st, lest they mar our attaining to
the knowledge of truth.

7. There should be much of the exercise of prayer, for this is the main
conduit and mean, through which light is conveyed into the soul. There
should also be a serious and Christian reading and hearing of the word,
which is truth, and the word of truth, and the Scripture of truth; and
those duties should be gone about with, (1.) much self-denial; (2.) with
much singleness of heart; (3.) with much humility; (4.) with much
willingness and readiness to be instructed; (5.) with much seriousness
and earnestness; and, (6.) with faith and dependence on God for his
blessing and breathing.

8. We should beware of trusting to our own understandings, or to the
judgments of other men; nor should we look to what suiteth most our own
humours, nor to what appeareth most specious and plausible, for that may
deceive us.

9. We should lie open to the influences and rays of light, by exercising
faith in earnest desires; as also patient waiting for and single looking
to him, minding his name and his relations, promises, and engagements,
and the strengthening of our faith and confidence.

10. We should labour to keep fast whatever he teacheth us by his word
and Spirit, and not prove leaking vessels. This the apostle exhorteth
to, Heb. ii. 1, "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the
things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip;"
yea, and we should be established "in the truth," 2 Pet. i. 12.

11. We should beware of resting on a form of the truth, as those did, of
whom we read, Rom. ii. 20; and of holding the truth in unrighteousness,
as those, Rom. i. 18; and of disobeying it, as those mentioned in Rom.
ii. 8. See also Gal. iii. 1; v. 7.

12. But on the contrary, we should so receive truth, as that it might
rule and be master in us, captivate judgment, will, and affections, and
break out into the practice. And this recommendeth several duties, such
as,

(1.) To have the truth in us; while as, if we practise otherwise, "the
truth is not in us," 1 John i. 8; ii. 4.

(2.) To be of the truth, as belonging to its jurisdiction, power, and
command, 1 John iii. 19. John xviii. 37.

(3.) To do the truth, by having true fellowship with him, 1 John i. 6;
and "to walk in the truth," 2 John iv. 3. John iv. Psalm lxxxvi. 11.

(4.) To have the loins girt with truth, Eph. i. 14.

(5.) To receive the love of the truth, 2 Thess. ii. 10.

(6.) To