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
But the knowledg of God purifieth the soul As the Sun conveyeth heat along with its light so grace is multiplied through the knowledge of God 2 Pet. 1.2 When Moses had convers'd with God in the Mount his feet shone that the Jews could not behold him When a Soul hath once acquainted himself with the blessed God his life will shine with holiness therefore David counselleth his Son Solomon to know the God of his Fathers and to serve him with a perfect heart and willing mind first to know him then to serve him 1 Chron. 28.9 This knowledge must needs be a sanctifying knowledge because it renders sin abominable the world contemptible God honourable and the soul the more humble The knowledge of God will render sin most abominable to the Soul it renders sin to be exceeding sinful The miseries that befall us in our estates names bodies souls nay all the curses of the Law and torments of the damned do not discover the ugly loathsome features and monstrous deformed nature of sin like the knowledge of this incomparable God Job confesseth his sin Job 42.2 I uttered things that I understood not nay he abhorreth himself for his sin v. 5. But whence came he who sometime justifyed himself too much now to abhor himself He gives us the reason or cause of it I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear I had some knowledge of thee before but now mine eyes see thee I now have a clearer and fuller knowledge of thee wherefore I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes The more we know the greatest good the more we shall hate the greatest evil The knowledge of God will render the world contemptible to a Christian None undervalue the Creature but those who have had a sight of the Creator neither can any trample on the riches honours and pleasures of this world but those who know him who is the riches and honours and pleasures of the other world They who never saw the Sun wonder at a Candle and they who never knew the blessed God wonder at and are fond of poor low things mean small pitiful things on earth But the whole world with all its Crowns and Scepters and Diadems and Delights is but a dunghill to him that hath seen the incomparable God Moses could refuse the honour of being the adopted Child of a Kings Heir reject the pleasures of Pharaoh's Court and prefer the reproaches of Christ before all the Treasures of Egypt when he had once got a sight of the Incomparable God Heb. 11.25 26 27. For he saw him that was invisible The knowledge of God will render God more honourable in our esteems The more we know of many things and persons the more we sleight and despise them The more we know sin the more we loath it the more we know our selves the more we abhor our selves but the more we know God the more we love him and the more we admire him The reason of all the contempt and affronts which we offer to God is our ignorance of him The whole world lyeth in wickedness as a beast in its dung or vermine in their slime 1 Joh. 5.19 but the reason is what Christ speaks Joh. 17.25 Father the world hath not known thee for the Apostle saith had they known they would never have Crucified the Lord of Glory 1 Cor. 2.8 They who know God cannot but see infinite reason why they should love and fear and honour and please him all their dayes Why do you think is God so much wondred at and worshipped in his Church more than in other parts of the world Why doth he inhabit their highest praises Psal 22.3 and greatest blessings and thanksgivings but because he is known more there than in other parts of the world In Judah is God known therefore his name is great his name alone is excellent in Israel Psal 76.1 The knowledge of God makes us humble We never are so low in our own eyes as when we see the most high God The more we know of men that are more vain and foolish and wicked than our selves the more we are exalted and puffed up but the more we know of God of the great God the incomparable God the most holy God to whom we are as nothing less than nothing worse than nothing the more we abase our selves When David is acquainted with the excellency of God O Lord my Lord how excellent is thy name in all the earth and thy glory is above the Heavens Psal 8.1 What low little diminutive thoughts hath he of himself and others v. 4. What is man or what is the Son of man What a poor pitiful contemptible thing is man What a vain empty insignificant nothing is the Son of man We are ashamed of our rush Candles or Glow-worms hide our heads in the presence of the Sun The holiest man abhors himself for his unholiness before the most Holy God So Job 25.2 Dominion and fear are with him v. 3. There is no number of his Armies v. 5. Behold even to the Moon and it shineth not and the Stars are not pure in his sight How much less man that is a worm and the Son of man that is a worm v. 6. A worm is the most despicable contemptible creature every beast trampleth on it such a creature is man in his own apprehensions when he once understandeth the incomparable God When Isaiah had seen the Lord of Hosts though he were an Holy man he cryeth out I am undone I am a man of unclean lips for mine eyes have seen the Lord of Hosts Isa 6.3 4. He never saw so much of his own uncleanness as when he saw him in whose presence the Heavens are unclean Other knowledge like wind in a bladder puffeth up 1 Cor. 8.2 but the knowledge of God as fire nigh the bladder shrinks and shrivels it up to nothing 2. The knowledge of God is a satisfying knowledge A man may know much of Creatures and the more he knoweth the more unquiet and restless he is his knowledge as wind to the stomack may fill and pain and trouble him but cannot satisfie him for Creatures are not that savory meat which the heaven-born spiritual immortal Soul of man would have and must have if ever it be contented The greatest Students who have wearied and tired out their brains and bodies in the search of Natures secrets have found by experience that they spent their strength for what is not bread and their labour for what will not satisfie and they have known the truth of the Wise mans saying He that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow Eccles 1.18 That knowledge which satisfieth must be of an object that is suitable in its spirituality to the nature of the Soul in its all-sufficiency to the manifold necessities of the Soul and in its immortality to the duration of the Soul if either of these be wanting in it the Soul cannot receive satisfaction by it because without all these the
