1. Not short. There are many false Rules with which men please themselves, and are but so many by-ways that lead us off from our own happiness; for instance Good meaning, that's a false Rule; the world lives by guess and devout aims: But if good meaning were a Rule, a man may oppose the interest of Christ, destroy his servants, and all upon good meaning, Joh. 16. 2. These that kill you will think they do God good service: men may grossly err that follow a blind Conscience. Custom, that is another. It is no matter what others have done before us, but what Christ did before them all: If Custom carry it, most of Christs institutions would be out of doors. Example of others that's no good Rule: it is not for us to go where others have gone before, but what's the true way, Matth. 7. 14. The broad way that leads to destruction, and many walk therein: the path to Hell is most beaten: we are not always to follow the track: they are dead Fishes which swim down the stream: we are not to be led away with Custom, and Example, and do as others do. Our own desires and inclinations are not our Rule. O how miserable should we be if our Lust were our Law, if the bent of our hearts were our Rule? Jude 16. walking after their own lusts, is the description of those that were monsters of men, that had outgrown all feelings of Conscience. The Laws of Men are not our Rule; 'Tis too narrow, and short to commend us to God, to be punctual to the Laws of men and no more, Psal. 19. 7. The Law of God is perfect, converting the Soul. To convince us of sin, to humble the heart, to reduce and bring us back to God, there's no rule for this but the Law of God. Men make Laws as Tailors do garments, to fit the crooked bodies they serve for, to suit the humours of the people to be governed by these Laws: surely they are not a sufficient Rule to convince us of sin, and to guide us to true happiness. A civil orderly man is one thing, and a godly renewed man another. It is Gods prerogative to give a Law to the Conscience, and the renewed motions of the heart. Humane Laws are good to establish converse with man, but too short to establish Communion with God; and therefore we must consult with the Rule, which is the Law of the Lord, that we may not come short of true blessedness.
1. Not short. There are many false Rules with which men please themselves, and are but so many by-ways that lead us off from our own happiness; for instance Good meaning, that's a false Rule; the world lives by guess and devout aims: But if good meaning were a Rule, a man may oppose the interest of Christ, destroy his servants, and all upon good meaning, Ioh. 16. 2. These that kill you will think they do God good service: men may grosly err that follow a blind Conscience. Custom, that is another. It is no matter what others have done before us, but what Christ did before them all: If Custom carry it, most of Christs institutions would be out of doors. Example of others that's no good Rule: it is not for us to go where others have gone before, but what's the true way, Matth. 7. 14. The broad way that leads to destruction, and many walk therein: the path to Hell is most beaten: we are not always to follow the track: they are dead Fishes which swim down the stream: we are not to be led away with Custom, and Example, and do as others do. Our own desires and inclinations are not our Rule. O how miserable should we be if our Lust were our Law, if the bent of our hearts were our Rule? Iude 16. walking after their own lusts, is the description of those that were monsters of men, that had outgrown all feelings of Conscience. The Laws of Men are not our Rule; 'Tis too narrow, and short to commend us to God, to be punctual to the Laws of men and no more, Psal. 19. 7. The Law of God is perfect, converting the Soul. To convince us of sin, to humble the heart, to reduce and bring us back to God, there's no rule for this but the Law of God. Men make Laws as Taylors do garments, to fit the crooked bodies they serve for, to suit the humours of the people to be governed by these Laws: surely they are not a sufficient Rule to convince us of sin, and to guide us to true happiness. A civil orderly man is one thing, and a godly renewed man another. It is Gods prerogative to give a Law to the Conscience, and the renewed motions of the heart. Humane Laws are good to establish converse with man, but too short to establish Communion with God; and therefore we must consult with the Rule, which is the Law of the Lord, that we may not come short of true blessedness.
