Selected quad for the lemma: knowledge_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
knowledge_n	add_v	brotherly_a	godliness_n	1,776	5	9.4522	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A08055	Mans actiue obedience, or The power of godlines especially in the commandement of the gospell, which requireth faith in euerie Christian: or A treatise of faith, worthily called precious faith, as being in it selfe a most rare iewell of ioy, and peerelesse pearle, that excelleth in worth the highest price. Wherein is plainly declared what faith in Christ is what properly is the obiect of it, what is the speciall operation of faith, by which it may bee discerned; and the worke about which it is principally imployed, the subiect wherein it is placed; what things are needfull to the making it up, what to the being, and what to the wel-being of it; with the differences that are betweene true beleeuers and fained in all of them, and the vses thereof. By Master William Negus, lately minister of Gods word at Lee in Essex.; Mans active obedience.	Negus, William, 1559?-1616.; Negus, Jonathan, d. 1633.	1619 (1619)	STC 18420; ESTC S113618	278,658	364

course all the daies of a mans life time but what is this to the strengthening of a mans faith or to the furthering of his comfort while he doth line or how doth it helpe a man to better assurance of his saluation against feare and doubting A. Yes doubtlesse this worke yeeldeth sweete comfort it will quit well all the cost of whatsoeuer paines shall be taken about the same a man may very comfortably reape and eate the fruite of these his holy labours euen all the while he is in the trauaile of them who working the worke of God by labouring to beleeue for the obtaining of saluation and ioyning vertuous liuing with his true beleeuing the more laborious hee is in taking paines about this worke and the better it is wrought the more doth his comfort increase the confidence of his hope euer growing stronger as his life is found to be made better if to faith be added vertue and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godlinesse and to godlinesse brotherly kindnesse and to brotherly kindnesse loue seuerall labours to be bestowed about the ending and finishing vp of the whole and great worke of our saluation if 2. Pet. 1. 5. 6 7. 8. 10. these things be in you saith the Apostle Peter and abound as you shall not be idle and vnfruitfull so shall you be sure neuer to fall There is a common and most dangerous disease that taketh hold of the whole stocke and race of all mankinde wherewith all are tainted and insected without exception of any he only being excepted that is higher then the heauens and euer separated from sinners which is the harder to be holpen because it is an hereditarie euill and wee haue taken it from our parents We all are sicke of that sore disease of the falling Falling sicknes sicknesse we are in danger of falling in euery place we know not where we know not when nor wee know not how wee may fall How would men troubled with that kinde of disease make of a receipt that were good against the falling sicknesse to keepe them from falling Peter hath here giuen vs such an excellent receipt as will make a preseruatiue remedie most soueraigne to keep vs from falling we may be bold vpon it the better and the more comfortably receiue it from his hands because hee that prescribeth it was one that was sicke of the disease himselfe and that fell grieuously and yet was cured of it The remedie is made of these simples that are here set downe How then are these graces worthie the looking after that wee may gather them and get them the greater quantitie is euer the better and put them all together that they may haue their kindly working in vs and wee by them may so worke in our owne saluation How comfortable is the labour wee take about them in daily practising of them since Peter doth warrant vs that so long as we are found so doing wee shall be sure neuer to fall If after this manner then we shall keepe a working we see that good assurance may be gotten by our so doing and we shall be sure comfortably to worke out our owne saluation till that which is most sure in it selfe be also fully assured vnto vs. The further a man goeth holding on this course and keeping still his hand at this blessed labour as his saluation doth still gather vpon him and is much neerer vnto him then when he first beleeued Rom. 13. 