Tutors in the world cannot help one poor soul to the saving knowledge of God It is God that teacheth man knowledge Psal 94.10 He who made light in the first Creation only can cause light in the new Creation 2 Cor. 4.6 But God who caused light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ He that at first said Let there be light when darkness cover'd the face of the world and there was light a corporeal light can command spiritual light and the knowledge of his glory in the face of Christ who is the express Image of his person Therefore the Apostle betakes himself to God for the gift Praying that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ would give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him c. 1 Eph. 17 18. So David often Psal 119.18 34 35 125 143 144. Rev. 3.18 Reader art thou blind take the Counsel of thy Saviour Go to him for eye salve that thou mayest see and be confident he that bids thee come to him for that will bid thee welcome when thou comest Rev. 3.18 None knoweth the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him Math. 11.27 Therefore whoever thou art that sittest in darkness and in the shadow of death go to the Sun for light go to the Sun of Righteousness in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge Col. 2.9 for the light of the knowledge of God Dost thou not know the sinfulness and misery of a blind dark state that vengeance is the fruit of this ignorance Psal 79.6 that God will pour out his wrath upon them that know him not Go therefore as the blind man to the Lord Jesus Christ Cry sigh mourn pray Jesus thou Son of David have mercy on me though he hear not presently hold on continue instant in Prayer though the Devil and flesh rebuke thee as the multitude him yet hold on call louder Jesus thou Son of David Mat. 32. to 37. Have mercy on me Lord that I might receive my sight And doubt not but he will have pity on thee as he had on him and touch thine eye and give thee to see the things of thy peace for thine encouragement thou hast his promise Jer. 24.7 I will give them an heart to know me that I am the Lord Jer. 31.34 They shall all know me from the least to the greatest So James 1.6 Hoseah 2.20 Heb. 8.8 9. O with what hope may'st thou sue these Bonds and plead these promises when he that made them is a God that cannot lye 1 Tit. 2. and therefore cannot but perform them Again observe how kindly he took it of Solomon when he bid Solomon ask what he would that he asked wisdom 2 Chron. 1.10 Give me wisdom and knowledge saith Solomon And the thing which Solomon asked pleased the Lord 1 Kings 3.10 And the Lord said unto Solomon Because this was in thine heart because thou hast not asked riches nor honour nor the life of thine enemies nor long life Wisdom and knowledge is granted to thee and I will give thee wealth and honour v. 11. When a poor creature sensible of its blindness and darkness lyeth at the feet of God begging spiritual light and sight the heart of the Redeemer is taken with such a request and subscribes the petition with Wisdom and Knowledge is granted to thee Be but diligent Reader in the use of these means and thou mayest be confident of success If thou cryest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding if thou seekest her as Silver and searchest for her as for hidden treasure then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God For the Lord giveth wisdome out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding Prov. 2.3 4 5 6. CHAP. XXV 2. Ex. To choose this incomparable God for our portion with some Motives thereunto 2. IF this God be such an incomparable God then choose this God for thy portion and take him for thy happiness Is it possible for thee to read so much of the incomparableness of God in his Being Attributes Works and Word and not desire him Thou canst hardly see an excellent person but thou art wishing him for thy Friend thy Companion nor an excellent Estate but thou art wishing it were thine Inheritance thy portion and canst thou hear of him who is excellency it self originally Job 13.11 the spring and standard of all excellency in others whose name alone is excellent Psal 14.13 and not wish O that this incomparable God were my Friend my Father my Head my Husband my Lot my Portion Who will give me to drink of the water of the Well of Bethlehem O who will help me to drink of the well of Salvation of the fountain of living waters of the pure River that floweth from the throne of God and the Lamb Canst thou hear so much of his worth though infinitely short and not desire him Is it possible for a rational creature to read of such a bottomless treasure of such boundless pleasure of such an infinite unconceivable good and not covet the enjoyment of it O man where are thy wits whither art thou fallen art thou a man or a beast Ah didst thou know the gift of God and what it is that is offered thee