(1.) To know it, and that we make it no small part of our endea vours so to do. All light, wisdom, knowledge, and direction, are laid up in the word of God. See Ps. xix. 7, 8, cxix. 98-100; 2 Tim. iii. 16, 1 7. But yet we must consider two things : — [1.] That many great and principal parts of this wisdom and these directions are laid deep and hidden, as in a treasury or a mine : hence there must be great diligence used to search after them, and, as it were, to dig them out, Prov. ii. 3-5. God may teach men and instruct them, in his sovereign grace, as he pleaseth, but assuredly the common way of cursorily read ing the Scriptures, which most men satisfy themselves withal, is not ordinarily sufficient unto the investigation of the truth according unto what our own duty requires. [2.] Where general rules are laid plain in the word, yet unless a man abound in the Scripture, he will be at a loss about their particular application. Were it not so, we should not so often miss it as we do in plain duties. Wherefore, unto the end that we may know the mind of God, as the universal
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rule of our obedience, all those instructions that are usually given about prayer, meditation, diligent use of all means, public and private, to the end we may come to a right understanding of the mind of God in the Scriptures, are necessarily to be attended unto. They are commonly spoken of. I will add one only, — which is indeed the principal in this case, and ought to influence all the rest, — and this is, That we should always read, and hear, and teach the word, and me ditate upon it, with this end and design, that in our whole souls and lives, in all that we are and do, within and without, we may be con formable thereunto. Want of this design constantly kept up in our minds renders all other means fruitless. We take God's name in vain, and aggravate our own guilt, when we converse with the Scrip ture without this design. I need not produce particular instances; the whole word of God proclaims that, with respect unto ourselves, it is to be learned and studied with no other design.
(2.) That we use diligence to keep ourselves universally close to the rule, so far as we have attained an acquaintance with it. Our walk in this world, if we intend to please God and discharge our duty, is to be according unto rule, and that attended unto with circumspec tion. Loose, way-side walkers are like way-side hearers; both will fail of what they seem to aim at. Every thing within us that is of ourselves, and every thing about us that is of the world and occa sions of life, do either incline or solicit us unto a negligence of the rule ; and if we walk not diligently, we shall frequently be turned aside. Hence is that loose, crooked, uneven walking that is among professors. He only is upon his guard in a due manner who al ways considers what his rule is, and what God in all things require th of him. Let it not be said that this attendance unto the rule in all things is the way to make men scrupulous, fearful, and at length useless : for the word of God giveth light and liberty, and bringeth none into bondage who attends regularly unto it. Yet to prevent that careless boldness in walking and conversation which hath over run the generality of professors, we must remember that " blessed is the man who feareth always;" and that it is our wisdom to "spend the time of our sojourning here in fear;" — which is the counsel given us by him who had learned this before from his own sad experience.
(3.) That we take heed of false rules and measures in our walking, both in things religious, moral, and of civil conversation. There are five false rules in religion, to some or all of which the generality of mankind do give up the conduct of themselves: — [1.] Tradition; [2.] Multitude; [3.] Outward order and splendour; [4.] Human autho rity ; [5.] Self-imagination. It were easy to show how one or other, or all of these, are the rule and measure unto the generality of men in all their religious concerns. The whole church of "Rome builds itself on the traditions received from the fathers; and what a long-
582 A FAST SERMON.
derived tradition doth with them, the custom of a few ages doth among us. Men will do as those that went before them, and no other wise ; yea, some think there is no other fault in religion but the not doing of what others have done before, without more ado. And multi tude prevails with many. It is thought safe doing what is done by the most ; and, however, [at least,] few think it is particularly incum bent on them to examine whether almost all the world, especially the rulers, with the scribes and Pharisees, are out of the way or no. The other things mentioned are made rules to some, inasmuch as of late it is avowed, owned, pleaded for, that the civil laws of magistrates, or human authority, is the proper rule of all external religious worship. And many there are who leave the word and follow their own imaginations, which they call their " light/' and take for their guide. But whoever attends unto any of these rules, he neither doth nor can walk with God, Isa. viii. 1 9, 20.