The Reason of the Doctrine is, Because some Preachers are men of Learning & Moral […], and they have drunk in some Errors, & they want Experience. Learning and Morality will qualify men to make many good and profitable Sermons, much for the Edification of the Hearers. Learning qualifies men to clear up many Principles of Religion; and a Moral disposition may fit men zealously to Reprove vicious Practices: But men may be Learned men, yet drink in very Corrupt Doctrines. Learning is no security against Erroneous Principles: The Pharisees and Sadducees were men of Liberal Education, yet leavened with many false Principles: Mat. 16.6 Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees & Sadducees. & ver. 12. Then understood they that he bid them not beware of the leaven of bread; but of the doctrine of the Pharisees & of the Sadducees. Learning will not cure those distempers of the Heart that do expose men to false Opinions; Learning will not cure the Pride & Conceitedness of mens Hearts. Men ⟨p. 8⟩of Learning may lean too much to their own Understanding. Men of Learning may be led aside by Reading Erroneous Books. Learned Education will not deliver men from Carnal Reason: Men of corrupt Affections are very inclinable to imbibe bad Principles: Men of Learning may be blind men. Christ says of the Pharisees, They be blind, leaders of the blind, Mat. 15.14. Most of the Errors in the world in matters of Religion, have been hatched by men of Learning. Arius, Socinus, and Arminius, and Pelagius were Learned men: Errors in Religion have been generally the Off-spring of great Scholars, have been propagated by them. And men may be Moral men that have no experience of the work of God upon their hearts. Men may be Zealous men against Drunkenness and Whoredom, that have no Saving Knowledge of Christ. Many Moral men have no Communion with God; no Experience of a Saving Change in their own Souls. Men may be very Moral & have no experience of a work of Humiliation, or being brought off from their own Righteousness, or a work of Faith; of the difference that is between the Common and Special work of the Spirit; of the difference between Saving & Common Illumination, of the working of the heart under Temptation, of the way wherein godly ⟨p. 9⟩men are wont to find Relief.
The Reason of the Doctrine is, Because some Preachers are men of Learning & Moral 〈…〉, and they have drunk in some Errors, & they want Experience. Learning and Morality will qualify men to make many good and profitable Sermons, much for the Edification of the Hearers. Learning qualifies men to clear up many Principles of Religion; and a Moral disposition may fit men zealously to Reprove vicious Practices: But men may be Learned men, yet drink in very Corrupt Doctrines. Learning is no security against Erronious Principles: The Pharisees and Sadducees were men of Liberal Education, yet leavened with many false Principles: Mat. 16.6 Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees & Sadducees. & ver. 12. Then understood they that he bid them not beware of the leaven of bread; but of the doctrine of the Pharisees & of the Sadducees. Learning will not cure those distempers of the Heart that do expose men to false Opinions; Learning will not cure the Pride & Conceitedness of mens Hearts. Men ⟨p. 8⟩of Learning may lean too much to their own Understanding. Men of Learning may be led aside by Reading Erronious Books. Learned Education will not deliver men from Carnal Reason: Men of corrupt Affections are very inclinable to imbibe bad Principles: Men of Learning may be blind men. Christ says of the Pharisees, They be blind, leaders of the blind, Mat. 15.14. Most of the Errors in the world in matters of Religion, have been hatched by men of Learning. Arius, Socinus, and Arminius, and Pelagius were Learned men: Errors in Religion have been generally the Off-spring of great Scholars, have been propagated by them. And men may be Moral men that have no experience of the work of God upon their hearts. Men may be Zealous men against Drunkenness and Whoredom, that have no Saving Knowledge of Christ. Many Moral men have no Communion with God; no Experience of a Saving Change in their own Souls. Men may be very Moral & have no experience of a work of Humiliation, or being bro't off from their own Righteousness, or a work of Faith; of the difference that is between the Common and Special work of the Spirit; of the difference between Saving & Common Illumination, of the working of the heart under Temptation, of the way wherein godly ⟨p. 9⟩men are wont to find Relief.