thou wouldst scorn the highest honours sweetest carnal delights greatest riches yea trample upon all the Crowns and Kingdoms of this world for it It 's an ineffable priviledge that thou art a creature capable of so vast an happiness it 's a special favour that thou hast leave to aspire after such an immense inheritance and when it s tender'd to thee wilt thou refuse it wilt thou neglect it O wilt thou not give it all acceptation Having spoken in another Treatise to this particular I shall here only offer two or three things to thy serious thoughts and proceed to a third exhortation 1. Consider what is offer'd thee when the incomparable God is offered thee for thy portion And truly to explain this head fully would require the Pen yea exceed the skil of an Angel None can tell what God is but God himself All the sheets in the explication of the Doctrine speak somwhat of him but not the thousand thousandth part of that excellency that is in him Reader I may tell thee when God is offered thee the greatest good that ever was that ever will be that ever can be is offered thee there never was or can be the like offer'd thee more than Heaven and Earth than both Worlds than Millions of Worlds is offered thee This God who is offered thee is the King of Kings the Lord of Lords the God of Gods the blessed and glorious Potentate the first Cause the original Being Self-sufficient All-sufficient absolutely perfect uncapable of any addition or diminution This God who is offer'd thee
God of Glory appeared to Abraham he quickly and quietly left his Country and Kindred and followed God not knowing whither he went Gent 12.1 2. Acts 7.3 If the God of Glory appear to your Souls you will soon wink upon these withering Vanities broken Cisterns and gilded Nothings and count them all but Dung and Dross for the excellency of the Knowledge of him in Christ. You have begun well go on and persevere in well-doing I shall give you the same Counsel which the Holy Apostle giveth to those of whom he was perswaded that they had those things which accompanied Salvation Heb. 6.9 Take heed least there be in you an evil heart of unbelief whereby ye should depart away from the living God Heb. 3.12 Look diligently least ye should fail of the Grace of God Heb 12.15 When false Coin is common abroad we are the more careful what Money we take when much false Grace is up and down amongst us and so many please themselves with their Profession or spiritual Priviledges or sacred Performances or siding with this or that Party form of Worship or the respect and repute they have with others It concerns you to be the more suspicious of your Selves least you should fail of that Grace of God which conformeth the Heart to the nature and the life to the Will and Law of God SIR YOu are descended of a worthy ancient and religious Family Your Grand-Father as I have heard was eminent for Holiness Your Father is noted and honoured for one that feareth God above many you have hereby the more encouragement advantage and engagement to exercise your self to godliness Tamerlane made it his practice to read often the Heroick Deeds of his Progenitors not as proud of them or boasting in them but as glorious Patterns to inflame his Soul with a love of their Vertues Man is a Creature that is led more by the Eye then the Ear by Patterns then by Precepts and no Patterns are more prevalent then of those whom Nature and Grace oblige us to esteem and affect These examples above all others as flaming Beacons on an Hill call us to a stout defence of Vertue when it 's invaded by its Enemies Alexander finding one of his Name cowardly charged him to change his Name or to become valiant When one of the Scipio's descended of Scipio Affrican became dissolute The Roman Senate order'd him to put off that Ring which he wore as the Badge of his Noble Family because by his vicious Life he was a Reproach to it The truth is a wicked Son of a godly Father as Uriah carrieth Letters of his own condemnation about him causing the Patterns and Precepts of his Family to be Auxiliaries to his own reproach and infamy whilst the light and lustre of his Ancestors renders his works of darkness the more gross and palpable I mention not these things as suspecting your integrity but to provoke and quicken you to the greater care and circumspection in your carriage and conversation MADAM YOur Birth is ††Daughter to the Right Honourable the Lord Paget Honourable but such Honour without Holinesse extends not beyond the Meridian of this World Grace onely is eternal Glory That Honour which is woven in the finest Tapestry of earthly Priviledges will lose colour and fade away but the Knowledge of God is a possession for ever Nobility by Parents is but Nobility by Parchment and that is but skin-deep at most and will wast with time Godliness alone is that Nobility which no Age can consume and which will run paralell with