11. so doth hee by thus proceeding gather also vpon his owne saluation and fasteneth euery day better hold vpon the same for to be more vndoubtedly assured of obtaining it in the end so that the longer hee thus liueth the more comfort he still reapeth and the more groweth hee to bee setledly confirmed in that that he first beleeued Q. But if the working out of our owne saluation after the manner as you haue spoken would bring vs any comfort or further increase our assurance of saluation why doth the Apostle adde that we must doe it in feare and trembling A. That feare and trembling which the Apostle there Feare and trembling needfull speaketh of is not contrary to the boldnesse of faith or to the assurance of saluation and of God his vnchangeable election whereby those that are once knowne to be the Lords are sure for euer to remaine his but dependeth rather vpon these and is to be ioyned with the same For as the saluation of the faithfull is safe and sure in it selfe so hath the Lord appointed that in such as shall be saued by meanes of this awfull fearing and trembling which as a double bridle holdeth them hard in and keepeth them from sinning and by this carefull endeauouring and working the things that are good and meet to be done both that same assurance of saluation shall be euer maintained in it selfe and likewise be made the more sure vnro them that are most strict to hold on in this course and keepe themselues close within the compasse of these lysts and limits thus set them without daring once wilfully to aduenture any way to breake out of them This feare and trembling may well haue and indeede ought to haue this good and holy vse to humble vs and to breede a watchfull circumspection and care ouer our selues in all our waies and cause vs by a holy iealousie of the hidden corruption that is within vs and of the many infirmities that hang about vs to preuent the danger of those sinnes that otherwise we might fall into but not wholly to dismay vs or put vs out of heart which might enfeeble our hands to goe on with this worke This should worke a care that may driue away securitie not a feare to take away the boldnesse of faith but a feare of falling into sin lest thereby we should offend our mercifull father and he hiding his countenance we should then become troubled and loose our former comfort not a feare of falling from grace and from out of Gods fauour for euer that so he should take his mercy from vs for altogether Feare and trembling in the working out of our owne saluation may stand vs in this stead the better to looke about vs that nothing be wanting which is necessary in this respect to be done lest we should faile in the end and fall short of our reckoning When wee haue once begun to take vp this course and are entred vpon that way that should bring vs to life and happinesse or passing on with feare and trembling as wee are a going may become a good meanes to cause vs to set straight steps and make euen Heb. 12. 13. paths to our feet lest that which is halting should be turned out of the way They may well serue as two sharpe spurres to both our sides to pricke vs forward and cause vs to trauell the harder ply vs the faster making speed in our way lest we should

be done by such or to be conceiued of the estate of such a Christian that cannot haue such feeling of his faith and standing in the fauour of God after the manner as before sometime he hath had A. Such are to labour by iudgement to conuince and controle their abused sense and feeling who sometimes Want of feeling to their owne sense and feeling may thinke God to haue forsaken them Christ Iesus to haue quite left them and to be departed and gone from them when as yet he is still where he was and as touching his fauour and his loue vnalterable remaining still the same towards them that he was the alteration being found onely to bee in themselues by reason of the strong tentations that are vpon them Men are therefore not to measure their estate by sense and feeling for many times in naturall things reason is able to controle our sense as if I being in a ship that is driuen with a faire wind and tide doe saile by a Tower or Castle standing vpon a banke when I looke vpon the Tower as the ship doth swiftly passe by my sense of seeing thinketh that the Tower goeth away while I my selfe stand still in the ship but my iudgement and vnderstanding telleth me that it is otherwise in truth and that the Tower standeth still and moueth not but it is I and the ship that doe goe away from it though to my sense of seeing it seemes otherwise to be In like manner as touching feeling a man that hath but raging paine in one tooth or hath but a fellon on the vttermost ioynt of his finger or the paine of the goute onely in his toe though all his body should be sound and in good health besides he feeleth more the paine of that one little member of his tooth or of his toe then the sound health of his whole body beside though the health of the whole body be much more then is the paine of that one member In like manner doth it many times fall out with good Christians if they be indued and inriched with neuer so many good graces of Gods Spirit hauing true faith and ioyned therewith vertue knowledge temperance patience godlinesse brotherly kindnesse charitie hope humility meekenesse repentance and the rest that are linkes of that golden chaine wherewith the vertues are chained and linked one to another if it should happen not to be well with them in any one of the said graces