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DISCOURSE I

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PROVERBS Xix. 27.

Ceafe, my Son, to hear the Inftruction that caufeth to err from the Words of Knowledge.

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*HAT by the Words of Knowledge in the Text we are to understand the Principles and Dictates of Virtue and Religion, is fo well known to all who are in the leaft acquainted with the Language of Scripture, especially of the Book of Pfalms, the Proverbs, and other Writings of the like Kind, that there is no need to infift upon the Proof of it. This being admitted, the wife Man's Advice in the Text amounts to this; That we should be careful to guard against the Arts and Infinuations of fuch as fet up for Teachers of Infidelity and

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Thefe Teachers are not here confidered under the Character of vicious and profligate Men, given up to the Exceffes of Lewdness, or to be distinguished by any Marks of desperate or notorious Wickedness: They are spoken of only as Instructors, as Disputers, and as Reasoners against the Words of Knowledge. Such the wife King forewarns us of, advising us to keep at a Distance from Danger, and to ftop our Ears against their pernicious Enchantments. He had often before spoken of the Danger of affociating with wicked Men, who fleep not, except they do Mifchief; who eat the Bread of Wickedness, and drink the Wine of Violence: But here he points out to us another Sort; Men who have arrived to a Pitch of being gravely and seriously irreligious; who spend their coolest Hours and their calmest Thoughts in the Service of Infidelity, and are maliciously diligent to pervert Men from the Acknowledgment of the Truth, and by the very Arms of Heaven, Reafon and Understanding, to enlarge the Bounds of the Kingdom of Darkness.

There are two Things, which, in fpeaking to this Subject, I would, beg leave to recommend to your ferious Confideration:

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