search them we answer if Christ only had then spoken to the learned his exception had been just but Christ then preached to the whole people of the Jewes and if to all the Jewes then the same exhortation doth concern all Christians and both Jewes and Gentiles by the Scriptures must have the knowledge of Christ and of Eternal life therefore all must search the Scriptures Acts 17.11 When we urge that the Bereans searched the Scriptures whether those things were so Bellarmine answereth that was because they doubted whether he was an Apostle or no. But I answer the matter is not why they searched the Scriptures but that they did search them and are commended for it by the Holy Ghost that they compared his doctrine with the doctrine of the Prophets 1 John 4.1 Then ought all Christians thus to do to try the spirits for now more doubt may be made then at that time and no search can be but by the Scriptures and the knowledge of them thus do the Papists keep the people from the knowledg of God John 7.49 and so bring the curse of God upon them this people who know not the law are accursed therefore they must partake in the woe denounced by Christ against the Lawyers Luke 11.52 Wo be to you Lawyers for ye have taken away the key of knowledge Mat. 22.13 ye entered not in your selves and them that were entring in you hindered Matthew saith You shut the gates of heaven to those that were entring in Object It may be said that as Christ is the dore John 10. so he only hath the key of David Revel Isai 22.22 3.7 he hath the key of knowledge Resp Christ indeed hath it originally and by his own power and authority Luke 24.45 and he is said to open the Scriptures and to open the understandings of the disciples and his Ministers have the key of knowledge by deputation Mat. 16.19 as a Noble-man commended his treasury to his Steward 1 Cor. 4.1 now this key they hid away 1. Privatively by hiding their talent in a napkin and and not opening and expounding the Scriptures and teaching men the way of salvation as their duty was Mal. 2.7 The Priests lips should keep knowledge and the people should seek the Law of God at his mouth but 2. Which was worse they hindred others from entring as Joh. 9.22 they agreed that if any man did confesse Christ he should be put out of the Synagogue and thus do the Papists their true successours who regard more their earthly preferments then look after an inheritance in heaven and they keep out those that would enter in by vexing all those that will not with themselves receive the mark of the beast upon them The Lord complaineth that the leaders of his people do cause them to erre Isa 9.16 and they that are led of them are destroyed i.e. they are â—ed into errour and vanity and destroyed for lack of knowledge This may serve to reprove all such as are ignorant 2. Repr and care not for true knowledge such as hate the light and love darknesse it is the property of fooles to hate knowledge and love simplicity Prov. 1.22 Quest But who are they that do thus despise and reject knowledge Resp In generall all they that do despise Gods Ordinances do despise knowledge but more particularly 1. All those that reject the word of knowledge they that reject the reading and searching of the Scriptures do reject knowledge or if they read them sometime will not meditate upon them Col. 3.16 that will not let the word of God dwell in their hearts richly and in all wisdome as Owles and Bats fly not in the day time but come abroad onely in the night because all the Birds of the ayre will come about them and chatter at them by reason of their deformed shape so because wicked men know that if they should frequently look into the glasse of the word they should see the ugly deformity of theiâ— own shapes and be brought to abhorr themselves as the most stupendious monsters iâ— the world therefore it is that they keeâ— themselves in the dark dungeon of ignorance and hate the light but this their way iâ— their folly they have rejected the word of thâ— Lord and what wisdom is in them saith thâ— Prophet Jeremy Jerem. 8.9 2. All those that do reject despise the faithful Ministery of the word these do reject knowledge when men like the deaf adder stop their ears against the voyce of the charmer forfear lest they should be charmed by the power of that voyce out of their works of darknesse the Priests lips should keep knowledge and they i. e. the people should seek the law at his mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts he must so keep knowledge as like the wise and faithfull Steward in the Gospel Mal. 2.7 Nomine legis continetur omnium ad benè vivendum necessariorum cognitio Cyril he may give to his fellow servants every one their portion in due season Now the people are bound to seek the law at his mouth In the name of the Law saith one of the Ancients is contained the knowledge of all things necessary to well living the reason followeth because he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts Therefore all those that live under a powerfull ministery and resort not to the publick congregations or judge it unnecessary to frequent those places where the word is to be had from the mouthes of Gods faithfull Ministers they