according as these seueral graces of the mind as well as the seuerall members of the body may bee put out of their right frame and haue distemper and disease bred in them and brought vpon them though in the meane while it were neuer so well with them in all the rest yet is it found vsuall for them more to feele the disquiet of the distemper and hurt of some one of these graces so out of frame then to feele the content and comfort of the abiding in good estate of all the rest beside and to bee more grieued with the disease that is growne vpon that one then ioyed with the health that doth stil remaine in all the other As if a good man being sore prouoked and set vpon of the sudden should be so much distempered and put out of all patience as he should breake forth to much fury and rage in his hastie anger which is no better then a short madnesse and being come to his right mind againe his fit being once ouer for all that while beside himselfe he should then bethinke himselfe what he had done so would he bee out of conceit with himselfe he would be so cast downe in his owne eyes so smitten in heart so pricked in conscience so wounded in his soule with griefe for his sinne he would crie out and complaine for being thus ouerseene as that the distemper of that one grace of patience and the weakenes thereof which could then beare no more would more bee felt of him with griefe and work him greater woe and disquiet him much more then he should feele comfort or haue contentment in the good estate which all the rest did abide in beside and yet that one slip of his for a time is not so blame-worthie as is commendable the ordinary course of goodnesse constantly held on in the well-vsing and practising of other his graces wherein much soundnesse is found stil to be remaining And as among the members and parts of the body some are more necessarie then are others and so more hardly can be spared some are more dangerous to take hurt in or for any disease to breed vpon them because they are the vitall parts of the body such as is the heart the liuer and the braine which if they should be perished the life it selfe would be lost when such parts are affected men are found to be more troubled about the hearts of such and the diseases bred vpon them then vpon any other ther the partes of their bodies besides they are most suspitious and doubtfull of the recouering of them aboue that they are of all the rest euer fearing lest those hurts should not be well healed or those diseases soundly cured and recpiered againe As if one should haue among other the outward parts and members of his body his right hand so maimed as it should be in daunger to bee quite cut off and so lost and of all the inward parts should haue a disease breeding in him that should dangerously affect the heart which being a most vitall part euen the very fountaine and seate of life that doth send forth the vitall spirits and life it selfe to the other parts if that should be perished then the very life it selfe would vetterly be lost Much after this manner is it found to be with good Christians in respect of the differing graces of Gods Spirit which they haue receiued from God though all verie vsefull for the Christian life yet some are more absolutely needfull as being vnto the soule not onely the hand by which it worketh but as the heart which is the very receptacle and seate of life by which it liueth which if they should miscarry all would be lost such as is faith and loue and repentance vnto life If these should receiue any dangerous hurt or fall into any deadly disease whereof they should not be againe well recouered there must needs follow the vtter ruine of such a Christian When therefore their faith is mightily assailed and by the strength of tentation sorely shaken when their repentance is challenged not to be sound and such as it ought Oh then how solicitous is a carefull Christian about the hauing of these well cured and recouered againe how feareful and doubtfull is he lest these should faile him and neuer be holpen how doth hee enquire after the best Physitians to heare the best counsell that in this case may be giuen yea if a whole Colledge of Physitians should all meete together to conferre about his disease they

