4. Another part of your confirmation & growth in understanding, is, In discerning the same truths more practically than you did before, and perceiving the usefulness of every truth, for the doing of its work on your hearts and lives. It was never the will of God that bare speculation should be the end of his ⟨p. 98⟩Revelations, or of our belief. Divinity is an Affective practical Science, therefore must truths be known and believed, that the good may be received, and a holy change may be made by them on the heart and life. Even the Doctrine of the Trinity it self is practical, and the fountain of that which is more easily discerned to be practical. There is not one Article of our faith, but hath a special work to do upon our hearts and lives; and therefore a special fitness for that work. Now the understandings of young Christians, do discern many truths, when they see but little of the work to be done by them, and the special usefulness of those truths to those works. This therefore must be your daily enquiry, and in this you must grow. As if you come into a workmans shop, and see a hundred tools about you, it is a small matter to discern the shape and fashion of them, and what mettle they are made of: But you will further ask, What is this tool to do, and what is that to do: If ever you will learn the trade, you must know the use of every tool. So must you, if you will be skilful Christians, be acquainted with the use of the truths which you have received; and know that this truth is to do this work, and that truth to do that work, upon the soul and life. A Husbandman may know as many herbs, and flowers, and fruits as a Physician, and be able to tell them all by name, and say this is such an herb, and that is such a one; and to perceive the shape and beauty of them. But he knows little or nothing that they are good for, unless to feed his cattle: Whereas the Physician can tell you, that this herb is good against this disease, and that herb against another disease, and ⟨p. 99⟩can make use of those same herbs to save mens lives, which other men tread under foot as useless. A Country man may see the names that are written on the Apothecaries boxes, but it is the Physician that knows the medicinal use of the drugs. So, many men that are unsanctified, may know the outside of holy doctrine, that little know what use is to be made of it:
4. Another part of your confirmation & growth in understanding, is, In discerning the same truths more practically than you did before, and perceiving the usefulness of every truth, for the doing of its work on your hearts and lives. It was never the will of God that bare speculation should be the end of his ⟨p. 98⟩Revelations, or of our belief. Divinity is an Affective practical Science, therefore must truths be known and believed, that the good may be received, and a holy change may be made by them on the heart and life. Even the Doctrine of the Trinity it self is practical, and the fountain of that which is more easily discerned to be practical. There is not one Article of our faith, but hath a special work to do upon our hearts and lives; and therefore a special fitness for that work. Now the understandings of young Christians, do discern many truths, when they see but little of the work to be done by them, and the special usefulness of those truths to those works. This therefore must be your daily enquiry, and in this you must grow. As if you come into a workmans shop, and see a hundred tools about you, it is a small matter to discern the shape and fashion of them, and what mettle they are made of: But you will further ask, What is this tool to do, and what is that to do: If ever you will learn the trade, you must know the use of every tool. So must you, if you will be skilful Christians, be acquainted with the use of the truths which you have received; and know that this truth is to do this work, and that truth to do that work, upon the soul and life. A Husbandman may know as many herbs, and flowers, and fruits as a Physician, and be able to tell them all by name, and say this is such an herb, and that is such a one; and to perceive the shape and beauty of them. But he knows little or nothing that they are good for, unless to feed his cattle: Whereas the Physician can tell you, that this herb is good against this disease, and that herb against another disease, and ⟨p. 99⟩can make use of those same herbs to save mens lives, which other men tread under foot as useless. A Countrey man may see the names that are written on the Apothecaries boxes, but it is the Physician that knows the medicinal use of the drugs. So, many men that are unsanctified, may know the outside of holy doctrine, that little know what use is to be made of it:
