Selected quad for the lemma: knowledge_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A54657
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Happy merchandise or Wisdoms excellency darkly discovered or rather greatly obscured by words without knowledge By Charles Phelps.
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Phelpes, Charles.
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1670
(1670)
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Wing P1978; ESTC R218239
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66,695
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104
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unclean covetous ambitious revengefull lusts but to doe good they have no understanding Jerem. 4 22. every man is bruitish by his knowledge Ierem 10. 14. God did indeed make man righteous at first in his owne image after his likeness and put Wisdome into his inward parts he was created in knowledge as the Apostle signifieth when he saith ye have put on the new man Which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him renewing is a restoring a Person or thing that is deformed to its first and primitive estate there in then is intimated that at first man was created in knowledge Aswell as also it so appeares in that it is said that the renewing in knowledge is after the image of him that created him and so at first man being created in or after his image he was created in knowledge and understanding Colos 3. 10. But man not abiding in that honour in which he was made but aspiring to an equality with God and desiring some higher wisdome and knowledge thorow his listening to the Lye of the tempter Genes 3. 5 6. Mist what he aspired unto and lost what he had and so man in honour not abiding therein understandeth not but is like the beasts that perish Psal 49. 12. 20. they are destiture of all true and sound Wisdome that which they have leades them to labour to be rich Prov. 23. 4. Ezek 28. 4 5. and to trust in their riches and worship their gold and silver Hose 13. 2. and to seek after greatness and glory in this world Isay 10. 13 14. and fills them with enoyings and strifes against all that stands cross to their designe Jam. 3. 14 16. but as with respect to his Wisdome that is from above they are like wilde asses colts Job 11. 12. In this consideration they are all untill and further then in lightned of God simple and foolish ones And this is true of them all even of those also that have the highest esteeme of themselves As young persons they are usually highly conceited of themselves but they are simple as is signified in that the end of the Proverbs in making knowne Wisdome is said to be to give subtilly to the simple to the young man who is simple also knowledge and discretion Prov. 1. 4. and 7. 7 8. and this is true also of those that have much of the Wisdome of this World who are great schollars and rich in that knowledge which is science falsly so called their wisdome is foolishness with God and the Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise that they are vaine 1 Corinth 3. 18 20. and it is also true of those that are of the professed church they are simple and without understanding naturally Prov. 1. 21 22. Rom. 3. 1 2 9 10 11. Yea of all men Job 32. 7 9. hence Wisdome saith to men and the sons of Man o ye simple understand Wisdome and ye fooles be ye of an understanding heart Prov. 8. 4 5. and 30. 2 3 4. The naturall man receveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2. 14. Out of the heart of men proceed evill thoughts of God as if he had a secret pleasure in the destruction of the greatest part of man kind Ezech. 33. 10 11. and though he speaketh faire and commands the gospell to be preached to all yet he hath a secret will contrary to his revealed We need not be taught and strengthned in such blasphemous thoughts for they naturally proceed out of our hearts And thence also proceed evill thoughts of our selves high esteemes and conceits of our selves from whence we are filled with pride And evill thoughts of the world as if the injoyment of that would render us truly happy and hence proceedeth covetousness Yea and evill thoughts of all things thinking evilly and calling light darkness and darkness light every imagination of mans heart is onely evill continually Genes 6. 5. And hence we are chusing loving and affecting vaine things that cannot profit nor helpe us because they are vaine even any thing besides this excellent Wisdome to wit Christ and God in him Mark 7. 21 22. Use 1. This consideration might be of usefullness to us to hide pride from us for we are all naturally fooles And to cause us not to glory in Gods presence but be willing to become fooles that we may be wise in receiving this heavenly Wisdome here commended to us 1 Cor. 1. 29 31. and 3. 18 19. 2. To admonisch us cease from man for wherein is he to be accounted of Isay 2. 22. and not to have our faith standing in their Wisdome we are such simple and foolish ones as that if men use good words and faire speeches to us and have much of the Wisdome of this world especially if also therewith they have a forme of godliness upon them to depend upon and admire them and receive what they say though they come in their owne name and to imbrace their interpretations of the scripture though therein they consent not to wholesome words but cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine of the Apostles Rom. 16. 17 18. and to glory in the Wisdome of man whereas their wisdome is foolishness with God And were this considered by us as discovered to us in the light and instructions of the gospell it would take us off from that idolatrous esteeme we have of them and their Wisdome Matth. 11. 25 26. 1 Corinth 2. 1 5. and 3. 18 21. 3. To shew unto us the great grace and love of God to us in taking notice of such simple foolish ones as we are with him and in his account who judgeth righteously and in making a way for us that we might become wise He hath not despised us in this sad condition into which we brought our selves but hath of his goodness prepared for us and is giving good counsell to us in hearing which we may be made wise to such he calls be ye of an understanding heart heare for I will speak of excellent things Prov. 8. 4 6 7. Behold God is mighty and despised not any he is mighty in strengh and Wisdome and yet despiseth not us who are weak and simple Job 36. 5. learn we of him 4. To come to Christ in the testimony that we may be made wise Matth. 11. 27 28. and to move here to consider the next instruction viz. 2. That though men are naturally simple and fooles yet thorow the grace of our Lord Jesus they may finde this excellent Wisdome and get or draw out this understanding here commended to us while it is called to day and this is intimated to us in that the holy Ghost here affirmeth and presently evidenceth the blessedness and happiness of the man that finds it of the man indefinitely he had spoken before to the sons of Wisdome more directly vs 11 12. but here happy is
