A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first…

Use 2 It may teach us what to judge of such men as have been sometimes very forward and zealous Professors, but afterwards they sit loose from Religion, and fall off from the Saints, and grow enemies to the Church, they were never true Members of the Church, Stella cadens, nunquam stella, cometa fuit, never any Star fell; the Church is compared to Heaven, Christians to Stars, when we think we see a Star fall, it is no Star, but a meteor drawn up by the heat of the Sun, which when the heat of the Sun is withdrawn, falsl, so if you see any Stars fall from the Church, they were some sluggish meteors, that by the heat of Gods ordinances were raised up and inflamed, but after the heat was a little dissolved, they fell away; if any fall, they were never any true Stars in heaven, but blazing meteors.

Ʋse 2 It may teach us what to judge of such men as have been sometimes very forward and zealous Professors, but afterwards they sit loose from Religion, and fall off from the Saints, and grow enemies to the Church, they were never true Members of the Church, Stella cadens, nunquam stella, cometa fuit, never any Star fell; the Church is compared to Heaven, Christians to Stars, when we think we see a Star fall, it is no Star, but a meteor drawn up by the heat of the Sun, which when the heat of the Sun is withdrawn, falsl, so if you see any Stars fall from the Church, they were some sluggish meteors, that by the heat of Gods ordinances were raised up and inflamed, but after the heat was a little dissolved, they fell away; if any fall, they were never any true Stars in heaven, but blazing meteors.

Use 3 It may teach us, never to rest in any fellowship or society of the Church, till we are knit by the spirit to God and Christ, so that every ordinance knits you nearer to Christ, and to his Members, and every conference quickens your affection to the Church, and theirs to you; come not therefore to the Fellowship of the Church for custom or credit, or to satisfy friends, these are but as glass eyes, and wooden legs; how little good will it be to that person that lives in the Church like a noisome humour, hurtful, and pricking the Church, troublesome to the Church and Members thereof? such a one is but an evil humour, and it were better it were cast out; nay content not your selves in being an ornament and supportance to the Church, liberal for any good use; and so Ministers, you must not rest in this, you are but as wooden legs, and glass eyes and you lose by it, unless you draw juice and nourishment from the body by the spirit; rejoice not therefore in this, that you cleave to the Church, and they to you; but rejoice that you are of that number, whose names are written in heaven; rejoice in this, that by the spirit and Faith, you are knit to Christ, rejoice that you do any good office to the Church, not for any by-respect, but naturally.