are despisers of knowledge because they despise the messengers of the Lord of Hosts whose lips must preserve knowledge and our Saviour saith he that heareth you speaking to those whom he sent out to preach the Gospell heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me therefore Christ denounced a woe against Chorazin and Bethsaida verse 13. They were Cities near the lake of Genesareth or Tiberias where Christ had preacht many Sermons Mat. 4. done many miracles whence he had chosen certain of his Apostles saying if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sydon which have been done in you they had long agoe repented c. and that it should be more tollerable for Tyre and Sydon in the day of judgemevt then for them he denounceth a woe likewise against Capernaum and thou Capernaum which art exalted to heaven shalt be thrust down to hell and then he addeth he that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me whereby it seemeth that those places were notorious for despising Christ and his messengers sent unto them Capernaum was a City of Galilee lying at the mouth of Jordan a commodious Haven and Harbour of ships a place where our Saviour had often preacht by reason of the great concourse of people that resorted thither yea its thought that he dwelt there and so one of the Auncients saith that he graced Bethlem
run not out into fury in all pious actions let zeal be your spur but let knowledge and wisdome be your guide 5. A man cannot truly worship God without knowledge we must know him before we can worship him how can we reverence him whom we do not know we know what we worship Acts 17.23 saith our Saviour but as for all ignorant persons like the Samaritans they worship they know not what and if they do him any outward service they ignorantly worship the true God like the Athenians that set up an Altar to the unknown God this makes many persons to come into Gods presence and carry themselves so irreverently as they do because they do not know him Such as our knowledge is such is our worship of God 3. Without knowledge a man cannot receive good 1. Without knowledge a man cannot receive Jesus Christ God first shineth into the heart with the light of knowledge before Jesus Christ can be received by the hand of faith though Jesus Christ when he was upon earth spake as never man spake his preaching being with power and authority and not like that of the Scribes yet multitudes of his hearers could not receive him till the eyes of their understanding were opened 2. Without knowledge a man cannot receive the Spirit of God John 14.17 our Saviour saith That the world cannot receive the Spirit of truth because it seeth him not neither knoweth him many men make a mock and scorn of the Spirit of God because they do not know him the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse to him neither can he know them 1 Cor. 2.14 because they are spiritually discerned A natural man may hear of spiritual things but cannot be in a capacity of receiving them till he come to understand â—nd to know them They are riddles to a natural man as the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath â—ot seen nor ear heard nor hath it entred into â—he heart of man to conceive the things that God hath prepared for them that love him he speaks there of the things of the Gospel â—ut saith he God hath revealed them to us â—y his spirit and we have the mind of Christ vers ult A natural and ignorant man is â—ike a corrupt stomach where no meat will digest or nourish it doth him no good it turneth to no good nutriment so it is with an ignorant soul the spiritual things of God do him no good they digest not in his soul they nourish him not because he is full of darknesse corruption and ignorance 4. Without the knowledge of God we can â—ave no communion and fellowship with him God is light and the ignorant man is darknesse 2 Cor. 6.14 and what communion hath light with darknesse God is light and in him there is no darknesse and while thou art in the dark dungeon of ignorance thou canst not converse with the Father of Lights A natural man is a blind man he cannot see nor discern spiritual things God takes no delight in such blind fools If you delight your selves in ignorance and are unwilling to be taught as many children and servants are how can you have any communion with God that know him not It is true as a judicious Divine observeth Mr. Cotton on John there are many that desire knowledge and cannot attain it and of such saith he God will either accept their desires or give them knowledge but such as please themselves with their ignorance they have no communion with God but are sealed up unto damnation If a man walketh in darkness and saith he hath fellowship with God he is a liar A man can have no communion with God in the spirit nor in his ordinances noâ— in any thing as his without the knowledge of God for while he liveth in the darknesse of ignorance he is without God in the world 5. Col. 1.13 Without the knowledge of God men are still under the power of Satan the Prince oâ— darknesse They are said to be under the power oâ— darknesse i. e. of ignorance and they thaâ— are under the power of darknesse are under the