A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

These things I lay not down as an enumeration o• Fundamentals, or complete scheme of Religion; it is sufficient for […] that they are some of ⟨p. 115⟩the most necessary and substantial truths, wherein the generality of Christians are concerned; which they are therefore especially and in the first place to acquaint themselves with, and before those things which are less necessary to Salvation, as being further from the Foundation. And indeed, this is the very method of Nature; Men usually seek those things first, which are most necessary; and other things afterward: they first lay their Foundation, and then set up their Superstructures: Principles must be known, before Conclusions can be drawn from them. Those Doctrines of Religion must be first known from whence others are to be deduced, and without the knowledge of which others can be but confusedly and darkly known. This seems to have been the Apostle's Method, Heb. 6.1. where he speaks of some Truths (which they are in particular, I stand not to dispute;) which were Principles, and first learned;¹ others as conducing to the perfection of the Saints, unto the knowledge of which he would therefore have them go on. He that knows not those things which must be known, knows nothing yet to any purpose.

These things I lay not down as an enumeration o• Fundamentals, or compleat scheme of Religion; it is sufficient for 〈…〉 that they are some of ⟨p. 115⟩the most necessary and substantial truths, wherein the generality of Christians are concerned; which they are therefore especially and in the first place to acquaint themselves with, and before those things which are less necessary to Salvation, as being further from the Foundation. And indeed, this is the very method of Nature; Men usually seek those things first, which are most necessary; and other things afterward: they first lay their Foundation, and then set up their Superstructures: Principles must be known, before Conclusions can be drawn from them. Those Doctrines of Religion must be first known from whence others are to be deduced, and without the knowledge of which others can be but confusedly and darkly known. This seems to have been the Apostle's Method,