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

But withal be sure to be regular in your hearing. Take heed how you hear, Luke 8.18. and take heed what you hear, Mark 4.28. and from both will follow, that you must take heed who you hear too. Hear those that are most knowing, and best able to instruct you, those that are most sound and least like to mislead you. Do not choose to put your Souls under the conduct of blind-guides. Seek for the Law at their mouths, whose lips do best preserve knowledge. And when you have found such, keep close to them. Settle your selves under the guidance of some faithful Pastor, upon whose Ministry you may ordinarily attend. That running to and from, which is usual among us, is quite another than what Daniel speaks of, ch. 12.4. and I am sure is not the way to increase knowledge. Rolling stones gather no moss. Such rovers seldom hit upon the right way. Such wandering Stars may be soonest bemisted. They that thus run from one Minister to another, may soon run from one opinion to another, and from one error to another. I dare safely say, you may get more sound knowledge of the things of God by constant attendance upon the Ministry of one of less abilities, than by rambling up and down to hear many, though of the greatest gifts. It is a great advantage to your gaining knowledge to hear a Minister's whole discourse, and be able to take up the full design of his work, and not merely to hear in transitu, by snatches, to pick up here a notion, and there a notion, or hear one Man's Doctrine in the Morning, and another's Application in the Afternoon. It is no wonder if Men that run to and fro,¹ be tossed to and fro: They that are so light of hearing may easily be carried about with every wind of Doctrine; the word of Christ seldom dwells in such vagabond hearers.

But withal be sure to be regular in your hearing. Take heed how you hear, Luke 8.18. and take heed what you hear, Mark 4.28. and from both will follow, that you must take heed who you hear too. Hear those that are most knowing, and best able to instruct you, those that are most sound and least like to mislead you. Do not choose to put your Souls under the conduct of blind-guides. Seek for the Law at their mouths, whose lips do best preserve knowledge. And when you have found such, keep close to them. Settle your selves under the guidance of some faithful Pastor, upon whose Ministry you may ordinarily attend. That running to and from, which is usual among us, is quite another than what Daniel speaks of, ch. 12.4. and I am sure is not the way to encrease knowledge. Rolling stones gather no moss. Such rovers seldom hit upon the right way. Such wandring Stars may be soonest bemisted. They that thus run from one Minister to another, may soon run from one opinion to another, and from one errour to another. I dare safely say, you may get more sound knowledge of the things of God by constant attendance upon the Ministry of one of less abilities, than by rambling up and down to hear many, though of the greatest gifts. It is a great advantage to your gaining knowledge to hear a Minister's whole discourse, and be able to take up the full design of his work, and not merely to hear in transitu, by snatches, to pick up here a notion, and there a notion, or hear one Man's Doctrine in the Morning, and another's Application in the Afternoon. It is no wonder if Men that run to and fro,