Ver. 12.—1. The time wherein we enjoy the great mercy and privilege of the dispensation of the gospel, is a matter which must in particular be accounted for. 2. Churches are the schools of Christ, wherein his disciples are trained up unto perfection, every one according to the measure appointed for him, and usefulness in the body. 3. It is the duty of ministers of the gospel to endeavour to promote the increase of their hearers in knowledge, until they also are able to instruct others, according to their calls and oppor- tunities. 4. The holy Scriptures are to be looked on, consulted, and submitted unto, as the oracles of God. 5. God hath, in infinite love and wisdom, so disposed of his word as that there are first principles, plain and necessary, laid down in it, to facilitate the instruction he intends thereby. 6. They who live under the preaching of the gos- pel are obnoxious to great and provoking sins, if they diligently watch not against them. 7. There will be a time when false and unprofitable professors will be made manifest and discovered, either to their present conviction or their eternal confusion. 8. Men do
480 SUMMARY OF DOCTRINAL AND [CHAP. V. 13.
ofttimes secretly wax worse and worse under profession and means of grace. 9. There are provisions of truth in the Scripture, suitable to the spiritual instruction and edification of all sorts of persons that belong to Jesus Christ.
Ver. 13.—1. The gospel is the only word of righteousness, in itself and to us. 2. It isa great aggravation of the negligence of persons under the dispensation of the gospel, that it is a word of righteousness. 3. That God requires, of all those who live under . the dispensation of the gospel, that they should be skilful in the word of righteousness.
Ver. 14.—1. The word of the gospel, in-the dispensation of it, is food provided for the souls of men. 2. Whereas the word is food, it is evident that it will not profit our souls until it be eaten and digested. 3. It is an evidence of a thriving and healthy state of soul; to have an appetite unto the deepest mysteries of the gospel, its most solid doctrines of truth, and to be able profitably to digest them. 4 The assiduous exercise of our minds about spiritual
things, in a spiritual manner, is the only means to make us profit —
in the hearing of the word. 5. The spiritual sense of believers, well
exercised in the word, is the best and most undeceiving help in »
judging of what is good or evil, what is true or false, that is pro- posed unto them.
Cuap. VI. Ver. 1.—1. It is the duty of ministers of the gospel to take care, not only that the doctrine which they preach be true, but also that it be seasonable with respect to the state and condition of their hearers. 2. Some important doctrines of truth may, in the preaching of the gospel, be omitted for a season, but none must ever be forgotten or neglected. 3. It is a necessary duty of the dispensers of the gospel to excite their hearers, by all pressing considerations, to make a progress in the knowledge of the truth. 4. The case of that people is deplorable and dangerous whose teachers are not able to carry them on in the knowledge of the mysteries of the gospel. 5. In our progress towards an increase in knowledge, we ought to go on with diligence and the full bent of our wills and affections.
Ver. 1, 2.—1. There is no interest in Christ or Christian reli- gion to be obtained without repentance from dead works, nor any orderly entrance into a gospel church-state without a credible pro- fession thereof. 2. Faith in God, as to the accomplishing of the great promise in sending his Son Jesus Christ to save us from our sins, is the great fundamental principle of our interest in and profession of the gospel. 3. The consideration of the accomplishment of this pro- mise is a great encouragement and support to faith with respect to all other promises of God. 4. The doctrine of the resurrection is a fundamental principle of the gospel, the faith whereof is indispen-
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CHAP. VI. 7.] PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. 481
sably necessary unto the obedience and consolation of all that pro- fess it. 5. Ministers of the gospel ought to dwell greatly on the consideration of this principle, as it is represented in its terror and glory, that they may be excited and stirred up to deal effectually with the souls of men, that they fall not under the vengeance of that day. 6. Persons to be admitted into the church, and unto a participation of all the-holy ordinances thereof, had need be well in- structed in the important principles of the gospel. 7. It is not the out- ward sign, but the inward grace, that is principally to be considered in those ordinances or observances of the ehurch which visibly con- sist in rites and ceremonies, or have them accompanying them.
VeR. 3.—1. No discouragements should deter the ministers of the gospel, to whom the dispensation of the mysteries of Christ is com- mitted, from proceeding in the declaration of these, when they are called thereunto. 2. As it is our duty to submit ourselves in all our undertakings unto the will of God, so especially in those wherein his glory is immediately concerned. 3. Let them who are intrusted with means of light, knowledge, and grace, improve them with dili- gence, lest, upon their neglect, God suffer not his ministers further to instruct them.