power of this Black Prince the Devil himself is bound in everlasting chains under darknesse and he bindeth sinners with the chains of darknesse the darknesse oâ— ignorance and holds them under his power Acts 26.18 therefore when a sinner is converted unto God he is delivered from the power of Satan being turned from darknesse to light and being made a meet partaker of the inheritance of of the Saints in light he is delivered from the power of darknesse Most men while they are under Satans power they are held with this chain where ever an ignorant man goes he goes like a fettered prisoner with his Keeper at his back let him go to the Congregation to hear the word there Satan either stops his ears or blinds his eys or else choaks and steals away the good seed of the word out of his heart Those that are without the acknowledgment of the truth they are taken captive 2 Tim. 2.26 Eph. 6.12 or taken alive by him in his snare and wicked spirits are said to be the Rulers of the darknesse of this world Oh tremble then thou ignorant wretch to think to whom thou art in bondage 6. While thou art ignorant wanting the knowledge of God thou art in subjection to every base lust Paul speaking of the unregenerate State Tit. 3.3 1 Pet. 1.14 describeth it thus At that time we were foolish and disobedient serving divers lusts and pleasures Fashion not your selves saith Peter according to the former lusts in your ignorance An ignorant man knoweth not what is good and what is evil and often putteth good for evil Isai 5.20 Prov. 14.12 and evil for good putteth darknesse for light and light for darknesse now the will and affections do for the most part follow the understanding in things that are good I say for the most part because the will and affections are sometimes more depraved then the understanding and in evill things the will and affections do altogether follow the understanding now the understanding being darkned and putting evill for good and good for evill how can it be but a cause of divers lusts making the soule to serve divers lusts and pleasures Ambition Pride Passion Drunkennesse Revenge Every sin and lust will command them so long as they are without the true knowledge of God this is a miserable slavery to be led by their lusts if they had eyes to see it one lust hurries them one way and another hurries them another way where there is the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and vertue 2 Pet. 1.3 4. such have escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust there is no escaping the pollutions and defilements of sin and lust but by the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 7. Ignorance
raiseth a drooping spirit Ignorance of God and of his Word ignorance of our selves also is the cause of much trouble of spirit when we are ignorant of our own estate and of our grounds of comfort It is the great design of the Devil to blind our eyes in soul-troubles that we may not see the Well of Comfort that runneth by us as poor Hagar that was ready to perish for thirst had not eyes to see the Fountain by her Now true knowledge leades the soul to the Promises to the waters of Comfort to the breasts of Consolation where he may suck and be abundantly satisfied Psalm 97.11 Light is sowen for the righteous and joy for the upright in heart when grosse darknesse covereth other people light is risen to their souls The light of the righteous rejoyceth Prov. 13.9 when the lampe of the wicked is put out The knowledge of God in a saving way bringeth three grounds of comfort to the soul that hath it 1. It comforteth the soul to consider how many Wise and Learned men are blinded by the god of this World that God hath hid Heavenly Mysteries from the wise and prudent of the World and hath revealed them to poor babes and to such a poor ignorant creature as he was 2. It comforteth it to consider what darknesse it hath sometime lived in and that now the Lord hath called it out of darknesse into his marvellous light Oh! saith such a soul God hath done as great a work upon my heart as he did when he commanded light to shine out of darknesse Choshec panai Tehom in the beginning of the World my heart was like the earth at that time when there was nothing but Tohu and Bohu upon it Gen. 1.2 and darknesse was upon the face of the Deep and then did the Lord make light of it It is with Gods people before he openeth their eyes as it was with Abraham the Lord sent on him a most fearful darknesse even then Gen. 15.12 when he was ready to communicate a most comfortable light unto him The Lord strook Paul with blindnesse even then when he came to open his eyes 3. This further comforteth such a soul in that God shining into it hath given it the light of the knowledge of the glory of God Act. 9. 