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

To open the Doctrine, consider, That in Christianity, and so in our preaching, there is a two-fold kind of matter: 1. That which is Fundamental, plain, necessary and easy, being the first principles of Religion, the total ignorance whereof damneth. 2. There are admirable Consequences and Conclusions to be deduced from, and improved out of these, unto which the godly are to grow, not resting in the former▪ but greedily desiring the later. The fore-named place, Heb. 5.12. evidenceth this; where he tells us of first principles, such as every one must learn, Repentance from dead works, Faith in God, the Resurrection of the dead, and eternal Judgment; so these be principles and foundations, and it is as impossible to build up towards Heaven without these, as to build an house without a foundation. The Apostle compareth these to milk, and the other to strong meat. Now as it is a shame for a child always to suck; so it is not only a shame, but a grievous sin, for a people to be capable of nothing but milk. To be children always: And if Paul was so offended at it, What cause have the Ministers of God in these days to burn with zeal, because of the general ignorance upon most people? Alas, how many do not so much as understand the first principles? How many have not laid a foundation? We cannot preach to them, no not as babes, much less as grown men, they are even brutish Pagans almost for their ignorance in religious things. But of that more hereafter.

To open the Doctrine, consider, That in Christianity, and so in our preaching, there is a two-fold kind of matter: 1. That which is Fundamental, plain, necessary and easie, being the first principles of Religion, the total ignorance whereof damneth. 2. There are admirable Cons•quences and Conclusions to be deduced from, and improved out of these, unto which the godly are to grow, not resting in the former▪ but greedily desiring the later. The fore-named place, Heb. 5.12. evidenceth this; where he tels us of first principles, such as every one must learn, Repentance from dead works, Faith in God, the Resurrection of the dead, and eternal Judgment; so these be principles and foundations, and it is as impossible to build up towards Heaven without these, as to build an house without a foundation. The Apostle compareth these to milk, and the other to strong meat. Now as it is a shame for a child alwayes to suck; so it is not only a shame, but a grievous sinne, for a people to be capable of nothing but milk. To be children alwayes: And if Paul was so offended at it, What cause have the Ministers of God in these dayes to burn with zeal, because of the general ignorance upon most people? Alas, how many do not so much as understand the first principles? How many have not laid a foundation? We cannot preach to them, no not as babes, much lesse as grown men, they are even bruitish Pagans almost for their ignorance in religious things. But of that more hereafter.