacies which they have not understanding to gainsay or detect: But, in them who have arrived to a ftate of manhood and maturity, who have been thoroughly inftructed in the ground and foundation of the Gospel of Chrift, or have had fufficient opportunity for fuch inftruction, this childish inconstancy must be altogether inexcufable. It may become us to imitate children in fome qualities, but not in all. Their tender age cannot be fuppofed to have made fo great progrefs, either in good or evil, as is usual in perfons of riper years and faculties. In the one it will become us to hold in the bias of corrupt nature, and make, if poffible, as little progrefs as they: but, in the other, we are required to ftir up and exercife our faculties, that fo we may improve beyond them. Therefore in malice be children, but in understanding be men. The doctrine

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SER M. doctrine of falvation is a matter of that vaft XV. importance, deferving to be fearched out to the utmost of our power, and God has withal fupplied us with fuch competent means of information, to enlighten and affift our faculties in this matter, that it must argue us to be not only of a very dull capacity, but very bad difpofition, if we prove fuch ill proficients in the school of Chrift, as to be ever learning and yet never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. It concerns us then to be mindful of that of the Apostle; When I was a child, I pake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: But, when I became a man, I put away childish things. He is fpeaking there of that perfection of knowledge, which we look for in a future ftate, compared with the weakness and imperfection of the prefent. But his remark is, in a juft proportion, applicable to that proficiency, which is expected from us in this life. Uncertainty of judgment is one of those infirmi ties of unexperienced childhood, which they who have been long trained up under the christian difcipline, fhould be ashamed to retain in any of thofe matters wherein it greatly imports them to be fixed and stable, that they may hold fast the profeffion of the faith, without wavering.

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Nor is it indeed more childish, and chargeable with indifcretion, than it is really

really perplexing and vexatious to one's SER M. felf. Though Truth be constant and uni- XV. form, yet Error is manifold and various: And therefore he, who is unfettled in his notions, will be apt to be diftracted with the variety of opinions propofed to him, either doubtfully fluctuating among them all, or taking up one after another interchangeably, without reafon and without judgment. He that wavereth (fays St. James) is like a wave of the fea, driven of the wind and toffed. And fo, according to St. Paul, be is toffed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine.

Imagine then you were placed in view of the fea, when its waves are mighty, and rage horribly, threatening (as it were) to overflow the earth, but dashed to pieces on a fudden, and broke into a thoufand forms; when immediately you behold others rifing after them with like impetuofity, and falling in the fame deftruction : and all this occafioned by the force of boifterous and impetuous winds, varying their point continually, and roaring with a rage of vehemence, which other things of much lefs inftability than water are too impotent to bear. Let this tempeft and diforder reprefent to you the unfettled and perplexed eftate of that man, whose mind is not well grounded and inftructed in religious Principles. The wind of falfe doctrine is loud VOL. III. and

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SERM. and boisterous, and at the fame time variable XV. and uncertain. He has not strength of judgment to fupport himself against its violence, but fwells big with a conceit of its real worth and folidity, 'till the wind which blew him up is spent, or a new one blowing from another quarter fhall hurry him with equal force. Unftable thus as water, thus broken and divided, and blown about with every blast, can you fuppofe true peace and tranquillity within? Can you believe that breast to enjoy a calm and undisturbed repofe? But he, whofe mind is thoroughly apprifed of the doctrines and principles of true religion, ftands as a rock immoveable, and let the winds and waves beat vehemently as they will, he is not to be driven from his station, they can prevail no farther, but to break and to disperse themfelves.

Laftly, this tendency to error, is not more troublesome in its uncertainty and perpetual variations, than it is really mifchievous in its effects or confequences, and conducive to our fpiritual lofs and detriment. The fame holy fcriptures which, when seriously examined and candidly interpreted, are greatly useful to improve and edify, and make us wife unto falvation, will, on the contrary, enhance their guilt and increase their condemnation, who, being unlearned and unftable, (as St. Peter

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fpeaks) wrest them to their own deftruction. SÉR M. The mistakes which are advanced about XV. the prime doctrines of our holy Religion, do imply fo little honour and reverence for God, do fo far weaken the restraints which that should lay upon our practice, and are fupported with fuch breach of charity, that it cannot be difficult from hence to explain how they fhould obftruct the influences of Divine grace, and fruftrate the defign of our Redemption.

Thefe Obfervations ought to be confined to matters of great moment and importance; for, in leffer matters, a variety of opinions may well confift with chriftian anity; and cannot be entirely avoided in this imperfect state. Nor even, in the points of greater moment, is it meant to be infifted on, that we ought to be fo ftiffly fond and tenacious of the notions we have once embraced, merely because we have ema braced them, as to refufe to hear any thing that may be faid against them. Such a temper is rather to be called obftinacy of opinion, than firmness or folidity of judgment." If it happens on the wrong fide of the queftion, it must be utterly unjuftifiable, and will effectually fhut up all the avenues of Truth: Or, if it happens on the right, (which is by chance) it will be much indanger to prejudice a good cause ; not only with other people, who may take offence

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