nomy answered fome important purpose; he knew not what it might be, but attributing this to his own ignorance, and perfuaded that nature did nothing in vain, he persevered in his researches, and his fuccefs juftified the foundness of the principle he had affumed.

Some might ridicule Harvey for supposing, that attention to fuch minute parts of the human frame could lead to any useful discovery, or falutary practice; they might urge him to attend to the ftructure of the more important parts of the body: but they were filenced by the event, and the practice of medicine is now greatly influenced, and the welfare of mankind promoted, by this important discovery. If Chriftians entertained the fame confidence, that whatever the wifdom of God has feen fit to record in the lively oracles, is defigned for our inftruction, and that obedience to every precept is calculated to promote holinefs, they would reap much advantage and edification from it, and it would have an equally falutary effect on their fouls.

It is not indeed effential to falvation that we fhould know all which God has revealed. We are all, alas! imperfect in knowledge; but furely it is neceffary to falvation, and the infeparable effect of believing the gofpel, that we defire to know whatever God has revealed. It is undoubtedly inconfiftent with the spirit of a Christian, to be indifferent about any part of the will of God. Let it

Scriptures we can only have full evidence that we shall perfevere, and confequently that we shall be saved, when we give all diligence to grow in knowledge, as well as in faith, fortitude, patience, and godliness, 2 Pet. i. 5. 11. It is also essential to Jalvation, that we obferve and profefs whatever we do know to be the will of Chrift. If, from regard to human authority, worldly intereft, or from that indolence which prevents men from searching matters to the bottom, we neglect any of his commandments, alleging that they are minute or unimportant, we fin prefumptuously, our hearts must condemn us, and God is greater than our hearts, and knoweth all things. A good subject never thinks of violating human laws, under pretence of their being of little confequence. This would juftly be deemed an impeachment of the wisdom of the legislature by whofe authority they were enacted, and would, in every case, subject him to punishment: and fhall Chriftians treat the laws of Jefus with less respect, the infringement of any one of which infers condemnation ? James ii. 10.

Our extreme proneness to error, in regard to religion, is also an important reason why we fhould diligently attend to every part of the word of God. This difpofition is acknowledged by all who admit the corruption of human nature. The wisest men have always displayed their folly in religion, when unenlightened by divine revela

nomy answered fome important purpose; he knew not what it might be, but attributing this to his own ignorance, and perfuaded that nature did nothing in vain, he persevered in his researches, and his fuccefs justified the soundness of the principle he had affumed.

Some might ridicule Harvey for supposing, that attention to fuch minute parts of the human frame could lead to any useful discovery, or falutary practice; they might urge him to attend to the ftructure of the more important parts of the body: but they were filenced by the event, and the practice of medicine is now greatly influenced, and the welfare of mankind promoted, by this important discovery. If Chriftians entertained the fame confidence, that whatever the wifdom of God has feen fit to record in the lively oracles, is defigned for our instruction, and that obedience to every precept is calculated to promote holinefs, they would reap much advantage and edification from it, and it would have an equally falutary effect on their fouls.

It is not indeed effential to falvation that we fhould know all which God has revealed. We are all, alas! imperfect in knowledge; but furely it is necessary to salvation, and the inseparable effect of believing the gospel, that we desire to know whatever God has revealed. It is undoubtedly inconfiftent with the spirit of a Chriftian, to be indifferent about any part of the will of God. Let it

Scriptures we can only have full evidence that we shall perfevere, and confequently that we shall be faved, when we give all diligence to grow in knowledge, as well as in faith, fortitude, patience, and godliness, 2 Pet. i. 5. 11. It is also essential to Jalvation, that we obferve and profefs whatever we do know to be the will of Chrift. If, from regard to human authority, worldly interest, or from that indolence which prevents men from fearching matters to the bottom, we neglect any of his commandments, alleging that they are minute or unimportant, we fin presumptuously, our hearts must condemn us, and God is greater than our hearts, and knoweth all things. A good fubject never thinks of violating human laws, under pretence of their being of little confequence. This would juftly be deemed an impeachment of the wisdom of the legislature by whofe authority they were enacted, and would, in every case, subject him to punishment: and shall Chriftians treat the laws of Jefus with less respect, the infringement of any one of which infers condemnation ? James ii. 10.

Our extreme proneness to error, in regard to religion, is also an important reason why we should diligently attend to every part of the word of God. This difpofition is acknowledged by all who admit the corruption of human nature. The wisest men have always displayed their folly in religion, when unenlightened by divine revela

hands, and thefe, too, perfons appearing eminently pious and holy, have, by forfaking the Scriptures, and adopting human traditions, fallen into the groffeft abfurdities. Many fuch, I doubt not, are now in heaven; but surely their history teaches us to give heed to the word of God, which we are certain cannot mislead us. A fuppofed latitude in Scripture refpecting what were called circumstantials, led the way to all the abominations of Popery; and we ought not to neglect the admonition, to prove all things, and to hold fast that which is good, especially as we have such an example before our eyes.

In confequence of this natural perverseness and proneness to err, we are warned in Scripture, if we will be wife, to become fools that we may be wife, 1 Cor. iii. 18.; that is, instead of being guided by our own reasonings, we must fubmit, as fools, to be taught of God. We are also affured, that whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, fhall in nowife enter therein, Luke xviii. 17. When we receive with reverence the whole of the word of God, applying each part of it to the use for which it was defigned, confidering it all to be highly important, we resemble a little child fitting at the feet of its father; but when we take upon us to decide what we shall receive as binding, and what we fhall neglect as unfuitable to our circumstances, we discover a very oppofite temper. We could