[3.] They which do not first learn these, cannot profit much. Some confused knowledge they may acquire, but distinct, clear, and orderly understanding they never grow unto. When men run before they can go, they often get a knock. They that were never well grounded are always mutable ; therefore before we are brought into the chambers of knowledge, we must stay in the porch, begin with most necessary things, which are most clear and plain, and thereby we are made capable of higher mysteries.
2. Though all Christians must come to this pitch, to know what is necessary to salvation, yet we must not stay here, nor always stay in the porch, nor always keep to our milk, nor be always infants in miderstanding : 1 Cor. xiv. 20, ' Brethren, be not children in under- standing.' Other things must be regarded, or why hath God revealed them ? No part of scripture is expressed in vain, or at random, but all by divine direction; though the first points are most necessary, yet the rest are not superfluous, but have their use : 2 Tim. iii. 16, * All scripture is given by inspiration, and is profitable for doctrine, for re- proof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness ; ' one part of scripture as well as the other, and maketh much for the increase of spiritual knowledge, comfort, and godliness. One part is milk, another stronger meat ; but all is food for the soul. The grown are more ready to every good work, more strong in the resistance of sin, more stead- fast in the truth ; therefore we should improve our knowledge. If a man layeth the foundation, and doth not carry on the building, he loseth his cost ; therefore let us go on to perfection.
Use 1. Let us bless God for this door and porch, that the scriptures are so plain and clear in all things necessary to salvation. Many com- plain of the difficulty and obscurity of religion, and the many contro- versies that are about it, and they know not what to choose, nor where to find the truth, till the world be more of a mind. It is true, in some things there is difficult}^, but not in the most necessary things. Pasci- mur aperiis, exercemur ohscuris ; ihi fames ^ellitur, hie fastidium. God has made his people s way clear and sure in necessaries, for which we have cause to bless his name, for exercising our diligence and de- pendence. Something is difficult : if those that complain of this difii- culty would enter into the porch that standeth open, other things would soon be understood. Whatever differences there are in Chris- tendom, all agree that there is one God, Jesus Christ his only Son, who died for the world, and accordingly must be owned by his people ; that a man must be converted to God, and become a new creature, and
VeR. 130.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 351
walk holil}^ or else shall never sec God ; all are agreed in this. Pre- pare thy heart for entertaining the light and power o£ these truths, and in due time God will show thee other things. In the meantime bless God that whatever is necessary is plain to them that are docile and heedful, and willing to do the will of God. As in the world, the most necessary things are at hand, the less necessary are hidden in the bowels of the earth ; so in scripture, necessaries are facile and easy.
Use 2. Let us use this method in learning, and teaching of others. In learning ourselves, first, be sure to get a clear understanding of, and firm assent unto, the main plain truths of scripture ; that there is one God : Heb. xi. 6, ' He that cometh to God must believe that he is ; ' that Jesus Christ is the Son of God : John xvii. 3, ' This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.' It is a corner truth, that enliveneth all religion : Mat. xvi. 16, 'Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God;' then, ' Upon this rock will I build my church ; ' John vi. 69, ' We believe and are sure that thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.' This is the great enlivening truth, that hath influence both on faith and obedience. We must believe that he is able to bring us to God, John xiv. 6, Heb. vii. 25, and must be obeyed, Heb. v. 9 ; that every man needeth this Christ to bring him to God, Acts iv. 12. There is a necessity of his merit, that God may be propitious ; of his Spirit, as the foundation of a new life, that we may be reconciled to God ; that we should live holily, because there is a day of account when every one shall receive according to his works. We should bestow more cost upon the main truths, to get a clear distinct knowledge of them ; there must be a removing of rubbish, and digging, to lay the founda- tion of the knowledge of the principles of the doctrine of Christ, before there can be any safe building or going on unto perfection, Heb. vi., and firm assent to them ; for he is the best Christian that doth most clearly understand and firmly believe these things, not the opinionist, the disputer, he that best promotes the interest of his party or side, which are the distempers now afoot in Christendom. Those truths well accepted would so purify the heart as we should sooner discern God's interest in other things, and be able to find out that. So for teaching our children, God reckons on it from his people: Gen. xviii. 19, ' For I know Abraham, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment;' Deut. vi. 6, 7, 'And these words that I command thee this day shall be in thy heart, and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou best down, and when thou risest up.' Train them up in wholesome truths, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, Eph. vi. 4 ; how to carry themselves towards God in matters of religion ; how towards men, in righteousness, civility, and good manners; chiefly that they may be instructed in the knowledge of Ciuist, and salvation by him.