the line of eternity The whole Earth hath not a pleasanter sight then Greatness joyn'd with Goodnesse Greatness it self is venerable but Goodness joyn'd with it addeth a new Splendour and lustre to it as a sparkling Diamond set in a Gold-Ring it attracteth the Eyes and challengeth a greater reverence and respect from all Evil Greatnesse is a swelling Dropsie a Disease of the Body Politick as intolerable a burden as the Earth groanes under but Grace and Vertue are the more excellent and amiable by the greatnesse of the Person in whom they dwell It will be your Crown and Credit to prefer God before the World to esteem Holinesse as the onely Beauty and a Title to the Covenant as the onely Riches of your immortal Soul Ye have both near and dear Relations whose Hearts will rejoyce in your perseverance and progress in the wayes of God's Commandements That you may be helps to each other in the best things provoke one another to love and to good Works live long together on Earth and for ever together in Heaven is the prayer Of your Servant in the Lord Geo. Swinnocke The several CHAPTERS IN THIS TREATISE CHapter 1. The Preface and Coherence of the Text Page 1. Chap. 2. God incomparable in his Being pag. 11. Chap. 3. God incomparable in his Being as from himself for himself and wholly independent on any other pag. 17. Chap. 4. God incomparable in his Being as it is absolutely perfect universal and unchangeable pag. 23. Chap. 5. God incomparable in his Being as it is eternal and without composition pag. 33. Chap. 6. God incomparable in his Being as it is infinite and incomprehensible pag. 40. Chap. 7. God incomparable in his Attributes his Holiness and Wisdom pag. 51. Chap. 8. God incomparable in his Attributes in his Knowledge and Faithfulness pag. 76. Chap. 9. God incomparable in his Mercy and Patience pag. 88. Chap. 10 God incomparable in his Attributes as they are from him as they are his Essence as they are all one in him as they are in him in an infinite manner pag. 99. Chap. 11. God incomparable in his Works Creation and Providence pag. 106. Chap. 12. God incomparable in the Work of Redemption He can do all things pag. 124. Chap. 12. God incomparable in the manner of his working He worketh irresistibly arbitrarily pag. 133. Chap. 13. God incomparable in his working He doth it with the greatest ease and without any help pag. 141. Chap. 14. God is incomparable in his Word in its Authority Condescension and Efficacy pag. 154. Chap. 15. God is incomparable in his Word Purity Mysteries Phophesies pag. 165. Chap. 16. God incomparable in his Word as it is converting affrighting and comforting pag. 174. Chap. 17. How great is the malignity of Sin which contemneth dishonoureth and opposeth this God pag. 182. Chap. 19. Shewing how great is the madness and misery of impenitent Sinners pag. 193. Chap. 21. How moustrous is their Pride who compare themselves with the incomparable God pag. 209. Chap. 22. Incomparable Worship and Service due to God pag. 217. Chap. 23. Motives to acquaintance with the incomparable God the knowledge of whom is sanctifying satisfying and saving pag. 237. Chap. 24. Means of acquaintance with God a sense of our ignorance attendance on the Word servent Prayer Chap. 25. Exhort to choose God for our Portion Chap. 26. Give God the glory of his incomparable
Excellency with some Considerations to enforce it Chap. 27. Comforts to those that have this incomparable God for their Portion PSALM 89.6 For who in the Heavens can be compared to the Lord who among the Sons of the Mighty can be likened to the Lord. CHAP. I. The Preface and meaning of the Text. IT is certain that our happiness in the other World will consist in part in our perfect knowledge of the blessed and boundlesse God When we shall know him as we are known of him we shall be blessed as he is blessed and when we shall see him as he is we shall be like him in purity and felicity we shall be fully satisfied with his likeness and his love Rich must be the delight which the most large and noble faculty of man his understanding shall receive in its intimate acquaintance with and clear full apprehension of the highest Truth And it is as certain that our holiness in this World doth not a little depend upon our knowledge of him whose Name alone is excellent None wander from him prefer the Flesh and World before him and in their whole lives walk contrary to him but from their ignorance of him They are estranged from the life of God i. e. a spiritual heavenly conversation through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their Hearts Eph. 4.18 Dark corners of an House are filled with Dust dark Cellars with Vermine and dark Hearts with cursed Lusts None are enlarged in desires after God or ravished with delight in God or can cast their Souls and all their Concerns on God but those that are acquainted with him They who know his beauty and bounty