Soul cannot be perfectly happy and till it find that which can make it perfectly happy it will be restless If it meet with an object that is suitable to its nature yet if it be not answerable to all its wants it will still be complaining wherein it is unsupplyed and so unquiet If it meet with an object that is suitable to its nature and answerable to all its wants yet if it be not eternal it must needs be full of fears and troubles in the fore-thoughts of its amission of so great a good which would imbitter the present possession of it For the soul being incorruptible and immortal it self cannot but desire that good which will run parallel with its own life and if it desire it nothing will fully satisfie it till it obtain such a good Now nothing in this world is suitable to the Souls nature the Soul is spiritual the things of this world are carnal nor answerable to the various indigencies of the Soul the Souls wants are many and in a manner infinite besides they are spiritual as pardon of Sin peace with God peace of Conscience c. when the good things of this life are particular finite and bodily nor equal to the Souls duration the Soul will abide and continue after millions of ages and generations for ever and ever but this world passeth away and all the good things thereof But this God whom I am perswading thee Reader to know and acquaint thy self with is in all these respects perfect and so will satisfie thy soul God is a spiritual good a Spirit Joh. 4.23 the Father of Spirits and so suitable to the nature of thy soul He is an universal good all good and so answerable to the many wants of thy Soul He is an eternal good a good that never dieth never fadeth a good that only hath immortality and so is equal to thy souls duration therefore the Disciple cryeth out to Christ shew us the Father and it sufficeth Joh. 10.8 and David tells us that he is fully pleased in having God for his portion Psal 14.5 6. Give any man both that which he would have and that which he should have and he is contented If indeed you give a man what he would have supposing it be that which he should not have his desires being depraved and vitiated he cannot be contented when he hath what he desired because lusts are unsatiable and sinful desires never satisfied thence the Heathen Emperours had their Inventors of new pleasures and possibly that may be the meaning of that place Rom. 1.28 The Heathen wearied with common invented unnatural delights But give a man what he would have suppose it be what he should have his desires being rectified and he is then at ease and rest He who knoweth God aright is fully satisfied in him when he once drinketh of the Fountain of living waters he thirsteth no more after other objects Joh. 4.14 Though the Soul stil desireth to know more of God till it come to that place where it shall know as it is known as David though satisfied with his portion Psal 16.4 5. yet thirsted after more of it Psal 63.1 2. yet it is quiet and contented in God And indeed the sweetness which it tasteth in acquaintance with the incomparable God makes it long after nearer and fuller acquaintance with him When Moses was once acquainted with God he begs that he might see and know more of his glory and the reason is because while God is the object there can be no satiety he being the God of all joy and consolation neither can there be such a full acquaintance as to cease desires after farther acquaintance he being an object still too great for the faculties to comprehend The desires of the glorified are without anxiety because they are satisfied in the object of their desires and their satisfaction or enjoyment is without satiety or loathing because they see still infinite cause to desire him When the Soul once comes to know God as the needle touch'd with the Loadstone when it turns to the North it is then quiet though before like the Dove it hover'd up and down over the waters of this world and could find no rest This knowledge if right diffuseth into the Soul a sweet tranquillity silent peace secret setled calmness besides a ravishing praevision and blessed fore-fruition of its fuller acquaintance in the other life 3. The knowledge of God is a saving knowledge Many perish for all their great knowledge of Creatures their knowledge may light them to the more dismal Chambers of death of blackness of darkness for ever Joh. 15.24 And indeed their knowledge like many Pigs of Silver in a Vessel sinking presseth them the deeper into Hell but the knowledge of God is saving God will know him in the other world who knows him in this He will be so far from knowing them hereafter who are ignorant of him here that he will come in flaming fire to render vengeance on them that know not God 2 Thess 1.7 8. But he will own them and take acquaintance with them then that own him and are acquainted with him now Psal 91.14 I will set him on high because he hath known my name God will set him as high as Heaven who knoweth his name on earth Reader it 's as much worth as Heaven to thee to know this incomparable God This is life eternal to know thee the onely true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Joh. 17.3 It is the morning though not the Meridian of Heaven it is the Bud though not the ripe fruit of glory it is the seed though not the harvest of the Inheritance above to know the true God and Jesus Christ This knowledge is of the same nature though not of the same measure with that in the other world Eph. 4.13 Now the Christian knoweth as a Child then he shall know as a man now he seeth God as it were at a distance through the prospective glass of faith but then he shall see God face to face Now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now we know in part but then we shall know as we are known 1 Cor. 13.12 CHAP. XXIV The Means of acquaintance with God A sense of our Ignorance Attendance on the word Fervent Prayer THe means which I shall offer as helpful to the attainment of his knowledge of God are these 1. Be sensible of thine ignorance of him A conceited Scholar is no good learner He that thinks he knoweth enough already will never be beholden to a Master to teach him more Seest thou a man wife in his own conceit there is more hope of a fool than of him Prov. 26.12 This was that which lock'd up the Pharisees in the dark dungeon of Ignorance they were blind Truth it self called them blind Mat. 23.16 17. But they conceited their eyes were good and so neglected the means of curing them Ye say ye see I do not say
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