Secondly, The knowledge and true faith which God hath given thee, do thou make use of it to direct and preserve others. This knowledge and sound mind in 1Religion, is not indeed essentially accompanied with holiness: A man may be very Orthodox, be sound in the Faith, as Hymeneus and Philetus were a while, yet afterwards made shipwreck of all. But yet it is a special gift of Gods Spirit to be led into the truth; and although to have a sound mind only ⟨p. 181⟩be not enough to godliness; yet godliness cannot be without a sound mind, in some measure or other. Every godly man is built upon the true foundation, though there may be some hay and stubble, which, though it shall not damn him, because not fundamental heresies, yet shall make his salvation the more difficult: He shall be saved, so as by fire. If then God hath preserved thee in the truth, and that in times when many fall on thy right hand, and on thy left hand, having this soul plague and infection upon them, let it be thy greater care to reduce such: Let them have thy light, thy helps, and knowledge: Put thy light upon the candlestick, and not under a bushel. Consider that place, James 5. 19, 20. If any do err from the truth, and one convert him, let him know he shall save a soul from death. So that you see the salvation or damnation of another, is interested in thy improving of sounds knowledge to inform such. Howsoever the Apostle Rom. 14. in a particular case about things indifferent, adviseth, saying, Hast thou faith? have it to thy self: Yet take heed of doing so in fundamental and essential truths of God: Do not there have faith to thy self, but endeavour that all may be seasoned with the same sound knowledge. Even a private Christian, though he is not to usurp the Office of a Teacher, yet he hath his proper sphere, wherein he may move to propagate the true knowledge of Christ. This knowledge then is a talent, and expect that God will have an account of the improving of it. Say, as of comfort in the text, so of sound knowledge and truth, The Spirit of God hath directed us into the truth, that we may also be able to guide others.
Secondly, The knowledge and true faith which God hath given thee, do thou make use of it to direct and preserve others. This knowledge and sound mind in 1Religion, is not indeed essentially accompanied with holinesse: A man may be very Orthodox, be sound in the Faith, as Hymeneus and Philetus were a while, yet afterwards made shipwrack of all. But yet it is a special gift of Gods Spirit to be led into the truth; and although to have a sound mind only ⟨p. 181⟩be not enough to godlinesse; yet godlinesse cannot be without a sound mind, in some measure or other. Every godly man is built upon the true foundation, though there may be some hay and stubble, which, though it shall not damn him, because not fundamental heresies, yet shall make his salvation the more difficult: He shall be saved, so as by fire. If then God hath preserved thee in the truth, and that in times when many fall on thy righthand, and on thy left hand, having this soul plague and infection upon them, let it be thy greater care to reduce such: Let them have thy light, thy helps, and knowledge: Put thy light upon the candlestick, and not under a bushel. Consider that place, James 5. 19, 20. If any do erre from the truth, and one convert him, let him know he shall save a soul from death. So that you see the salvation or damnation of another, is interested in thy improving of sounds knowledge to inform such. Howsoever the Apostle Rom. 14. in a particular case about things indifferent, adviseth, saying, Hast thou faith? have it to thy self: Yet take heed of doing so in fundamental and essential truths of God: Do not there have faith to thy self, but endeavour that all may be seasoned with the same sound knowledge. Even a private Christian, though he is not to usurpe the Office of a Teacher, yet he hath his proper sphere, wherein he may move to propagate the true knowledge of Christ. This knowledge then is a talent, and expect that God will have an account of the improving of it. Say, as of comfort in the text, so of sound knowledge and truth, The Spirit of God hath directed us into the truth, that we may also be able to guide others.
- 12. The Knowledge of God, and true saith.