cannot but love him and they who know his power and faithfulness cannot but trust him They who know thy Name will put their trust in thee Psal 9.10 Whence comes it to pass that Believers can trample on the Riches and Treasures and Wealth of this beggarly World that they can lay their white and yellow Earth their Silver and Gold at the Apostles Feet that they can suffer the spoiling of their Goods not onely patiently but joyfully Heb. 10.34 but from the knowledge of him who is true riches Luke 16.11 Substance Prov. 8.21 an enduring Substance Job 10.34 A bottomless Mine of unsearchable Riches Eph. 3.8 Whence is it that they can refuse to be called the Sons of Kings Daughters that they can contemn Honours and Preferments spurn Crowns and Scepters under their Feet but from the knowledge of him who is their Crown of Glory their Diadem of Renown and the praise of all his Saints Heb. 11.24 25. That which to the sensual Worldling is so glorious hath no glory in the Believers Eye by reason of the Lord of Glory who doth so infinitely excel Whence is it that they can hate Father Mother Wife Child Liberty yea Life it self and leave all at the Call and Command of their Maker but from the knowledge of him who is as Elkanah said to Hannah better to them then ten Sons then all Relations then the whole Creation Those Stars vanish and disappear when once this Sun of Righteousness ariseth How quickly how quietly without any hesistancy or reluctancy will Abraham leave his Country and Kindred and Fathers House when once the God of Glory appeareth to him Acts 9.2 3 4. In a word whence is it that they escape the pollutions of the World in which others are mired drown'd and destroyed but through the knowledge of God 2 Pet. 2.20 Well may our Lord Jesus say It is life eternal to know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent To know God affectionately as our chiefest good so as to give him our superlative esteem and intensest love is spiritual life here in the habit or principle as also in the act and exercise of it and it is the beginning seed preparation way of our eternal life hereafter But who can know that being which infinitely passeth all knowledge He that would know God fully must be God himself and he who would tell you what God is in any measure answerable to his excellency had need to know him as he is known of him And supposing I were able to speak of the perfection of God as one that like the great Apostle had been caught up into the third Heavens I question whether if I had a Tongue to speak of him after that manner ye had Ears to hear of him or Hearts to understand what I should speak But though I am not able to speak nor you to hear of God according to his perfection yet through the assistance of the Holy Ghost so much may be spoken and heard of him as may tend to our present Sanctification and future Salvation Though we cannot see him as he is yet we may see him as he is not though the height of his being be above the reach of our Understandings we may get some-what nearer to him and indeed we have no other way while we are here then by climbing upon the shoulders of all created excellencies and there proclaiming That none in the Heavens is to be compared to the Lord that none among the Sons of the Mighty is like unto the Lord. In the words the Psalmist compareth God with and prefereth God before the highest the greatest in Heaven and Earth In the words we have a Comparison and a Praelation 1. A Comparison and this is between God and those that are most excellent in Heaven and the mightiest on Earth 2. A Praelation or preferring God before whatsoever is excellent in Heaven or Earth The Interrogation is a strong negation as is frequent in Scripture Prov. 20.9 Who can say I have made my Heart clean I am pure from my Sin i. e. None can say I have made my Heart clean or am pure from my Sin So Exod. 15.11 Who is like to thee O Lord among the gods Who is like thee glorious in Holiness fearful in Praises doing Wonders that is None is like Thee among the gods none is so glorious in Holiness so fearful in Praises such a wonder-working God as thou art Thus the Psalmist understandeth the Text For who in the Heavens is to be compared to the Lord Who among the Sons of the Mighty can be likened to the Lord i. e. None in the Heavens none among the Sons of the Mighty on Earth is comparable to Jehovah The interpretation of the words I shall first give you the meaning of the words and then lay down the Doctrine which will be the foundation of my Discourse on the Subject For this causal Particle gives the reason why Saints and Angels should joyn together in the praise of God The Heavens shall praise thy Wonders O Lord Verse 5. thy faithfulness also in the Congregation of the Saints For who in the Heavens is to be compared to the Lord. By the Heavens Calvin understandeth the holy Angels who rejoyce in the Churches welfare
