so SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL [SeU. XXIV.
those that lessen the misery of nature, or the merit and satisfaction of Christ, or the care of good works ; all such opinions are irreconcileable to the covenant of grace, and overturn the main pillars upon which salvation stands. When men advance nature or depi'ess Christ, or decry good works, as long as they live according to their principles, they can never be saved.
[2.] We must be earnest concerning the particular explication of those truths, as they are delivered in scripture. Every piece and parcel of truth is precious, and a little leaven of error is danger- ous. The apostle, speaking of error, saith, Gal. v. 9, 'A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.' He speaks there of errors in matters of justification, which of all matters of religion is most nice and delicate ; error fretteth like a gangrene, till it eatetli out the heart of religion. Men think it is enough to be careful of fundamentals and that all other knowledge is scieniia oblectans ; only a know- ledge for delight, and not safety. Oh ! consider it is very dangerous to err in the particular explication of those doctrines ; to stain the understanding, though we do not wound it. I confess there are some truths of lesser importance ; there are maculce et vidnera intellectus — the spots of the understanding as well as the wounds of it, Now it is dangerous to be wanton in opinions that seem to be of a smaller concernment. Men that play with truth, they run themselves into a snare ; and though they err but in a small matter, yet they are liable to more insinuations. iSome say fundamentals are few ; believe them and live well, and then you shall be saved. This is as if a man in a building should be only careful to lay a good foundation, no mat- ter for the roof, windows, or walls. If a man should come and untile your house, and tell you — Friend, I have left the foundation standing, the main buttresses are safe ; you would not take it well. Why should we be more careless in spiritual things ?
[3.] No lesser error, be it never so small, is to be held and kept up out of interest, and against the conviction of conscience, because we can plead there is salvation in that way. This is some men's first inquiry. Is there salvation in such a way ? therefore let us not stay in lesser errors. If tliey are held up against conscience, they are dam- nable ; for then they come under the notion of allowed known sins. To hold up any lesser way merely out of interest, and not out of conscience, it is very dangerous ; and it is an argument of an unsubdued will, or that the heart is wedded to secular interest ; and it is a preferring the favour of men before the favour of God, as our Lord saith, John xii. 43, ' They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God ; ' for though there may l)e salvation in both those ways, yet you are to own God in all his truths. Phil. iii. 15, the apostle speaks iu the case of circumcision and uncircumcision -' Let us therefore, as many as be })erfect, be thus minded ; and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.' Circumcision and uncircum- cision are nothing in themselves, but much if they are held up for the preservation of our interest, and merely that we may cleave to such a part}'. And mark, it is all one whether there be a plenary conviction or a secret fear or suspicion ; and we do not search, as many men are afraid to search, lest truth should make against their interest. These
VeR. 6.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL 81
are those that Christ describes : John iii. 20. ' They will not come to the light, lest their deeds should be reproved ; ' and ' they are willingly ignorant,' 2 Peter iii. 5 ; when men labour for distinctions to daub over the matter, and to hide the truth from conscience ; or when they are unwilling to search, being afraid lest they should find it too soon. As in practicals, a man is not willing to be informed what he should do for good uses, and how strict he should be in his conversation, that lie may please himself in his carelessness ; this is a sign of an unsubdued heart ; so in these cases, a man is willing to be ignorant ; they are loath to be informed, and will not sift truth to the bottom, lest it may intrench on his worldly conveniences ; usually in truths of the present age, interests make the heart thus doubtful and suspensive. This is the first instance which concerned heathens and aliens from the com- monwealth of Israel. You have seen there is no salvation in any way, but only in that way which holds forth faith in Jesus Christ.
SERMON XXV.
But luithout faith, it is impossible to please him ; for he that cometli to God must believe that he is, and that he is a reioarder of them that diligently seek him. — Heb. xi. 6.