Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…

3. And for the seeming Christian, he may understand the letter of the Gospel, and number himself with Christs disciples, and be baptized with water, and have such a faith as is a dead opinion: But he hath not an effectual living faith, nor is baptized with the Holy Ghost, nor is his soul engaged absolutely and entirely in the covenant of Christianity to his Redeemer: He may have a handsome well-made image of Christianity, but it is the flesh and sense, and not Christ and faith, by which his life is actuated and ordered. Joh. 3.6. Rom. 2.28.

IX. 1. A Christian indeed doth firmly believe that Christ is a Teacher sent from God (Joh. 3.2.) and that he came from Heaven to reveal his Fathers will, and to bring life and immortality more fully to light by his Gospel; and that if an Angel had been sent to tell us, of the life to come and the way thereto, he had not been so credible and venerable a messenger as the Son of God: And therefore he taketh him alone for his chief Teacher, and knoweth no Master on Earth but him, and such as he appointeth under him: His study in the world is to know a crucified and glorified Christ, and God by him, and he regardeth no other knowledge, ⟨p. 24⟩nor useth any other studies, but this, and such as are subservient to this. Even when he studieth the works of nature, it is as by the conduct of the restorer of nature, and as one help appointed him by Christ, to lead him up to the knowledge of God. And therefore he perceiveth that Christ is made of God unto us, wisdom as well as Righteousness: And that Christianity is the true Philosophy: and that the wisdom of the world, which is only about worldly things, from worldly principles, to a worldly end, is foolishness with God: He taketh nothing for wisdom which tendeth not to acquaint him more with God, or lead him up to everlasting happiness. Christ is his Teacher (either by natural or supernatural revelation,) and God is his ultimate end, in all his studies, and all that he desireth to know in the world. He valueth knowledge according to its usefulness: And he knoweth that its chief use is to lead us to the love of God.