The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…

Etiam vera de Deo loqui periculosum: Even things that are true should be spoken of God, not only with reverence, but with great caution: And a wise man will rather admire and adore, than boldly speak what he is not certain is true and congruous.

Direct. 6. Let all your knowledge of God be practical; yea more practical than any other knowledge; and let not your thoughts once use Gods Name in vain.

If it be a sin to use idle or unprofitable words, and especially to take Gods Name in vain; it cannot be faultless to have idle unprofitable thoughts of God: for the thoughts are the operations of the mind it self. There is no thought or knowledge which ever cometh into our minds, which 1. Hath so great work to do; and 2. Is so fit and powerful to do it, as the knowledge and thoughts which we have of God. The ⟨p. 174⟩v•ry renovation of the soul to his Image, and transforming it into the Divine Nature, must be wrought hereby: The thoughts of his Wisdom, must silence all our contradicting folly, and bring our souls to an absolute submission and subjection to his Laws: The knowledge of his Goodness, must cause all true saving Goodness in us, by possessing us with the highest love to God. The knowledge of his Power, must cause both our confidence, and our fear: And the impress of Gods Attributes must be his Image on our souls. It is a common (and true) observation of Divines, that in Scripture, words of God which express his Knowledge, do imply his will and affections: (As his knowing the way of the righteous, Psal. 2.6. is his approving and loving it, &c.) And it is as true, that words of our knowledge of God, should all imply affection towards him. It is a grievous aggravation of ungodliness, to be a learned ungodly man: To profess to know God, and deny him in works, being abominable and disobedient, and reprobate to every good work (though as orthodox and ready in good words as others.)