the Man c. and that men any man that is come to yeares of capacity may finde and get it in Gods opportunity appeareth 1. Because all the treasures of Wisdome and knowledge are hid in Christ for men Colos 2. 3. all things are delivered to him of the father and on this ground he inviteth and calls all that labour and are heavy laden and are seeking Wisdome were it is not to be found to come unto him Matth. 11. 27 28. Jesus Christ who is the Wisdome of God as is declared to us in the words which the Holy Ghost hath thought took upon him the nature of mankind and therefore when he was borne the Angell saith Behold I bring unto you good tidings of great joy which shall be unto all people Luk. 2. 10 11. and he had the trespasses of the world imputed to him even tho guilt of mankinds first sin and sinfullnes and he bare the sin of the world in his owne body 2 Corinth 5. 19 21. Joh. 1. 29. And was delivered for their offences he died for all even for all that were dead and by the grace of God tasted dead for every man and is raised againe for their justification Rom. 4. 25. 2 Corinth 5. 14 15. Hebr. 2. 9. and hath redeemed all mankind in himselfe from the curse of the law and delivered them from the necessary slavery of satan he is ascended up on high who descended first into the lower parts of the earth and hath led captivity captive and hath received gifts of forgiveness Wisdome and understanding for men yea for the rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell among them Galat. 3. 13. and 4. 4 5. with Rom. 3. 19. Psal 68. 18. God hath prepared Wisdome for us he hath prepared his dinner even a feast of fat things for all people his oxen and fatlings are killed and all things are ready and prepared for Jewes and Gentiles even for all men Matth. 22. 2 4 8. Isay 25. 6. Job 28. 27. this is the record that God hath given of his son that he hath given to us mankind eternall life and this life is in his son 1 Joh. 5. 10 11. He is the second man the last Adam of whom the first was a figure Rom. 5. 14. and as God did in blessing the first man bless us all in him and there create us in his owne image after his owne likeness even in knowledge and understanding so now there is blessing in this seed of the woman who hath broke the head of the serpent for all the families of the earth in him we are againe created after the image of God in a more glorious manner then ever we were in the first publick man he hath by his blood obtained eternall redemption for us even a recovery of what we lost and forfeited by our sinning against and departure from God in him there is perfection and compleatness for every man and he is in our nature and for us become Wisdome and counsell is his and sound Wisdome he hath understanding and strength 1 Corinth 15. 45. Hebr. 9. 12. Jam. 3. 9. Coloss 1. 28. Prov. 8. 10 14. Wisdome hath builded her house she hath hewne out her seven pillars she hath killed her killing she hath mingled her wine she hath also furnished her table she hath made a rich and large provision and prepared for all even for all that are simple and want understanding before she sends forth her maidens and servants and invites them to come into the house and to eat of her bread Prov. 9. 1 2 3 5. there are waters wine and milke bread good fatness and whatsoever will give satisfaction prepared for every thirster not onely for gracious thirsters such as thirst out of a former taste of the sweetness and excellency of this provision but also for such as have no money such as have no worth or worthiness in them such as labour for that which is not bread and spend their money for that which will not satisfy and this is certainly prepared for them before proclamation is made and invitation given unto them and he that is athirst may come and whosoever will may take of the water of life freely Isay 55. 1 2 3 4 7. Revel 22. 17. this is a first and fundamentall Demonstration that any man may find and get Wisdome and understanding because it is prepared in Christ Jesus who gave himselfe a ransome for all men for every sinfull soule of mankind without which it were altogither impossible for them to have this rich and inriching commodity But. 2. Not onely hath he thus provided of his goodness for poore mankind but also he giveth Wisdome to men and brings it nigh unto them in due time especially to us upon whom the name of Christ is called and unto and amongst whom the scriptures in the plaine records of them are vouch safed and preserved thorow the wonderfullness of Gods goodness God by his spirit calls and cries to men and tells them where Wisdome is to be had and gives unto them both some discovery of this excellent object of Wisdome in knowing when they might be made wise and some opening of the eye of the understanding that they might behold Christ Jesus as discovered and live Christ Jesus is found of them that sought him not and made manifest to them that asked not after him and saith behold me behold me unto a nation that was not called by his name Isay 65. 1. with Rom 10. 20. and he who is a just God and a saviour and there is none besides him saith look unto me all the ends of the earth and be ye saved and he who thus speaks and calls is mighty to save for he is God and there is none else Isay 45. 21 22. Now he calls not to men to look unto him or heare what he saith untill he first manifests himselfe unto them and speakes of excellent things according to that all ye inhabitants of the world and dwellers on the earth se ye when and not before he lifts up an ensigne on the mountaines even Christ Jesus in the glorious gospell and testimonies of his goodness and when he bloweth a trumpet to proclaime and preach good newes to you heare ye Isay 18. 3. with Chap. 11. 10. and 40. 9. He that hath searched Wisdome out and prepared it doth also declare it to us and shewes forth its excellency that we might be allured there with to get and obtaine Wisdome Job 28. 27. God hath glorified and doth in mens proper ages glorify Christ Jesus by his spirit especially in the gospell as declared in the scriptures of truth and in the plaine and faithfull declaration thereof that men might run unto him from all other things for all Wisdome understanding righteousness and strength Isay 55. 5 6 7. And also in due time Christ is opening the blind eyes of men thath they might look unto him and be inlightned and made wise by him and that