A continuation of the exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the…

1. God alone limits the signification and use of all his own Institutions. We ought not to derogate from them nor to take any thing out of them, which God hath put into them; nor can we put any thing into them, that God hath not furnished them withal. And we are apt to err in both extremes. The Jews to this day believe, that the ministration of their Priests contained the Heavenly things themselves. They do so, contrary to the nature and end of them, which the Scripture so often speaks unto. This is one occasion of their Obstinacy and unbelief. They will imagine that there was nothing above or beyond their legal Institutions; no other Heavenly Mysteries of Grace and Truth, but what is comprised in them. They put more in them, then ever God furnished them withal, and perish in their vain confidence.

1. God alone limits the signification and use of all his own Institutions. We ought not to derogate from them nor to take any thing out of them, which God hath put into them; nor can we put any thing into them, that God hath not furnished them withal. And we are apt to err in both extremes. The Jews to this day believe, that the ministration of their Priests contained the Heavenly things themselves. They do so, contrary to the nature and end of them, which the Scripture so often speaks unto. This is one occasion of their Obstinacy and unbelief. They will imagine that there was nothing above or beyond their legal Institutions; no other Heavenly Mysteries of Grace and Truth, but what is comprized in them. They put more in them, then ever God furnished them withal, and perish in their vain confidence.

It hath so fallen out also under the New Testament. God hath instituted his holy Sacraments, and hath put this virtue into them that they should represent and exhibit unto the Faith of Believers, the Grace which he intendeth and designeth by them. But men have not been contented herewith, and therefore they will put more into them, then God hath furnished them withal. They will have them to contain the Grace in them which they exhibit in the way of a Promise, and to communicate it unto all sorts of persons that are partakers of them. Thus some would have Baptism to be Regeneration it self, and that there is no other Evangelical Regeneration but that alone, with the profession which is made thereon. Every one who is baptized is thereby regenerate. The sign and figure of Grace they would have to be the Grace it self. Nothing can be invented more pernicious unto the souls of men. For all sorts of Persons may be brought to a ruinous security about their spiritual condition by it, and diverted from endeavours after that real internal work in the change of their hearts and natures, without which none shall see God. This is to put that into it, which God never placed there.