The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

Yea lastly, Men lose their parts and gifts: They have not that clearness and soundness of understanding, as they had. Hence error doth corrupt the mind, as rust doth the iron. To him that hath shall be given (it's spoken of the right using of our talents) and from him that doth not use it in a right manner, shall be taken away all that he hath, Mat. 25.29.

Yea lastly, Men lose their parts and gifts: They have not that clearnesse and soundnesse of understanding, as they had. Hence errour doth corrupt the mind, as rust doth the iron. To him that hath shall be given (it's spoken of the right using of our talents) and from him that doth not use it in a right manner, shall be taken away all that he hath, Mat. 25.29.

Use 1. Of Exhortation to us Ministers, to be much in prayer and diligent study in attending unto the word of God. You see here, unsound and false preaching may bring us to great and sad losses, worse than of outward substance and maintenance, even of inward comfort and peace with God; and this we are the more to attend to, by how much we know but in part, and understand but in part. As the bodily eye is subject to a world of diseases, and any distemper there, is very dangerous: So the mind of a man is subject to much corruption, blindness, ignorance, injudiciousness, vain and false reasonings; insomuch that it's a proverbial expression, Humanum est errare; what is that but as much as humanum est damnari, if God prevent not? Seeing therefore we are thus compassed about with infirmities, which may prove destructive; this should make us humble, modest, to say as Hierom, Nunquam meipsum habui magistrum, I never was my own master. If others will be bold and presumptuous, yet do thou tremble; then thou wilt gain, when such shall lose.

Ʋse 1. Of Exhortation to us Ministers, to be much in prayer and diligent study in attending unto the word of God. You see here, unsound and false preaching may bring us to great and sad losses, worse than of outward substance and maintenance, even of inward comfort and peace with God; and this we are the more to attend to, by how much we know but in part, and understand but in part. As the bodily eye is subject to a world of diseases, and any distemper there, is very dangerous: So the mind of a man is subject to much corruption, blindnesse, ignorance, injudiciousnesse, vain and false reasonings; insomuch that it's a proverbial expression, Humanum est errare; what is that but as much as humanum est damnari, if God prevent not? Seeing therefore we are thus compassed about with infirmities, which may prove destructive; this should make us humble, modest, to say as Hierom, Nunquam meipsum habui magistrum, I never was my own master. If others will be bold and presumptuous, yet do thou tremble; then thou wilt gain, when such shall lose.