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

7. A contemplative delight in a mans own notions and conceptions he hath. ¹This hath caused more errors than any thing, especially in learned men. Therefore heresy is called from choosing, when a man doth voluntarily choose such a way to go in; and the Scripture doth excellently call it, Going a whoring after a mans heart No adulterer finds more pleasure in those delights of the flesh, then the mind of a man corrupted doth with its own notions. No woman is more fond of her child, than the understanding is of its own conceptions.

7. A contemplative delight in a mans own notions and conceptions he hath. ¹This hath caused more errours than any thing, especially in learned men. Therefore heresie is called from chusing, when a man doth voluntarily chuse such a way to go in; and the Scripture doth excellently call it, Going a whoring after a mans heart No adulterer finds more pleasure in those delights of the flesh, then the minde of a man corrupted doth with its owne notions. No woma• is more fond of her childe, than the understanding is of its owne conceptions.

1. 17. Contemplative delight in a mans own notions.

The second thing to be manifested is, The nature of every mans Doctrine, ¹and if false, than the visor will be pulled of. It will appear counterfeit coin, and you know to be guilty of that is a capital crime, pro thesauro carbons, Gods authority and stamp will not be •ound on it. Rehoboam, when the golden vessels were taken out of the Temple, he put brass ones in the stead. It's not so well in the Text, for here is stubble for gold; so an Ancient did well express it; as if a man should e an Image all over gilded, and touch it, you shall find nothing but mouldering dst; though it may be ae aurata, yet it is not aurea; it's but earth gilded over. If the God would never bring our assertions to his touchstone, we might be the more bold, but that cannot be.