Deut. 32. 4. Eccles 3. 14. Psal 145. 17. Psal 33. 4. 111. 8. Psal 111. 3. Psal 92. 5. Psal 139. 14. Iob 9. 10. Psal 104. 24. in truth and equitie that they are most honourable and glorious yea that maruelous are his workes and that in wisedome he hath made them all Particularly that they are either secret and hidden from all other creatures and onely knowne to himselfe alone or openly manifest and reuealed in the world and so appertaining to vs to take knowledge of them Q. What manner of workes are those which you doe call the secret and hidden workes of God knowne to himselfe alone A. Such as was his eternall decree and purpose with Ephes 1. 11. Psal 33. 11. Rom. 11. 34. Rom. 9. 11. 22 23. 1. Pet. 2. 8. Acts 4. 28. Acts 17. 31. Mark 13. 32. Mat. 24. 36. himselfe before all beginnings of making the whole world in the beginning and of determining all that hee should make to such seuerall ends as he had appointed Such also as is the appointment of time for the ende of the world and for the bringing all to iudgement the day and houre whereof is not knowne to the Angels no nor to the Sonne of man himselfe Q. What are the reuealed workes of God manifested and made knowne in the world which it behoueth vs to regard and to take knowledge of A. The workes both of the creation of all things out Heb. 11. 3. Isai 44. 24. 42. 5. Acts 17. 24. Gen. 1. 31. Luke 19. 10. Rom. 3. 23 24. 25. 2. Cor. 5. 19. Colos 1. 20. Ioh. 5. 17. Eccles 3. 11. Prou. 16. 4. of nothing made good in the beginning as also the works of daily gouerning ordering and disposing al things once made whether they keepe their goodnesse they were first made in or haue lost it and are fallen from the same so as yet out of all by his infinite wisedome he neuer faileth to bring honour and gaine glory to his name Q. What are we to know touching our selues A. We are to know what we were and what we now are Q. What is to be knowne touching what we were A. We are to know that wee were once happy creatures Eccles 7. 29. o● 31. made good in the beginning yea excelling in goodnesse many other creatures that were also made good for we were made after the image of God and so were no other Gen. 1. 27. creatures vpon earth beside Q. What is to be knowne of our selues touching what wee now are A. Two things in that respect are to be considered of vs namely what we now are by nature and what wee are by grace Q. What is that we now are by nature A. That hauing lost our happinesse by the fall of Adam Rom. 3 23. Iob. 14. 1. 2. Ephes 2. 3. we are become most miserable and are all by nature the children of wrath one as well as another Q. What may we know that we are now by grace A. That being iustified freely by the grace of God Rom. 3. 24. through the redemption that is in Christ Iesus our Lord power is now giuen vnto vs by him to become the sonnes Iohn 1. 12. Rom. 8. 17. of God yea heires and fellow-heires with him of life and glorie Q. So much of the knowledge of our selues come now to shew what we are to know to be our duties and wherein they do consist A. Our duties doe consist in performing due obedience 1. Sam. 15. 22. Ier. 7. 23. to Gods holy will in all things Q. What kind of obedience is it which God requireth as our hands A. Both actiue in readily doing all that he hath commanded Deut. 6. 24. 25. 10. 12. 13. Apoc. 3. 10. Marke 8. 34. Luke 21. 19. to be done and passiue in patiently suffering and enduring all that he hath appointed to be abidden Q. What is it that God hath commanded vs to doe A. He hath commanded vs to keepe his precepts diligently and those are either Legall precepts commanding Psal 119. 4. Exod. 20. 23. ●● Iohn 3. 23. Marke 1. 15. vs to fulfill the righteousnesse of the Law or Euangelicall commanding vs to beleeue on the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ and to embrace and beleeue the promises of the Gospell Q. What is it that God hath appointed vs contentedly and patiently to suffer A. Whatsoeuer either by his owne hand immediately shall be laid vpon vs or through his prouidence and sufferance Psalm 39. 9. Leuit. 10. 3. Iob 2. 10. 1. King 12. 24. 1. Cor. 11. 32. Iob 37. 13. 1. Pet. 4. 12. Heb. 5. 8. by any other meanes shall befall vnto vs either for our chastisement or our triall and that we learne obedience by all that we so doe suffer CHAP. II. Of the Christians practice according to his knowledge of God and his workes Question SO much touching the knowledge in generall which is required at the hands of euery one come now to the practice and declare what ought to be the practice of euery good Christian A. The daily practice of a Christian ought to bee according The mind being lightned in knowledge is not to rest in the sweetnesse of contemplation alone but ioyne practice therewithall to his knowledge so to labour to glorifie God in all things not knowing alone what is meete but doing as he knoweth that he may be blessed in his deed Q. How is such practice termed in the Scriptures A. It is called the power of godlinesse for all that otherwise is held but in knowledge onely as it is floating and swimming in the braine may end in bare speech and rest Iames 1. 5. 2. Tim. 3. 5. in a naked shew or forme of godlinesse which being idle and weake for want of strength of grace to carry it further the life for all that may be left vnreformed as in the 2. Tim. 3. 2. 3. 4. examples instanced in by the Apostle is manifest to bee seene but when practice is ioyned with knowledge then Iames 1. 4. as Saint Iames speakes of patience godlinesse hath her perfect worke and powerfully breaketh out to manifest it selfe as well in the life outwardly as in the heart within Q. What kind of practice doe you meant it to be which you would haue a Christian to ioyne with his knowledge thereby the better to glorifie God A. Both the labour of the mind by holy meditation inwardly had of that that he knoweth and the trauell of the body in workes and actions outwardly performed according to the same Q. How farre must this practice be extended A. So farre as a mans knowledge doth reach vnto for it is but the making vse of knowledge which otherwise would be fruitlesse and vnprofitable Q. Shew this more particularly in those seuerall points of knowledge which you haue set downe to be needfull for euery Christian to haue his mind rightly to bee informed in and first what

