Words of advice to young men delivered in two sermons at two conventions of…

2. That there is a necessity as the Apostle speaks, that there should be heresies, that they which are approved might be made manifest, 1 Cor. 11. 19. There are two ways whereby God doth try his people, and make manifest their sincerity: One, by persecutions; when persecutions arise, many hypocrites drop off, and flinch away, and leave the sincere to bear the brunt: The other is by Error and Heresy; and here some hypocrites that have held out under some kind of persecutions, do fall away, and drink in the poison of damnable errors, unto the destruction of their souls; but the sincere hold fast the Truth, and it is impossible that they should be deceived, because of Christs promise, undertaking, and the indwelling of the Spirit of Christ in them.

2. That there is a necessity as the Apostle speaks, that there should be heresies, that they which are approved might be made manifest, 1 Cor. 11. 19. There are two wayes whereby God doth trye his people, and make manifest their sincerity: One, by persecutions; when persecutions arise, many hypocrites drop off, and flinch away, and leave the sincere to bear the brunt: The other is by Errour and Herefie; and here some hypocrites that have held out under some kinde of persecutions, do fall away, and drink in the poyson of damnable errors, unto the destruction of their souls; but the sincere hold fast the Truth, and it is impossible that they should be deceived, because of Christs promise, undertaking, and the indwelling of the Spirit of Christ in them.

3. That though the great disagreement is between the orthodox and heretical, yet there may be a disagreement between the orthodox, the sincere amongst themselves, but it is only in circumstantials of Religion, not in Fundamentals, and all of them be in the same way to Heaven, and meet at the Journeys end, where they shall disagree no more.