By our doctrine

I. 1. We establish the law, first, By our doctrine: by endeavouring to preach it in its whole extent, to explain and inforce every part of it, in the same manner as our great Teacher did, while upon earth. We establish it, by following St. Peter’s advice, If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God; as the holy men of old moved by the Holy Ghost, spoke and wrote for our instruction, and as the apostles of our blessed Lord, by the direction of the same spirit. We establish it whenever we speak in his name, by keeping back nothing from them that hear; by declaring to them, without any limitation or reserve, the whole counsel of God. And in order the more effectually to establish it, we use herein great plainness of speech. We are not as many that corrupt the word of God, καπηλεύουσι· (as artful men their bad wines) we do not cauponize, mix, adulterate or soften it, to make it suit the taste of the hearers. But as of sincerity, but as of God in the sight of God, speak we in Christ: as having no other aim, than by manifestation of the truth, to commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.