practice or vse you would haue to be made Rom. 1. 21. Psal 89. 7. Psalm 68. 35. Psal 96. 9. Exod. 15. 11. Iob 11. 7. Psalm ●6 8 10. Iob 9. 4 5. Psal 77. 13. Ezeck 43. 2. Psal 89. 6. Isaiah 57. 15. Psal 8. 1. Iob. 37. 23. 13. 11. Iob 26. 14. Psal 76. 7. Psal 66. 5. 7. Psal 18. 31. Psal 103. 17. Psal 103. 8. Exod. 34. 6. Psal 86. 15. Psal 99 9. Isai 41. ●4 29. Deut. 32. 17. Psal 97. 7. 13. 6. Isaiah 6. 3. Tit. 1. 16. 1. Ti● 3. 16. 2. Cor. 5. 19. Rom. 9. 5. of that knowledge we are to haue of God that wee know what he is in himselfe which is the first point that is mentioned A. That when wee so know God wee then doe glorifie him as God trembling before his fearefull Maiestie wondring at his great Omnipotencie astonished with his infinite Glorie rauished with his incomparable Excellencie awed with his dreadfull Power comforted with his endlesse Loue cheared with his abounding Mercy and falling low downe before the throne of his glory all false gods and lying vanities of the Heathen being vile in our eyes to say Hee is holy hee is holy he is holy the Lord of Hostes the earth is full of his glory And as thus in our minds to worship him and with our words to praise him so to take heed that in our deeds we do not deny him Q. What vse are wee to make of that knowledge wee ought to haue of God whereby wee may know what hee is to vs A. Thereby we are occasioned seriously to consider of and daily to seeke better to vnderstand that great mysterie of godlinesse which concerneth the worke of our redemption that is by Christ Iesus how God was in Christ reconciling the world to himselfe not imputing their trespasses vnto them and how Christ being God ouer all blessed for euer became also man to suffer what was due for mans transgression that being both God and Man hee might make a perfect satisfaction vnto 1. Tim. 2. 5. 6. God for man And being sealed and sent of the Father to bee the attonement-maker betweene the two parties Ioh. 6. 27. 5. 30. at variance who were God and man hee might first get them inseparably ioyned together in himselfe And these two Natures to bee set at one and by a happy vnion to meete together in his owne person and then in the body of his flesh through death and by the Coloss 1. 20. 21. 22. blood of his Crosse to set all things at peace in heauen and in earth so reconciling man to God as he might bee presented holy and vnblameable and vnreproueable in his sight And thus was hee made vnto vs Iesus that is a full and perfect Sauiour to saue vs from our sinnes Mat. 1. 21. Acts 2. 36. Heb. 5. 5 6. Deut. 18. 18. Luke 4. 18 21. Matth. 17. 5. Dan. 7. 14. 27. Zach. 9. 9. Luke 1. 32 33. God hauing for the same purpose first made him Christ that is annointed him with the holy Ghost and with power to be a Priest Prophet and King to purchase publish and apply saluation for and vnto all that should beleeue in his name Q. What practice or vse of the knowledge of the works of God in generall are we to make A. The same or like to that which is contained in the Song of Moses the seruant of the Lord and in the Song of the Lambe sung by those victorious Conquerors that had the Harpes of God in their hands the ditty whereof Apoc. 15. 3. was this Great and marueilous are thy workes Lord God Almightie iust and true are thy waies thou King of Saints Who is like vnto thee O Lord among the Gods who is Exod. 15. 11. like thee glorious in holinesse fearefull in praises doing wonders And in considering the great workes of God in generall to say with Dauid the sweete singer of Israel O Lord how manifold are thy workes in wisedome Psal 104. 24. hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches Blessed be the Lord God the God of Israel who Psal 72. 18. 19. onely doth wondrous things and blessed be his glorious name for euer and let the whole earth bee filled with his glorie Amen and Amen Q. Goe on to shew the like of the workes of God more particularly according as you haue distinguished them And first touching those works which you call the secret works of God what is the practice or vse we are to make of our knowledge we haue that there be such A. First because they belong not to vs but vnto the Lord God himself alone that therfore in all reuerence we leaue Deut. 29. 29. them vnto him and neuer dare presume to prie into the Lords secrets nor desire to vnderstand aboue that which is meet but keepe our selues within the lists and bounds Rom. 12. 