RESOLUTION II.

I am resolved, by the grace of God, to make the Divine Word the rule of all the rules I propose to myself.

As the will of God is the rule and measure of all that is good, so there is nothing deserves that name, but what is agreeable and conformable thereto: and this will being fully revealed and contained in the holy Scripture, it will be necessary for me, in directing my course over the ocean of this world, that I should fix my eye continually upon this star, steer by this compass, and make it the only landmark, by which I am to be guided to my wished-for haven. I must not, therefore, have recourse to the inward workings of my own roving fancy, or the corrupt dictates of my own carnal reason: these are but blind guides, and will certainly lead me into the ditch of error, heresy, and irreligion, which in these our self-admiring days, so many 117poor souls have been plunged in. Alas! how many hath the impetuous torrent of blind zeal and erroneous conscience borne down into a will-worship and voluntary subjection of themselves to the spurious offspring of their own deluded fancies! If the light that is within them doth but dictate any thing to be done; or rather if the whimsey doth but take them, that they must do thus or thus, they presently set about it, without ever consulting the sacred writings, to see whether it is acceptable to God, or displeasing to him. Whereas, for my own part, I know not how any thing should be worthy of God’s accepting, that is not of God’s commanding. I am sure the word of God is the good old way that will certainly bring me to my Father’s house; for how should that way but lead to heaven, which truth itself hath chalked out for me? Not as if it was necessary, that every one of my resolutions should be contained word for word in the holy Scriptures; it is sufficient that they be implied in, and agreeable thereto. So that, though the manner of my expressions may not be found in the word of God, yet the matter of my resolutions may be clearly drawn from thence. But let me dive a little into the depth of my sinful heart! What is the reason of my thus resolving upon such an exact conformity to the will and word of God? Is it to work my way to heaven with my own hands? to purchase an inheritance in the land of Canaan with the price of my own holiness and religion? or to swim over the ocean of this world, into the haven of happiness, upon the empty bladders of my own resolutions? No.