A30241:1505
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, or, Christs prayer before his passion explicated, and both practically and polemically improved by Anthony Burgess ...
London: printed by Abraham Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1656
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Sermon 58: The Greatness of the Mercy of being kept sound in the Truth: And the Damnableness of Er…
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1Fifthly, It's of great moment to be preserved in the pure Doctrine, because that is the foundation and necessary pre-requisite to holiness. The will can never apprehend that which is bonum, if the understanding do not first show, what is the true good: The apprehensive faculty must guide the appetitive, If the eye be dark, the whole body is (as our Saviour afterwards prayeth) Sanctify them by thy truth, thy Word is truth. Gods truth is only instrumental to holiness; Errors can no more nourish spiritual life, then chaff or stubble, yea or poison can nourish a man bodily: For as false Sacraments (such as the Popish) cannot increase grace, because they have neither institution or promise; so is it also for errors; and therefore the same persons that had thrust away a good conscience, they could not endure or abide it, the same made shipwreck of their faith, they put it away, 1 Tim. 1.19. They had some good conscience once (though not truly sanctified) but this they repel, they do not love it any more, it's against their interests, their worldly advantages, their lusts and carnal affections; Can we then have too precious thoughts of Gods truths, seeing they only are blessed to a mans true godliness?
1Fifthly, It's of great moment to be preserved in the pure Doctrine, because that is the foundation and necessary pre-requisite to holinesse. The will can never apprehend that which is bonum, if the understanding do not first show, what is the true good: The apprehensive faculty must guide the appetitive, If the eye be dark, the whole body is (as our Saviour afterwards prayeth) Sanctifie them by thy truth, thy Word is truth. Gods truth is only instrumental to holiness; Errours can no more nourish spiritual life, then chaff or stubble, yea or poison can nourish a man bodily: For as false Sacraments (such as the Popish) cannot increase grace, because they have neither institution or promise; so is it also for errours; and therefore the same persons that had thrust away a good conscience, they could not endure or abide it, the same made shipwrack of their faith, they put it away, 1 Tim. 1.19. They had some good conscience once (though not truly sanctified) but this they repell, they do not love it any more, it's against their interests, their worldly advantages, their lusts and carnal affections; Can we then have too precious thoughts of Gods truths, seeing they onely are blessed to a mans true godliness?