is discover'd by the injury it doth to the incomparable God because our Estates our Names our Families our Neighbours our Nations our Bodies our Souls are all nothing infinitely less then Nothing to the great God the incomparable This this is the only Glass that discovers the horrid ugly features the monstrous frightful deformities of sins face that it is a wrong to the blessed God to him who is the high lofty one Isa 57.15 1. In that sin is a breach of this incomparable God's Law a violation of his Command a contradiction of his Will Whosoever sinneth transgresseth the Law for sin is a transgression of the Law 1 John 3.4 Neither the greatness nor smallness of our obedience or disobedience is to be valued according to the greatness or smallness of the thing commanded or forbidden nor according to the greatness or smallness of the good or hurt done to man by it but according to the greatness of the Person who commandeth or forbiddeth 2. In that it is a contempt of this incomparable God's Authority a slighting his Dominion a denying his Sovereignty Who is the Lord that I should obey his Voice Exod. 5.2 is the Voice of every Sinner We are our own say they Who is Lord over us Psal 12.4 They know no Maker and therefore own no Master For this cause the Sinner is said to cast the incomparable God behind his back as not worth minding or regarding 1 Kings 14.9 And to despise him as some mean inconsiderable Being 1 Sam. 2.30 2 Sam. 12.9 10. 3. In that it is a dishonouring this incomparable God whose name alone is excellent It layeth him low who is the most high Psal 92.1 Through breaking the Law dishonourest thou God Rom. 2.23 24. It is ill to reproach a common man worse to reproach a Noble man or a Prince but O how bad is it to reproach the great God! to blaspheme that worthy Name Sin layeth the honour of this incomparable God which is more worth then millions of Worlds in the dust and trampleth on it The Romans when they would mark one with ignominy and brand him with reproach would put him out of their Senate or any place of Credit in which he was and pull down his Statue or Monument if any were erected to his Honour Sin degrades and dethrones God it will not allow him to be the Lord and Supreme of the World and it defaceth his Image where-ever it finds it as one contrary expels another It disgraceth his Justice thence is called Vnrighteousness 1 John 1.6 His Wisdom thence is called Folly Prov. 5.23 His Patience thence is called Murmuring Jude 16. His Power thence is called Weakness Rom. 5.8 His Mercy thence is called Vnthankfulness Luke 6.35 His Knowledge thence is called Ignorance and a work of Darkness 1 Pet. 1.14 Eph. 5.8 His Truth thence is called a Lye and lying Vanity Psal 58.2 Jonah 2.8 In all these and every way it disgraceth his Holiness which is his Glory and the glory of all his Attributes Exod. 15.11 thence is called Filthiness 2 Cor. 7.1 Vncleanness Rom. 1.24 4. In that it is a fighting with and to its power a destroying this incomparable God The murther of any man is hainous it is horrid 't is against nature and 't is the extremest mischief that one Creature can do to another Gen. 4.10 Math. 10.28 The murther of a Father or a Sovereign is far more hainous as being more against Nature and against more ingagements to the contrary He is cursed that mocketh his Father and his Heart smote him who did but cut off the skirt of his Kings Garment thought his Enemy what a Monster then is he that kills either but O what a Monster what a Devil is that which destroyeth as far as it is able the good the gracious the great the glorious the incomparable God Truly sin is such a Monster such a Devil that were its power equal to its spite and its strength answerable to its malice the living God should not live a moment Omne peccatum est Dei-cidium All sin is God-murder The Sinner hates God Rom. 1.30 and hatred ever wisheth and as 't is able worketh the destruction of its object The Fool hath said in his heart There is no God Psal 14.1 i. e. It is a pleasing thought to him to suppose there were no God as to guilty Prisoners to imagine there were no Judge to arraign and condemn them whom we fear as hurtful to us we hate and wish he were taken out of the way In order hereunto the Sinner strives with God and contendeth with him Job 34.7 fighteth against him Acts 5.39 He stretcheth out his hand against God and strengtheneth himself against the Almighty He puts forth all his force and venteth all his strength He runneth upon him even on his neck upon the thick bosses of his Bucklers Runs upon him as one Enemy upon another furiously without fear and as he is able gets him down sets his Feet on his Neck trampleth on him and crusheth him Job 15.25 26. O how odious how loathsome how abominable is sin that breaks the Law slights the Authority dishonors the Name and to its utmost dethrones and destroys the Being of this incomparable