The saints dignity and duty· Together with the danger of ignorance and hardness. /…The saints dignitie and dutie· Together with the danger of ignorance and hardnesse. /…

My brethren, by the cunning subtlety of the enemy, this conceit hath crept into the mind of all Heretics, that look what they once drink in, they must ever retain it as a principle, and never think of removing, or unsettling from it. This is an hook, whereby the Devil holdeth multitudes of men in falsehood and error, and in wicked courses, They will hear nothing against that which formerly they have embraced, and been persuaded unto by those they depend upon. This policy the Devil useth in Popery, and amongst the Familists, and Anabaptists, teaching them to resolve to hold whatsoever they have received, either from themselves or others. And here, I say, it is sinful for a man to resolve to hear no counsel at all against his opinion. But nevertheless, this I say; When a man is persuaded, that the opinion, or course he takes up is such, as God himself hath been pleased to make known unto him out of his Word; he is to receive nothing against this, but merely out of the Word: let nothing unsettle our judgement in a plain and revealed truth, but only hold to that: As I have been settled by the truth, ⟨p. 132⟩so if ever I change my opinion, the truth is that which shall reform me; all the counsel I take up, and all the opinions I hold, shall be such as the Word of God shall reveal to me. And because my mind may be weak, and my understanding frail, and not able to see the sense of the spirit, therefore I will hear nothing against a good course, but only out of the Word. If my opinion and my course be such as I am persuaded is the truth revealed out of the word, howsoever I may be deluded, yet this I will attribute to the Word of God; no opinion, no authority of any other shall carry the truth from me; but the word shall reform me, as the word hath persuaded me, and as the word hath revealed to me. This you shall observe to be the counsel of God in several places of Scripture: Mark what the Apostle saith to the Philippians, Phil. 1.27. he desireth this at their hands, that they would stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, in the truth revealed; and to the Colossians, Col. 1.23. Continue (saith he) in the faith, grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached unto you:

My brethren, by the cunning subtilty of the enemy, this conceit hath crept into the mind of all Heretiques, that look what they once drink in, they must ever retain it as a principle, and never think of removing, or unsetling from it. This is an hook, whereby the Devill holdeth multitudes of men in falsehood and errour, and in wicked courses, They will heare nothing against that which formerly they have imbraced, and been perswaded unto by those they depend upon. This policie the Devill useth in Popery, and amongst the Familists, and Anabaptists, teaching them to resolve to hold whatsoever they have received, either from themselves or others. And here, I say, it is sinfull for a man to resolve to heare no counsell at all against his opinion. But neverthelesse, this I say; When a man is perswaded, that the opinion, or course he takes up is such, as God himselfe hath been pleased to make known unto him out of his Word; he is to receive nothing against this, but meerly out of the Word: let nothing unsettle our judgement in a plain and revealed truth, but onely hold to that: As I have been settled by the truth,