A34165:1016
A Complete collection of farewell sermons preached by Mr. Calamy, Dr. Manton, Mr. Caryl…A Compleat collection of farewel sermons preached by Mr. Calamy, Dr. Manton, Mr. Caryl…
A Complete collection of farewell sermons preached by Mr. Calamy, Dr. Manton, Mr. Caryl ... [et al.] ; together with Mr. Ash his funeral sermon, Mr. Nalton's funeral sermon, Mr. Lye's rehearsal ... with their several prayers.A Compleat collection of farewel sermons preached by Mr. Calamy, Dr. Manton, Mr. Caryl ... [et al.] ; together with Mr. Ash his funeral sermon, Mr. Nalton's funeral sermon, Mr. Lye's rehearsal ... with their several prayers.
London : s.n., 1663
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
These are the great points in Religion; these we must be sure to hold fast. And not only these, but even the lesser; those truths of Religion that, comparatively, are far less than these, we must hold them fast. You know what our Saviour says of the Commands: there are some that are the first and great Commandments, and there are others that are the lesser: But, whosoever shall break one of the least of Gods Commandments, and shall teach men so, the same shall be least in the Kingdom of God. So, whosoever shall renounce the least Truth, God will be even with him for it. For those Truths of God which are little and small, comparatively, they may be of great weight and consequence in their Sphere. Luther said, Let Heaven run together as a scroll, rather than one filing of Truth should be parted with. Surely those servants of God, the Martyrs, were not so prodigal of their lives, but they knew what they did when they suffered for such Truths, as men now call Trifles, and not worth standing for; the least Truths of God must be held fast.
These are the great points in Religion; these we must be fure to hold fast. And not only these, but even the lesser; those truths of Religion that, comparatively, are far less than these, we must hold them fast. You know what our Saviour says of the Commands: there are some that are the first and great Commandments, and there are others that are the lesser: But, whosoever shall break one of the least of Gods Commandments, and shall teach men so, the same shall be least in the Kingdom of God. So, whosoever shall renounce the least Truth, God will be even with him for it. For those Truths of God which are little and small, comparatively, they may be of great weight and consequence in their Sphere. Luther said, Let Heaven run together as a scrowl, rather than one filing of Truth should be parted with. Surely those servants of God, the Martyrs, were not so prodigal of their lives, but they knew what they did when they suffered for such Truths, as men now call Trifles, and not worth standing for; the least Truths of God must be held fast.
Thus you see what we must hold fast, Divine Truths, Scripture Truths, whether greater or lesser: we must hold fast what we have received. I should, but that I fore-see the time will prevent me, answer an Objection: Is there nothing to hold fast but Truth? Doth not the Apostle bid the Thessalonians, in the second of the Thessalonians, the second Chapter, and the fifteenth Verse, Hold the Traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word or our Epistle. The Papists make much of this place for their unwritten Traditions. In a word: know this, though there were some Doctrines of Faith, and matters of Practice, which, when Paul writ this Epistle, were not expressly to be found in Writing, that had been Preached by the Apostles; yet this will not in the least infer, that now, when the Canon of the Scripture is completed, there should be such unwritten Traditions, to which we are to give up our Faith.