God this self-sufficient independent absolutely perfect eternal incomprehensible infinite Being which alone deserves the name of Being and to which all other Beings are no Beings Reader should this God of Glory appear to thee as once to Abraham and shew thee a glimpse of his excellent glory that is above the Heavens should he discover to thee but a little of that greatness which the Heavens and Heaven of Heavens cannot contain of that duration which had no beginning hath no succession knoweth no ending of those perfections that admit of no bounds no limits that are uncapable of the least addition or accession to them and then should say unto thee as when he appeared to Saul Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Man man why despisest thou my Commands why despisest thou my Authority Sinner how darest thou dishonour my Name and seek my destruction What wouldst thou then think of Sin O what wouldst thou then think of thy self for thy sins Shouldst thou not have other thoughts of sin and of thy self for sin then ever yet thou hast had Wouldst thou not even loath thy self for being so base so vile so unworthy yea so mad as to offend affront and fight against such a God wouldst thou not cry out as Job I have sinned against thee and what shall I do unto thee O thou Preserver of men Job 7.20 I have sinned against thee an incomparable infinite unconceivable Being I have wronged thee the most high most holy most blessed God and what shall I do unto thee what amends shall I make thee what reparation shall I give thee It is impossible for me should I weep wail and lament and grieve millions of Ages to make the least satisfaction for the injury I have
what poor pitiful Nothings what is a strong Sampson to the Almighty God but as straw as chaff as rotten wood as all weakness what is the Age of Methuselah to the duration of the eternal God to whose Age Millions of years add not a moment but as a minute as nothing Psal 39.5 What is the wisdom of Solomon to all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge which are in the only wise God but a curious web of folly Coloss 2.9 What is the holiness of an Angel to the holiness of God but as a candle to the Sun yea as perfect night and darkness to the Noon-day O therefore how shouldst thou labour to know this God how industrious shouldst thou be to be acquainted with him When the Queen of Sheba had heard of the extraordinary knowledge and abilities of Solomon she came from the utmost parts of the earth to see his person and to hear his wisdome But behold Reader a greater than Solomon is here Solomon was an Ideot an Innocent to this object which I request thee to know The understanding of God is infinite Psal 147.5 There is no searching of his understanding Isa 40.28 Indeed it is bottomless and therefore can never be found out His knowledge can never be known fully no not by Angels themselves Do men beat their brains and consume their bodies and waste their estates and deny themselves the pleasures of the flesh as many Heathen have done for the knowledge of nature of the heavenly bodies and their motions of the Sea and its ebbing and flowing of the earth and the creatures thereon when after all their search they were still at a loss and for all the knowledge they attained they proved but learned Dunces what wouldst thou then do for the knowledge of the God of nature of the mighty possessor of Heaven and Earth of him to whom all things are less than nothing of him the knowledge of whom will make thee wise to Salvation O Friend this is the only knowledge worth seeking worth getting worth prizing worth glorying in Jer. 9.23 24. Thus saith the Lord let not the wise man glory in his wisdom neither let the mighty man glory in his might nor the rich man glory in his riches Worldly knowledge strength wealth are not worth glorying in what then is The next verse tells you But let him that glorieth glory in this in what that he understandeth and knoweth me that I am the Lord c. This is a jewel that a man may boast of and glory in that he knoweth me that I am the Lord. There is an excellency in all knowledge Knowledge is the eye of the Soul to direct it in its motions it is the lamp the light of the Soul set up by God himself to guide it in its actions The understanding of man is the candle of the Lord Prov. 20.27 Without knowledge the Soul is but a Dungeon of darkness and blackness full of confusion and terror But there is an incomparable excellency in the knowledge of this incomparable God The object doth elevate and heighten the act There is a vast difference between the knowledg of earthly things and heavenly things between the knowledge of wise strong faithful merciful just holy men and the only wise omnipotent unchangeable righteous most holy God Only before I proceed to the urging this Use I would desire thee Reader to take notice what knowledge of God it is