Scripture, to satisfy their judgments concerning the doctrine Paxil preached. They did not believe hand over head, })ut their faith was the result of a judg- ment, upon diligent search, convinced by Scripture evidence. Acts xvii. 1 1 : it is said there, ' They searched the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.' They carried the preacher's doctrine to the written word, and compared it with that; and mark, ver. 12, ' Therefore many believed ;' as they did not believe before, so they durst not but believe now. I remember TertuUian, speaking of some heretics, tlieir manner of preaching, saith, Pcrsundendo Jocent, non docendo persuadenl ; ' they teach by persuading, and not persuade by teaching :' that is, they woo and entice the affections of their hearers, without convincing of their judgment aJiout what they preach. Indeed it were a hard work for the adulterer to convince her he would ruin, that the fact is lawful. No, he goes another way to work. First, he inveigles her affections, and they once be- witched, the other is not much questioned, it being easy for the affections to make the judgment of their party. Well, though error, like a thief, comes thus in at the window, yet truth, like the true owner of the house, delights to enter at the right door of understanding, from thence into the conscience, and so passeth into the will and affections. Indeed, he that hits upon truth, and takes up the profession of it, before he is bi'ought into the acquaintance of its excellency and heavenly beauty by his understanding, cannot entertain it, be- coming its heavenly birth and descent ; it is as a prince that travels in disguise, not known, therefore not honoured. Truth is loved and prized only of those that know it : and not to desire to know it, is to despise it, as much as know- ing it, to reject it. It were not hard sure to cheat that man of truth, who knows not what he hath. Truth and error are all one to the ignorant man, so it hath but the name of truth. Leah and Rachel were both alike to Jacob in the dark. Indeed, it is said, ' In the morning, behold it was Leah,' Gen. xxix. 25. So in the morning, when it is day in the understanding, then the deceived jierson will see he hath had a false bride in his bosom ; will cry out, Behold, it is an error which I took for a truth. You have may be heard of the covetous man, that hugged himself in the many bags of gold he had, but never opened them, nor used them ; when the thief took away his gold, and left him his bags fidl of pebbles in the room, he was as happy as when he had his gold, for he looked not at the one or other. And verily an ignorant person is in a manner no better with truth than error on his .side. Both are alike to him, day and night, all one to a blind man.
But to proceed, and give some more particular account, why the Christian should endeavour for an established judgment in the truth, I shall content myself with three reasons. The first, taken from the damning nature of false doctrine; the second, from the subtlety of seducers to draw into false doctrine ; and the third, from the universal influence that an established judgment hath on the whole man, and whole course of a Christian.
First, From the damning natiu-e of false doctrines. They hunt for the precious life of souls, as well as any other sin. An imposthume in the head proves oft as deadly as one in the stomach. A corrupt judgment in foundation truths kills as sure as a rotten heart, indeed it proceeds thence. Jezebel's children are threatened to be killed with death. Rev. ii. 23 ; and who are her children, but her disciples, that drink of her cup of fornication, and embrace her corrupt doctrines? But sure this is not believed by some, who, though very strict in their lives, and seem as tender in matters of morality as Lot was of his guests, yet are very loose in their principles and judgments, exposing them, as he his daughters, to be defiled with any corrupt doctrine that comes to their door. They would make us think, that here men played but at small games, and their souls were not at stake, as in other sins. As if there were not such a question to be asked at the great day, what opinions we held, and whether we were sound in the faith? In a word, as if false doctrines were but an innocent thing, not like the wild gom-d, which brought death into the prophet's pot, 2 Kings iv. ; turning wholesome food, with which it was mingled, into baneful poison ; but rather, like herb John in the pot, that does neither nmch good nor hurt. Yea, there be some that speak out, and tell us, a man may be saved in any religion, so he doth but follow his light ; and are not these charitable men, who, because they would have the company as few as may be that are dannied,
21Q HAVING YOUR LOINS