2 Cor. 4.6 in Jesus Christ glorious things are now revealed to the soul the soul seeth that now which it never saw before and they clearly see that which others cannot know nor discern It is light in Goshen where the Israelites are when there is no light in Egypt men in the same City in the same Congregation in the same Seat in the same Family sit in darknesse and cannot see when others in the same places do clearly behold the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ Now if this light of the godly be so glorious and comfortable in this World what shall it be in the World to come when God and the Lambe shall be their immediate light here God enlightens us by candle-light but there the glorious Sun of Righteousnesse himself will be our everlasting light here our light may be darkened and eclipsed but there shall be an eternal light without all darknesse there shall be no night there 5. Knowledge is useful to resolve all doubts and difficulties which arise in our souls this makes a man of a full and firm resolution a man is happy when he can say This I know to be the mind of God and in this will I live and die this is the truth of God and from this I will not be moved Ignorantiae duae pessimae filiae falsitas dubietas Ignorance is the mother of two filthy daughters the first daughter of Ignorance is called dubiety or doubtfulnesse which is a continual wavering in opinion a knowing man hath a fixt spirit and settled judgement but an ignorant man is a double-minded man though he be never so resolute and wilful in his opinions The other daughter of Ignorance is falsity or errour which setleth a man upon an unsound basis he that is void of reason will not be convinced by truth or reason when there were divers opinions in the World concerning Christ who he should be some said he was John Baptist some Elias Math. 16.14 others Jeremias or one of the Prophets this variety of opinions sprang from ignorance Some said he was Elias propter zelum amorem veritatis for his zeal and love of the truth for as Elias could not endure to have Gods worship mingled with idolatry no more could Christ as appears Joh. 2. by his punishing and casting out of those that bought and sold in the Temple others said he was Jeremias propter patientiam in adversis being like a lambe before the shearer not opening his mouth however he was abused and others said he was John Baptist for his boldnesse in reproving sin and this opinion for the most part went current and the reason why it was more favoured and followed than the rest Divines observe to be because a great man was Author of it as you may see Math. 14 2. for when Herod the Tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus he said unto his servant this is John the Baptist he is risen from the dead and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him and then no matter whether it be true or false if Herod be the Author of it for if Abimelech cut boughes from trees Jud. 9.49 to set the Tower in Sichem on fire all the people will do so by his example Here you may see the dangerousnesse of ignorance causing such various and erroneous opinions concerning Christ their ignorance of Christ made way to the entertainment of the Pythagorean opinion of the transmigration of souls into other mens bodies which occasioned all these errours so grossely ignorant were even the better sort of people in Christs time in a main fundamental point of Religion as viz. Whether he were the Messiah or no Now on the other side knowledge resolves all doubts though others doubted who Christ was yet Peter freely and clearly confesseth him he doth not stay till a Council might be called and the question determined among the Jews but knowing who Christ was like the fore-man of a Jury he brings in the verdict of himself and his followers saying as Matthew tells us to our Saviour Math. 16.16 Thou art Christ the Son of the Living God A man that hath clear eyes in his head can discern the light if it be shewed him but blindnesse makes a man uncapable of seeing light offered to him knowledge resolves a man and setleth his judgement without knowledge a man cannot in divers cases discern truth from errour as in the body of man eyes are given to distinguish of colours ears to distinguish of sounds pallats to distinguish of tastes so is knowledge very useful to distinguish of Doctrines that are tendered to us that with David
and blindnesse before our effectual calling and conversion and by day our estate of illumination and grace after our conversion Let us therefore saith the Apostle cast off the workes of darknesse Sin may be called workes of darkenesse 1. Because for the most part they proceed from the ignorance of Gods will not revealed to such as are yet unconverted Thus Paul saith That the Gentiles walked in the vanities of their minde having their understandings darkened Eph. 4.18 being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that was in them and did men know the dangers that follow sinners they would be more wary of their wayes yea doubtlesse we may say when we see men run headlong into fin that either they see not what they do which is pitiful or else that they wilfully winke and will not see which is much more perilous 2. Sins may be called workes of darknesse because they be for the most part done in the darke and the doers of them still delight to be in the dark and are ashamed that their doings should be brought to light for what Job saith of one sinner Job 24.15 saying The eye of the Adulterer waiteth for the twilight saying No eye shall see me and disguiseth his face Our Saviour affirmeth to be true of all sin and every