which I am pressing thee to labour for it is not a meer notional speculative knowledge though a knowledge of apprehension is a duty necessary Eph. 5.17 Psal 143.8 Heb. 8.9 10. but an experimental knowledge Thou hast made me to know wisdom in my secret parts Psal 51.6 The heart is called the secret part because known only to God 1 Kings 8.39 such a knowledge as affecteth the heart with love to him and fear of him and hatred of what is contrary to him true knowledge takes the heart as well as takes the head Psal 1.6 1 Kings 8.38 Phil. 3.10 and influenceth the life 1 Joh. 2.4 He that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandments is a lyar and the truth is not in him Coloss 1.9 10. John 10.4 5. Right knowledge though it begin at the head doth not end there but falls down upon the heart to affect that and floweth out in the life to order and regulate that Coloss 1.10 We pray for you that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding for what end and to what purpose that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitful in every good work To enforce this Use I shall give thee two or three Motives and as many means To encourage thee to study the knowledge of this God consider these three properties of it 1. The true knowledge of this God will be a sanctifying knowledge If thou hast any thing of a man I mean of Reason in thee holiness which was thy primitive perfection which is the Image of the incomparable God and will fit thee for his special love and eternal embraces will be a strong and cogent argument with thee Now this knowledge of God will conform thee to God render thee like unto him who is the pattern and standard of all excellency As I said before knowledge is the eye by which we see God and the vision of God causeth an assimulation to him But we all with open face beholding as in a Glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of our God 2 Cor. 3.18 The Blackamore that often look'd on beautiful pictures brought forth a beautiful Son We are often changed into the postures and fashions yea and dispositions of those whom we much converse with on earth surely then acquaintance with the gracious and Holy God will make us in some measure to resemble him Other knowledge pollutes and defiles the soul Oftentimes the more men pick the lock of Natures Cabinet and look into her riches and treasury her secrets and mysteries the more Atheistical they are and forgetful of the God of Nature Hence Religio Medici is irreligion they see so much of the operations of nature that they ascribe the principal efficiency to the instrument And hence the wisdom of the Philosophers counted the wisest men in the world is folly 1 Cor. 3.19 And though they professed themselves to be wise yet they became fools and were guilty of all manner of wickedness Rom. 1.22 to the end And what was the reason but this they knew not God with all their knowledge 1 Cor. 1.21 Ignorant heads are ever accompanied with irreligious hearts and both are attended with Atheistical lives Eph. 4.18 The Apostle tells us of the Heathen that they were estranged from the life of God an holy life through the ignorance that was in them because of the blindness of their hearts So Hos 4.1 2 3 4.
ye see but ye conceit so therefore your sin remaineth Joh. 9.40 41. therefore your ignorance continueth When Ignorance and Confidence which are often Twins go together the condition of a man is helpless partly because such a person will not take that pains in reading and praying and conference and meditation without which the knowledge of God cannot be had Dan. 12.4 Many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be encreased It 's an allusion to Merchants that run to this and that Port to sell out and take in commodities or to a Tradesman that runs to this and that Mart or place to buy and sell whereby their stocks are increased But a conceited man will never labour thus for that which he thinks he hath already If thou diggest as for silver and searchest as for hid treasure then thou shalt understand the fear of the Lord and attain the knowledg of God Prov. 2.4 5. Men count digging hard work and will sweat at it when they dig for silver such diligence must they use who will get the knowledge of God But though poor men who are sensible of their want of the knowledge of God and of their woful condition thereby will work to preserve themselves from perishing yet rich men who think they can do well enough without it will spare their pains partly because all knowledge must be obtained from God by fervent prayer and a conceited man will neither be instant with God for it nor will God give it to him God is the God of knowledg 1 Sam. 2.2 And from him all true saving knowledg cometh Prov. 2.6 The Lord giveth wisdom out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding As none can see the Sun by candle light but by its own light