in favor with God, that will cause him to lessen or mince his sin.
Noah was drunken; Lot lay with his daughters; David killed Uriah;
Peter cursed and swore in the garden, and also dissembled at
Antioch. But this is not recorded to the intent that the name of
these godly should rot, but to show that the best men are nothing
without grace, and that "he that standeth should not be high-minded,
but fear." Yea, they are also recorded for the support of the
tempted, who, when they are fallen, are oft raised up by considering
the infirmities of others. "Whatsoever things were written aforetime
were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort
of the scriptures might have hope."

God's word has two edges; it can cut back-stroke and fore-stroke: if
it do thee no good, it will do thee hurt; it is the savor of life
unto life to those that receive it, but of death unto death to them
that refuse it.

I do find in most such a spirit of idolatry concerning the learning
of this world and wisdom of the flesh, and God's glory so much
stained and diminished thereby, that had I all their aid and
assistance at command, I durst not make use of aught thereof, and
that for fear lest that grace and those gifts that the Lord hath
given me, should be attributed to their wits, rather than to the
light of the word and Spirit of God. Wherefore I will not take of
them from a thread to a shoe-latchet, lest they should say, We have
made Abraham rich.

What you find suiting with the scriptures, take, though it should
not suit with authors; but that which you find against the
scriptures, slight, though it should be confirmed by multitudes of