I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Thirdly: There may be much danger in walking, and living by Impressions, whether with, or without a Word. Good People are very apt, and prone to walk, and live by Impressions; but it is a dangerous thing so to do: thereby some are nursed up in Ignorance, and seek for no other Knowledge in the study of the Scripture, by comparing Spiritual Things with Spiritual: thereby some are always kept unsettled in their Spiritual State and Condition; for if a Word come, then they have Comfort; but when none comes, then doth their Comfort fail: thereby also some are misled, and carried from the good Ways of God, and his Ordinances; for I pray, what is the reason that so many in these days of ours, have departed from the Ordinances of Christ, but because they took up Truths by Impressions, Ordinances of Christ by Impressions, and the good Ways of God by Impressions; and so when false Impressions came, they presently swallowed them, and have proved Apostates; yea, and how many are there, who lie sucking the sweetness of the Impression, do lose the sweetness of that very Word which is impressed: As with a Lamb, or Child that is sucking; though the Child suck the Teat, or Breast for a time, yet if you draw away the Breast, or Teat, and give it a dry Finger, it doth suck that. So it is with many; first they suck the sweetness of some particular word that is set on the soul: but when they live, and walk by Impressions, what do they then but suck the dry Finger, the very Impression? and so do lose the sweetness of the Word it self. But now take the Word of God written, and there is no danger in living, and walking by it; it is our Duty to walk, and to live thereby.

Thirdly: There may be much danger in walking, and living by Impressions, whether with, or without a Word. Good People are very apt, and prone to walk, and live by Impressions; but it is a dangerous thing so to do: thereby some are nussed up in Ignorance, and seek for no other Knowledg in the study of the Scripture, by comparing Spiritual Things with Spiritual: thereby some are alwaies kept unsetled in their Spiritual State and Condition; for if a Word come, then they have Comfort; but when none comes, then doth their Comfort fail: thereby also some are misled, and carried from the good Waies of God, and his Ordinances; for I pray, what is the reason that so many in these daies of ours, have departed from the Ordinances of Christ, but because they took up Truths by Impressions, Ordinances of Christ by Impressions, and the good Waies of God by Impressions; and so when false Impressions came, they presently swallowed them, and have proved Apostates; yea, and how many are there, who lie sucking the sweetness of the Impression, do lose the sweetness of that very Word which is impressed: As with a Lamb, or Child that is sucking; though the Child suck the Teat, or Breast for a time, yet if you draw away the Breast, or Teat, and give it a dry Finger, it doth suck that. So it is with many; first they suck the sweetness of some particular word that is set on the soul: but when they live, and walk by Impressions, what do they then but suck the dry Finger, the very Impression? and so do lose the sweetness of the Word it self. But now take the Word of God written, and there is no danger in living, and walking by it; it is our Duty to walk, and to live thereby.