vail them, so
long as they are strangers unto him who is the truth. Their knowledge is
but ignorance, because it is not a knowledge of him who is the truth.

5. They have none to go to for help and light in the day of their
darkness, confusion, and perplexity; for they are not reconciled unto
the truth, which alone can prove steadable and comfortable in that day.

6. They can do nothing to help themselves out of that state of darkness
and ignorance; and whatever they do to help themselves shall but
increase their darkness and misery; because there is no truth there, and
truth, even the truth alone, can dispel these clouds of error, mistakes,
ignorance, &c.

_Secondly._ Hence, we see the happy and blessed condition of believers,
who have embraced this truth, and gotten their souls opened to him who
is the truth; for,

1. They are in part delivered from that mass of lies, mistakes,
misapprehensions, errors, deceitfulness and ignorance under which they
lay formerly, and all the unregenerate do yet lie. And though they be
not fully delivered therefrom, yet the day is coming when that shall be,
and the begun work of grace and truth in them is a pledge thereof; and
at present they have ground to believe, that that evil shall not again
have dominion over them, they being now under grace, and under the
guidance of truth.

2. Howbeit they have many perplexing thoughts, doubts and fears of their
state and condition, and think many a time, that they shall one day or
other perish by the way; and all their hopes and confidence shall
evanish; yet having given up themselves to truth, and to the truth, they
shall not be disappointed in the end. The truth shall land them safe on
the other side. The truth shall prove no lie.

3. They have a fast and steadable friend to go to, in a day of darkness,
clouds, doubts, when falsehood and lies are like to prevail, even the
Truth, who alone can help them in that day.

4. Howbeit the knowledge they have of God, and of the mysteries of the
gospel, be but small; yet that small measure being taught by him, who is
the truth, and flowing from truth, shall prove sanctifying and saving.

9. They have ground to hope for more freedom from errors and deceitful
lies, than others; for they have chosen the way of truth, and given
themselves up to the leading of truth.

_Object._ But do not even such drink in and receive and plead for
errors, as well as others; and is it not sometime found, that they