The Christian in Complete Armour

First, Fundamental Truths, or, as we call them, catechise-points, that contain truths necessary to be known and believed. The weight of the whole building lies on these ground-cells, more then on superstructory truths. In a Kingdom there are some staple commodities and trades, without which the Common-weal could not subsist, as wool, corn, &c. in our country, and these ought to be encouraged above others, (which though they be an ornament to the Nation, yea, add to the riches of it, yet are not so necessary to the subsistence of it) Thus here; there is an excellent use of our other Ministerial labours, as they tend to beautify and adorn, yea, enrich the Christian with the knowledge of spiritual mysteries; but that which is chiefly to be regarded is the constant faithful opening of those main truths of the Gospel. These are the Land-marks, and show us the bounds of truth; and as it is in towns that butt one upon another; if the inhabitants do not sometimes perambulate, and walk the bounds, (to show the youth what they are) when the old studs are gone, the next generation may lose all their privileges by their encroaching neighbours, because not able to tell what is their own. There is no fundamental truth, but hath some evil neighbour, (heresy I mean,) butting on it; and the very reason why a spirit of error hath ⟨p. 332⟩so encroached of late years upon truth, is, because we have not walked the bounds with our people in acquainting them with, and stablishing their judgements on these fundamental points, so frequently and carefully as is requisite. And people are much in the fault, because they cast so much contempt upon this work, that they count a Sermon on such point; next to lost, and only child's meat.

First, Fundamental Truths, or, as we call them, catechise-points, that contain truths necessary to be known and believed. The weight of the whole building lies on these ground-cells, more then on superstructory truths. In a Kingdome there are some staple commodities and trades, without which the Common-weale could not subsist, as wool, corne, &c. in our countrey, and these ought to be encouraged above others, (which though they be an ornament to the Nation, yea, adde to the riches of it, yet are not so necessary to the subsistence of it) Thus here; there is an excellent use of our other Ministerial labours, as they tend to beautifie and adorne, yea, enrich the Christian with the knowledge of spiritual mysteries; but that which is chiefly to be regarded is the constant faithful opening of those main truths of the Gospel. These are the Land-marks, and shew us the bounds of truth; and as it is in townes that butt one upon another; if the inhabitants do not sometimes perambulate, and walk the bounds, (to shew the youth what they are) when the old studs are gone, the next generation may lose all their priviledges by their encroaching neighbours, because not able to tell what is their own. There is no fundamental truth, but hath some evil neighbour, (heresie I meane,) butting on it; and the very reason why a spirit of errour hath