2. And hence some have advised, wholly to lay aside the use of those expressions: “because they have given so great offence.” But are they not found in the oracles of God? If so, by what authority, can any messenger of God lay them aside, even tho’ all men should be offended? We have not so learned Christ; neither may we thus give place to the devil. Whatsoever God hath spoken, that will we speak, whether men will hear, or whether they will forbear: knowing that then alone can any minister of Christ be _pure from the blood of all men_, when he hath _not shunned to declare unto them all the counsel of God_. 3. We may not therefore lay these expressions aside, seeing they are the words of God, and not of man. But we may, and ought to explain the meaning of them; that those who are sincere of heart, may not err to the right-hand or to the left, from the mark of the prize of their high calling. And this is the more needful to be done, because in the verse already repeated, the apostle speaks of himself as not perfect: _not_, saith he, _as tho’ I were already perfect_. And yet immediately after, in the fifteenth verse, he speaks of himself, yea and many others, as perfect. _Let us_, saith he, _as many as be perfect, be thus minded_. 4. In order therefore to remove the difficulty arising from this seeming contradiction, as well as to give light to them who are pressing forward to the mark, and that those who are lame be not turned out of the way, I shall endeavour to shew. _First_, In what sense Christians are _not_, and, _Secondly_, In what sense they are _perfect_. I. 1. In the first place I shall endeavour to shew, in what sense Christians are _not perfect_. And both from experience and scripture it appears, first, that they are not perfect in knowledge: they are not _so_ perfect in this life, as to be free from ignorance. They know, it may be in common with other men, many things relating to the present world; and they know, with regard to the world to come, the general truths which God hath revealed. They know likewise (what _the natural man receiveth not_: for these things _are spiritually discerned_) _what manner of love it is, wherewith the Father hath loved them, that they should be called the sons of God_: they know _the mighty working of his Spirit_ in their hearts, and the wisdom of his providence, directing all their paths, and causing all things to work together for their good. Yea, they know in every circumstance of life, what the Lord requireth of them, and how _to keep a conscience void of offence both toward God and toward man_.