ere
is a reproof of life--a wounding before healing--that whoso refuse them,
despise their own soul, but "the ear that heareth them abideth among the
wise," Prov. xv 31, 32. Woe unto that soul that correction or reproof or
threatening is grievous unto, "he shall die," Prov. xv. 10, "he is
brutish," Prov. xii. 1. There is a generation of men that can endure to
hear nothing but gospel promises, that cry out against all reproving of
sins, and preaching of God's wrath against unbelieving sinners as legal,
and meddling with other men's matters, especially if they reprove the sins
of rulers, their public state enormities, as if the whole word of God were
not profitable, as if reproofs were not as wholesome as consolations, as
if threatenings did not contribute to make men flee from the wrath to come
into a city of refuge. Let such persons read their own character out of
wise Solomon, "Correction is grievous to them that forsake the way."
"Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee, give instruction to a wise man,
and he will be yet wiser," Prov. ix. 8, 9. If we were pleasers of men,
then were we not the servants of Jesus Christ, let us strive to profit
men, but not to please them. Peace, peace, which men's own hearts fancy,
would please them, but it were better for them to be awakened out of that
dream, by reproof, by correction, and he that will do so, shall "find more
favour of him afterwards, than he that flattereth with the tongue," Prov.
xxviii. 23.

Well then, let this be established in your hearts as the foundation of all
true religion, that the scriptures are the word of the eternal God, and
that they contain a perfect and exact rule both of glorifying God and of
the way to enjoy him. They can make you perfect to every good work. I
shall say no more on this, but beseech you, as you love your own souls, be
acquainting yourselves with them. You will hear, in these days of men
pretending to more divine and spiritual discoveries and revelations than
the scriptures contain but, my brethren, these can make you "wise to
salvation," these can make you "perfect to every good work." Then, what
needs more? All that is besides salvation, and beyond perfection, count it
superfluous and vain, if not worse, if not diabolical. Let others be wise
to their own destruction,--let them establish their own imaginations for
the word of God, and rule of their faith,--but hold you fast what you have
received, and "contend earnestly for it." Add