sinner saying Joh. 3.20 that every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light least his deeds should be reproved or 3. Because they are evermore suggested to us either by Satan himself the Mint-master of all mischief the Prince of darknesse or by some of his wicked instruments that be Amici Curiae Proctours Factours and sollicitours of that black Prince in his Court of darknesse 4. Because they carry those that live and die in them into Hell the place of utter darknesse Let us then that are enlightned with the true light cast off the workes of darknesse and put on the armour of light that is have our conversation suitable to our profession The Gospel is the day Christ is the light Luther in Rom. Faith is the eye which apprehendeth this light therefore seeing the day is come and the light shineth let us walk as in the day and in the light the eye of faith and the foot of obedience which two concurring make an holy life are called armour of light they be called armour because thereby we may defend our selves from the fiery darts of the devil Eph. 6.16 and they be called armour of light for three causes 1. Because they proceed from the Father of lights James 1.17 2. Because they make them that wear this armour shine like lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation Phil. 2.15 3. Because like true bred Eagles they abide the light and need neither care nor fear who looks upon them as our Saviour telleth us He that doth the truth Joh. 3.21 cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God viz. according to his will revealed in his Word 1. Get in a lightsome principle therefore into your hearts look that the light that is in you be not darknesse do not act by mens courses and by precedents from others but get a principle of light within to guide thee in all thy actions 2. Let all thy aimes also be full of light labour in all your actions to approve your selves to God and above all things aim at his glory To have low ignoble and base endes is not to act as a childe of light but to have high glorious and supernaturall endes and aimes to confide in his word to trust in his mercy to rest upon his grace to stay upon his power and faithfulnesse to adhere to his promises to sanctifie the Lord in your hearts to glorifie his Name to praise him for his goodnesse to be zealous for his glory to walke in the light of his countenance and to have communion with him in all holy ordinances these are the ends that become the children of light 3. See that thou walke by a lightsome rule let the Word of God be your rule let the Word be a lampe Psal 119.105 or candle to your feet and a light unto your paths all our deviations and aberrations from the light of this bright-shining candle are dark steps or steps into darknesse when men walke by a lightsome rule their actions are full of light Let us then walke decently as in the day abhorring all workes of darknesse you know discreet men in the night are carelesse of their attire not regarding what colour or stuff or fashion it be so it keep them warm because they know that the darknesse covereth both it and them but in the day time when they mean to go abroad or admit any body to see or speake with them they will be ashamed unlesse they be in some good fashion like men of their place and ranke and therefore will have their apparel beseeming men of their qualities and conditions So let knowing Christians walke as becometh Saints and avoid whatsoever is of evill report Let your light so shine before men Math. 5.16 that they may see your good workes and glorifie your heavenly Father saith our blessed Saviour Vse 4 Let me adde a use of caution 1. Art thou a man enlightned with the knowledge of God take heed how thou sinnest against the light of knowledge which God hath set up in thee to direct thee Oh the great wickednesse that is in mens hearts in these dayes the light now shineth more gloriously than it did heretofore the word is more common more frequently and powerfully taught more and better helpes to the attainment of knowledge than were in former Ages may not we demand with the Apostle Have they not heard Rom. 10.18 19. Did not Israel know Men are not ignorant or may not be ignorant what duty they owe to Gods Sabbaths what reverence to his Name what respect to his word and yet men prophane the Lords day despise their teachers contemne the Word Quo major est revetatio eo magis est cognitio quo magis c gnitio peccatum quo magis peccaum eo magis judictum Bernard and sinne against cleare light and act as if they were ignorant in the mystery of Christ and to seek in duties appertaining to God and their neighbour The sinne of such men shall be more heinous then many others whom God hath not given to know so much as he hath to them Make conscience thereof committing sinnes against conscience and of thwarting those holy rules which the Spirit of God by the preaching of his Word hath written in thy heart this makes the wayes of God to be evil spoken of and the seeking after knowledge to be condemned as the cause of all licentiousnesse when men bring scandal upon Religion by walking contrary to what they know 2. Art thou a knowing man take heed of being proud of thy