3. which God hath set to ranke and raile vs in this way vnder as great a penalty as euer hee set bounds to the children of Israel at the giuing of the Law which they were Exod. 19. 12. 21 not to passe in any desire they had to gaze and see that which the Lord would not haue shewed as in the example of the men of Bethshemesh prying into the Arke 1. Sam. 6. 19. which was not lawfull for them to doe may appeare accounting it a point of our best wisedome and deepest knowledge yea a very learned ignorance not to know that which the Lord seeth not good to reueale yet so as we alwaies doe honour in the workes of God that which we doe not vnderstand And when wee perceiue the iudgements of God to be as a great deepe that cannot Psal 36 6. Eccles 8. 17. and 11. 5. Psal 77. 19. be sounded his wayes to bee past finding out and that his foot-steps cannot be knowne that we then doe stand and wonder at that wee cannot comprehend and with the Apostle cry out Oh the depth of the riches Rom. 11. 33. both of the wisedome and knowledge of God! how vnsearchable are his iudgements and his wayes past finding out to the end that God may haue the greater honour thereby Q. What is the vse we are to make and practice of the knowledge we haue that there be other workes of God that are openly manifested and reuealed in the world A. We are to remember as Elihu speaketh to Iob that wee doe magnifie his workes which men doe behold And seeing the reuealed workes of God are things Iob 36. 24. that doe belong to vs and to our children for euer that Deut. 29. 29. Deut. 6. 7. 20. Psal 78. 5. 6. 7. we therefore doe both labour and learne to know them our selues and that wee likewise doe teach them to our The Lords workes like the curtaines of Salomon haue their beautie within we had neede hold our eyes neare them and put our heads

the Sonne of the liuing God so forsaking all to follow him and truly and stedfastly beleeuing in him their faith is so strengthened as the gates of hell shall neuer preuaile against the Mat. 16. 18. same Their knowledge of Christ hath guile and deceit in it making them more bold in sinning because they know Christ hath done all away by his suffering abusing the knowledge they haue of him to a more libertie of licentious liuing These know Christ as the truth is in Iesus to become new creatures in him casting off the old man and putting on Eph. 4. 21. 22 24 the new 4 In respect of the subiect in which the knowledge of these two abideth and is seated this difference may be obserued Their knowledge is swimming in the braine in an idle and bare speculation only These haue their knowledge descending and sinking lower downe into their hearts to worke vpon the affections to breed the hatred of sinne there and the loue of goodnesse They keepe the word of God in their eares to heare it and in their tongues to talke of it they get knowledge out of the word of God to tip their tongues with fine and eloquent speech and to dispute learnedly about points that are intricate These lay vp the word of God in their hearts that it may dwell plentifully there in all wisedome they hide vp Coloss 3. 16. the word of God in their hearts with Dauid that it may Psal 119. 11. keepe them from sinning they get knowledge not so much to tip their tongues with speech as to season their hearts with grace and to liquour their whole liues with holinesse that all their actions may relish and sauour of some goodnesse 5 There is great difference betweene the knowledge of these two in respect of the kinds of their knowledge which are very diuers All the knowledge and wisedome of men vnregenerate that is to say of naturall men it doth most lighten the vnderstanding downward and let it be of things neuer so high and heauenly yet being once in them it becommeth drossie and polluted with their corruption But the knowledge which is inspired and infused into the hearts of men regenerate by the spirit of sanctification is both most holy and pure in it selfe and in like manner sanctifieth them into whose hearts it is put and Iohn 17. 17. 1. Pet. 1. 22. being farre more diuine setteth before their mindes a heauenly great and lightsome Torch shining vpwards to make their mindes more heauenly and their affections to Coloss 3. 2. be set vpon things aboue Of the greatest excellencie of their vnsanctified knowledge in regard of themselues and of the hurt also thereby done to others that may be said of it that was said of the knowledge of Nouatus that it was but venenata facundia but a poysoned and venomous finesse and elegancie of their skill and speech These haue the wholesome knowledge of the truth for Tit. 2. 8. the safety of their owne soules and they speak the words of truth and sobernesse vnto others also whom they do instruct Acts 26. 25. Their knowledge many times is an affecting to know aboue that which is meet and so are found exercising themselues Rom. 12. 3. 16. Psal 131. 