§. 142. Of adding Directions to Admonitions and Exhortations.
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sinne.
HEre begins the Apostles direction for preventing Apostasie. See §. 121.
In it is prescribed a Soveraign remedy to make it the more usefull, (v. 13.) with a strong reason added thereto, v. 14.
The remedy prescribed is a continuall, mutuall exhortation of one another.
The first particle a 1.1 BUT, being a conjunction of opposition to an odious vice, implieth that by the means here prescribed, the vice whereof they were before forewarned, may be avoided. To this purpose is this particle of opposition fre∣quently used in Solomons Proverbs. So Rom. 13. 14. 1 Pet. 1. 14, 15. But most per∣tinent to the point in hand is a like direction of this Apostle, thus set down, Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together, but exhorting one another, Heb. 10▪ 25.
By this it is manifest that it is behovefull to adde directions for avoiding such sins as we disswade men from. Christ the best of teachers, taught much after this man∣ner: As, Lay not up for your selves treasures upon earth: but lay up for your selves treasures in heaven, Matth. 6. 19, 20. So Iohn 6. 27. Matth. 10. 28. See Cha. 6. v. 3. §. 26.
By this means prohibitions, admonitions, reprehensions, and other like endea∣vours, to keep from sinne, are more usefull and effectuall. So also are exhorta∣tions and incitations to duty. Many that see an equity of forbearing that which is forbidden, and doing that which is required, fall of putting the one and the other in execution, for want of directions to do the same.
Commendable therefore is that course which many prudent Preachers do use, to adde to other uses of their Doctrines, Rules and Means for the avoiding that which their Doctrine disproves, and performing that which their Doctrines re∣quire.