so none can know God savingly by the light of nature but by light derived from himself Now a conceited person will not go to God for knowledge What need I thinks he I have enough already Poverty is a friend to prayer the poor useth intreaties Prov. 18.23 But pride or conceitedness is an enemy to prayer The wicked through the Pride of his countenance will not seek after God Psal 10.4 Who will beg that of his neighbour which he is confident he hath at home Neither will God undertake the instruction of proud Scholars The humble he will teach the meek he will guide in judgment Psal 25.9 Such as are willing to be taught will be thankful for their learning and are fitted for guidance and direction but conceited persons are quite contrary Therefore Reader beware of this mist in which many miscarry He that thinketh he knoweth any thing knoweth nothing as he ought to know 1 Cor. 8.2 But labour to get thine heart affected with thine ignorance and the woful consequents of it Psal 95.10 11. This will be a good step to knowledg The Apostle gives thee the same direction 1 Cor. 3.18 If any man seem to be wise let him become a fool that he may be wise If thou seemest to be knowing be ignorant in thy own sense and feeling and apprehension that thou mayst be knowing Our Lord Jesus gives the same counsel to the sick and dying Lacdiceans Rev. 3.17 18. and acquaints her that her ignorance of her ignorance and conceitedness of her knowledge was the great hinderance of her recovery 2. Study much the works and especially the word of God The works of God are a Book wherein you may read of him and by which you may hear of him The heavens declare his glory Psal 19.1 The earth is full of his goodness Psal 33.5 As the shadow hath some proportion to the body to which it relates so the works of God are some representation of the wise powerful gracious God to whom they belong Rom. 1.19 21. The invisible things of God are seen by the things that are made even his eternal power and Godhead Therefore consider the works of the Lord and the operations of his hands The word of God is a glass wherein thou mayest see his beauty and grace and glory and so see him as to be transformed into his likeness 2 Cor. 3.18 In the works of God you may see his steps the prints of his feet they are therefore called his paths and his goings Psal 77.19 But in his word we may see his face the comliness of his countenance how lovely and amiable he is therefore it is called a glass 2 Cor. 3.18 So that as the sight of a mans face helpeth and conduceth more to our knowledge of him than the sight of his steps so the word of God is a far greater means of our acquaintance with him than the Works of Creation and Providence Therefore I say study especially the word of God The Scripture is the key of knowledg Luk. 11.52 and unlocks the mysteries which were kept hid from Ages and Generations and opens the secrets of heaven to thy soul It 's therefore called light Psal 119.105 and a Lamp Prov. 6.23 Because it discovers hidden things helps thee to see what thou canst not without it and directs thee in thy motions and actions David had more knowledge than his enemies and they were subtil than his Teachers and they were no dwarfes in knowledge such as Gad and Nathan than the Ancient and with the ancient is wisdom and in length of days is understanding Job 12.12 13. and what was the means of it For thy testimonies are my meditation Psal 119.97 98 99. The Gospel is the eye-salve by which the blind come to see Psal 19.7 The fragrancy and attractiveness of the incomparable God increaseth up and down in the world as the Gospel is propagated Thanks be to God who maketh manifest the Savour of his knowledge The knowledge of God like a rich perfume causeth and leaveth a fragrant odoriferous scent where-ever it comes by us the ministers of the Gospel as the instruments hereof in every place 2 Cor. 2.14 The ministry of the word is the Chariot of the Sun of Righteousness whereby he conveyeth the light of the knowledge of God to the world Therefore attend on Preaching and give diligence to reading Search the Scriptures for they are they that testifie of me Joh. 5.39 3. Be frequent and fervent with God to give thee the knowledge of himself There is a twofold light requisite to bodily vision a light in the eye A blind man cannot see at noon day and a light in the air the best eye cannot see in the dark So there is a twofold light requisite to the effectual sight of God viz. The light of the word and the light of the Spirit the word cannot do it without the Spirit and the Spirit will not do it without the word where the word is afforded both are needful There is a spirit in man a passive receptiveness as a capable subject But the inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding Job 32.8 All natural abilities all acquired endowments all the reading and learning all the Teachers and