1. in things that are too high These vnderstand according to sobriety keeping themselues within due compasse not stretching themselues beyond their line 2. Cor. 10. 13. 14. They haue much obscure confused generall and theoricall knowledge wherein many of them doe excell they haue plentie of illumination without change of affection and so remaine but carnall still their heart and life being left wholly vnreformed These haue a much more cleare distinct speciall effectuall and experimentall knowledge their minds being so inlightned by the Spirit of God with the knowledge of God out of his Word as thereupon they are transformed 2. Cor. 3. 18. into the image of God from glory to glory They haue much verball and litterall knowledge in Tit. 1. 16. word to say they know God but in their deedes to denie him so being in the meane time as one iustly calleth them but beleeuing Atheists These haue powerfull and spirituall knowledge knowing Phil. 3. 10. Christ with the power of his resurrection which causeth the power of godlinesse to be seene in their liues 6 And lastly in respect of the vse that these put their knowledge vnto much is the difference betweene the knowledge that is had on both sides The vnregenerate and vnsanctified men haue knowledge Ier. 10. 14. Amos 3. 10. Ier. 4. 22 but as the Prophet speaketh they are brutish in their knowledge they know not how to doe right they haue knowledge and they are wise for the doing of euill but to doe well they haue no knowledge at all The true beleeuer and sanctified Christian hath knowledge and his vnderstanding is vnto him as a well-spring Prou. 16. 22. and fountaine of life to cause him to depart from the snares of death The wisedome of the prudent saith Salomon Prou. 14. 8. Psal 101. 2. Prou. 11. 9. Psal 47. 10. is to vnderstand his way that with Dauid hee may know how to behaue himselfe wisely in a perfect way The iust by his knowledge is deliuered from the errour and deceit of the hypocrite who with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour They hauing knowledge many times their wisedome and knowledge doth peruert them that being wise in their owne eyes they fal into heresie maintaine errors and they hauing knowledge and vtterance of speech as they are of the world themselues so saith the Apostle they 1. Iohn 4. 5. speake of the world and the world through them These hauing light of knowledge doe ponder the path of their feete to order their waies aright and thereby are Prou. 4. 26. better stablished in the truth These put their knowledge to a better vse they hauing the tongue of the learned Isai 50. 4. know how to speake a word in season to him that is wearie when they speake their lipps doe spread abroad knowledge and their tongue talketh of wisedome for the Law of Prou. 15. 7. Psal 37. 30. 31. God is in their heart The tongue of the wise saith Salomon Prou. 15. 2. vseth knowledge aright where the mouth of fooles doth nothing but poure out foolishnesse They hauing knowledge of things that are in their nature 2. Cor. 2. 17. diuine doe yet handle diuine things in a diuelish manner and handle the word of God deceitfully 2. Cor. 4. 2. These handle the Word of God purely as with washed hands they doe with David wash their hands in innocencie Psal 26. 6. and so compasse the Altar they speaking Gods Word speake it as the word of God yea their speech is 1. Pet. 4. 11. Colo●● 4. 6. ordinarily gracious and powdred with salt They by their knowledge may preach but either they preach themselues

and not Christ or preaching Christ Phil. 1. 15. 16. preach him of contention and not sincerely but of strife and enuie These hauing knowledge to preach preach not themselues but Christ Iesus the Lord and themselues seruants 2. Cor. 4. 5. to the people for Christ his sake they preach Christ not as the other doe of enuie but of good will Their knowledge puffeth them vp and maketh their 1. Cor. 8. 2. minds to swell they being wise in their owne eyes thinke Iob 12. 2. themselues the onely and that wisedome must needes die with them The knowledge of these pulleth them downe and maketh Prou. 30. 23. Gen. 18. 27. Iob 9. 20 30. 31 1. Cor. 8. 2. Iob 89. 1. Cor. 3. 18. men more vile in their owne eyes as they haue more knowledge of themselues their knowledge teacheth them to know that they know nothing as they ought to know and to say with Bildad We are but of yesterday and Nihilignotum in coelo nihil no tum in terrâ know nothing learning from the Apostle to become fooles in their owne eyes that they may be wise Their knowledge is idle knowledge they know and doe not with the Pharisies and as euill and naughty seruants Matth. 23. 3. knowing their masters wil refuse to doe it and therfore Luke 12. 47. are like to be beaten with many stripes The knowledge of these is fruitfull causing them to ioyne with their knowledge temperance patience godlines 2. Pet. 1. 6. 7. 8. c. and so they are neither idle nor vnfruitfull it teacheth them to denie vngodlinesse and worldly lusts and to liue soberly Tit. 2. 