Heavenly merchandiseHeavenly merchandize

2. Make use of and carry about with you some distinguishing marks of Truth, whereby it may be known and discerned from falsehood and error: be sure to carry them imprinted on your minds, and be always ready to make application of them in your reading and hearing. I here shall purposely wave any discourse about the logical Analysing of the Scripture, the searching out of the scope of the Text, and accommodating of all the arguments that are used to the principal drift or design, which are of excellent use to such as are furnished with the skill so to do, and also necessary for men of Learning, especially those who undertake to ⟨p. 112⟩be Teachers of others; and do require a great deal of time and study, rightly to perform it; yea and the neglect whereof, is one great reason why the Scriptures are often quoted impertinently, and besides the genuine intention of them: But this is not a thing to be attained to by every Christian, whom yet it concerns to be built upon the Truth, and warily to avoid the infection of error: there are therefore some more easily observable Criteria, the improving whereof will be of great use to prevent our being mistaken in this matter; & here I shall in the first place lay down this general Rule, from whence those more particular marks may be drawn; viz. Every Truth of Religion, contributes to the great ends of it; which are, the Glorifying of God, and the furthering of our Salvation. That these are the two main ends of the Christian Religion, every Catechise will readily inform us: Now the proper business of every Art, Science, or Doctrine is to lay down such Rules, Precepts, and discoveries, as may be proper and suitable means for the advancement of the genuine end of it: and whatsoever is not truly serviceable hereunto, is in no wise to be acknowledged as belonging to that Doctrine, but alien from it; so that whatsoever Doctrine either robs God of his deserved ⟨p. 113⟩glory in any point, or is destructive to the Salvation of Souls; and no ways tends to further them towards eternal life, is to be accounted falsehood; and if this Rule be duly observed, it will afford us several particular inferences, which will stand as so many differencing notes by the which the Truth may be known, viz.

2. Make use of and carry about with you some distinguishing marks of Truth, whereby it may be known and discerned from falshood and error: be sure to carry them imprinted on your minds, and be always ready to make application of them in your reading and hearing. I here shall purposely wave any discourse about the logical Analysing of the Scripture, the searching out of the scope of the Text, and accommodating of all the arguments that are used to the principal drift or design, which are of excellent use to such as are furnished with the skill so to do, and also necessary for men of Learning, especially those who undertake to