The truly blessed man, or, The way to be happy here, and forever being…

1. It gives them a more clear understanding of the truths which they teach. Theoretical and practical knowledge vastly differ; a mere discursive knowledge of any Art, makes a man but a bungler, compared with one that hath been practised in it Experience exemplifieth the Rules of Religion to •• man; he had heard of these things before, and had some rational notions about them, but now ⟨p. 418⟩he sees▪ and tastes, Psal. 34. 8. And this is a• great help to teaching.

1. It gives them a more clear understanding of the truths which they teach. Theoretical and practical knowledge vastly differ; a meer discorsive knowledge of any Art, makes a man but a bungler, compared with one that hath been practised in it Experience exemplifieth the Rules of Religion to •• man; he had heard of these things before, and had some rational notions about them, but now ⟨p. 418⟩he sees▪ and tasts, Psal. 34. 8. And this is a• great help to teaching.

2. It greatly establisheth their faith and confidence i• these truths; and hereby they are enabled to commend them with the more authority: A man may by study, be able to speak largely and distinctly upon Scripture truths; but they can say nothing of their own knowledge, and possibly themselves fluctuate about their credit of them: they take them only upon Tradition; whereas he that hath the record of these truths on his heart, and had them exemplified on him, can with greatest boldness assert them