11. 12. righteously and godlily in this present world that they may walke worthy of the Lord vnto all pleasing being fruitfull in euery good worke as they doe increase in the Coloss 1. 10. knowledge of God And this doth the Apostle Iohn make to be the triall of the knowledge of Christ to be good and that we may know we doe know him aright if wee 1. Iohn 2. 3. keepe his commandements Their knowledge serueth but to make them wiser and learneder teaching them how to discourse well and how to dispute well The knowledge of these serueth not onely to make them learneder but to make them better teaching them how to liue well Their knowledge is often abused to wrong the truth Nihil inimicum magis veritati acumine nimio they by learning being as enemies that are armed many that haue had great learning and great wits often proouing great enemies vnto goodnesse These can doe nothing against the truth at all but all the 2. Cor. 13. 8. learning and knowledge they haue is imployed and set aworke to defend the truth but they haue no knowledge to doe any thing against the truth These and the like are found to be the sundrie and diuers vses whereunto both the one and the other do make their knowledge to serue by which it may euidently enough be discerned how greatly as in other respects so in respect of the vse of knowledge the knowledge of either doth differ from the knowledge of the other And so to conclude this point concerning the differing knowledge in them that are vnsound and vnsanctified and in them that shall be saued by that which hath been said I think it may plainely enough appeare that in Gods matters the greatest Clerkes according to that which is said in the prouerbe are not alwaies found to be the wisest men neither Nil prosunt lecta nisi teipsum legas will much learning alone be sufficient to bring men to eternall saluation vnlesse their learning be good learning that may make them not onely wiser but better men and their knowledge be sanctified and sauing causing them as to know Christ with his sufferings that he died for their sinnes so to know by their owne experience and feeling in themselues what is the power of his resurrection for the quickning and reuiuing of them to all righteousnesse and holinesse of liuing If men had all other knowledges if they had skill in all Arts and Sciences that could be attained vnto and were so great Doctors and deepe Diuines as they could discusse the hardest points in Diuinitie and answere all questions and resolue clearely all doubts that might be moued if they were neuer so cunning disputers yet if they haue not learned to know Christ 1. Cor. 1. 20. as the truth is in Iesus which is that all that say they are in him must be new creatures that is be renewed in mind 2. Cor. 5. 17. thoughts purposes desires affections speeches actions and whole behauiour and this be so knowne as it rest not alone in idle speculation but in like manner be brought into action and knowne by practice in life and conuersation for want of the knowledge of this one truth al such knowledges be they neuer so absolute and exact of all manner of truths that are to be knowne beside which by their earnest studies their vncessant paines of their daies labours their nights watchings their vnknowne trauells all their life-time taken they haue now at the length so hardly come by shall yet profit them nothing In so much Isai 29. 14. as which were a strange saying euen a maruellous worke and a wonder to see it done and who will beleeue the report of it if it should bee spoken yet I dare bee bold to say let men bee failing but in that one point alone and though they were the greatest learned men that were in the whole world beside whom all did admire for their most absolute and most excellent skill and knowledge in all good literature wherein beside they were seene neuer so to excell yet should they vndoubtedly with all their knowledge perish for the want of knowledge the wisedome of such wise men should perish and the vnderstanding Hosea 4. 6. Isai 29. 14. 1. Cor. 1. 14. Vers 27. 28. of such prudent men be hid and the poorest ideot being a sound Christian wanting other knowledges but knowing this may worthily be said to go beyond the profoundest Clerke of them all that is not sanctified It were good therefore that learned men vpon this consideration would doe as it is said Augustine did hearing of Anthonie the Heremite his holy life who speaking to his companion Alipius cried out to him saying Quid hoc est quid patimur Lib. confess 8. cap. 1. surgunt indocti coelum rapiunt nos cum doctrinis nostris sine corde ecce vbi volutamur in carne in sanguine What meaneth all this what is it that we suffer thus tyrannized ouer by our lusts the vnlearned getting vp are before vs in getting of heauen while we with all our learning as without hart lye stil groueling and wallowing in flesh blood It were good that they would think of ioyning with their 2. Pet. 1. 6. 7. 10. knowledge vertue