whereunto thou turnest thee and 1 Chron. 28.9 And thou Solomon my Sonne know thou the God of thy Fathers and serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind in both which places he first gives him charge of the service of God before any matter of his Kingdome Philo the Jew reporteth to the commendation of the Jewes that they were liberorum cultores cultrices and it is Chrysostomes simile that as men will patch up their own buildings and piece up ruinous and rotten houses so they should be more carefull of the Lords house and if he punish the neglect of repairing his materiall Temple then will he be more offended and displeased for the neglect of his spiritual as our selves and our children be 1 Cor. 6.19 How justly then are those carelesse Parents to be reproved who as if their children consisted altogether of body and had no soules take care onely to scratch and scrape a little goods together for them Dum esset diserius non curabat licet esset Dei culâ—urâ deserius Aug. lib. 2. confess cap. 3. Majori follicitudine me parturiebat Spiritu quà m peperat carne parturivit carne ut in hanc temporalem nascerer corde ut in aeternam lucem renascerer August but never care for having them taught how to use it Austin confesseth that his Father was not much better for thus he saith of him that he spared no cost that he might be learned but he cared not much though he were lewd and wicked But for Monica his mother in whose heart he saith the Lord had begun to build his Temple she ceased not to do her uttermost endeavours every way that he might be truly religious and as well Gods child by grace as hers by nature And surely where this duty is neglected children neither know their duty towards God their Parents or any body else as appeareth in the History of a certain old man of Athens that came before Solon a Judge at that time and in that place where he lived and complained that his son was undutiful and disobedient which he knowing to be a foul fault caused the young fellow to be called in to see what he could say for himself and my Author saith he was not able to deny it whereupon he decreed that because he had shewed no duty while he lived therefore he should enjoy nothing by his Father when he died and so deprived the young man of his inheritance for his disobedience sentence being past the young man answered for himself that howbeit he could not altogether deny the fact yet it was not altogether his fault but partly his Fathers because he never afforded him any education instruction or good bringing up whereby he might learn to do his duty either to him or others which being likewise affirmed by the Son and not disproved by the Father he punished him also and deprived him of the solemnity of his Funeral It is not enough for Parents to excuse themselves from this work of instructing their children saying they will do it hereafter but they must take the soonest time they have opportunity We know it is a practise among Husbandmen and Gardeners Quo semel est imbuta recens servabit odorem Testa diu to set and sow both trees plants and seeds in the spring of the year so we are to sow the seed of the true knowledge of God and of Religion in children in the spring of their age Teach a child in the trade of his way and when he is old he will not depart from it Prov. 22.6 That a child is capable of instruction may appear in that he is apt to learn rude rhymes immodest songs dances and the like as children are capable to mock and scoffe 2 Reg. 2. as the children that mockt Elisha so also to cry Hosannah as those did to Christ Math. 21.15 and though children do not so readily encline to good as to evil yet childhood is not so corrupt as a riper age and for any man to say it is not good to set an old mans head upon a young pair of shoulders I say that it is never too soon to learn good things they that neglect it when they be young are uncertain where they shall live to learn being old Eccles 11.6 therefore it is good to make use of the present time In the morning sow thy seed Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth Eccles 12.1 1. It will be easie and familiar to them Lam. 3.27 it is easie for a man to bear the yoke from his youth for thus by use and custome which is another nature grave jugum will become suave jugum as our Saviour tells us Math. 11.29 Tender twigs are easily bowed but old trees sooner break than bend The Lord commandeth a Parent not to withhold correction from his child Prov. 23.13 for if thou smite him with the rod he shall not die Now if they are to be corrected betimes for vices then also are they capable of instruction and ought betimes to be instructed So God requireth that they should be taught concerning the Passeover It shall come to pass Exod. 12.26 27. that when your children shall say unto you What mean you by this service that you shall say It is the sacrifice of the Lords Passeover who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when he smote the Egyptians and delivered our houses And Exod. 13.14 It shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come saying What is this that thou shalt say unto him By strength of hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt from the house of bondage 2. All men are to provide for their Families and he that provideth not for his family 1 Tim. 5.8 is worse than an Infidel Now good nurture is as necessary to children as nourishment and even as they cannot live without meat so they cannot do well without the knowledge of God and his Word which is Cibus mentis their spiritual food as Gregory calls it that Common-wealth neither cannot well stand where the good education of children is neglected 1. How justly are those Parents to be condemned that let their children grow old in years but still be young in knowledge like Rehoboam and season them not at first with good things but cocker them whereby they have as little comfort of them as Eli had of his sons who were sons of Belial and knew not the Lord and were destroyed Negligent Parents onely desire to have children and then no matter whether they be instructed in the knowledge of God or no and so good or bad heirs of heaven or hell whereas they should desire to have a holy seed to furnish the Earth with Saints and Heaven with Citizens carelesse Parents that onely desire to have children and no more are like ill husbands that cast their corn into the ground and then never care what becomes of it whether the birds
all wisdom and spiritual understanding where this treasure is wanting the soule is beggerly and bankrupt base in Gods sight as he saith of the Church of Laodicea Rev. 3.17 Thou sayest thou art rich and encreased with goods and hast need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked A blind and ignorant soul August Serm. 16. in Matth. is a poor miserable and beggerly soul When thou buyest a Farm thou buyest a good one saith a Father when thou marriest a wife thou chusest a good one when thou desirect children thou desirest good ones and when thou hast all these riches thou art but poor inter tot dona amongst so many gifts aud malus inter tot bona evill among so many good things if thou wantest the riches of true knowledge men may welter upon their Gold like Heliogabalus as Lampridius and Herodian report of him and yet for spiritual knowledge have hearts like stones and heads like beetles and be beggers in the midst of their abundance destitute of all heavenly riches Prov. 3.14 of riches towards God The merchandise of wisdom is better then the merchandise of silver and the gain thereof then fine Gold Merchants that trade for silver and gold bring in much profit but the merchandise of wisdom is better and more profitable My fruit is better then Gold yea then much fine gold saith wisdome It brings in peace of conscience it filleth the heart with unspeakable joy Prov. 8.16 it comforts the soul in the greatest distresse this is the fruit that groweth upon the tree of Knowledge 3. 1 Tim. 6.20 Haec scientiarum nobilissima scientia nobilissimorum It far transcendeth all other kind of knowledge other knowledge compared with this knowledge is but as the Apostle saith Science falsely so called what will it avail a man with the Grammarian to be able to speak write purely and use elegant phrases in his words if he want the knowledge of God to direct him to live purely and holily for want whereof he committeth many solaecismes and absurdities in his works and actions what comfort can it afford a man to have been a fine Rhetorician and eloquent Oratour and having used many pleasing words to men if in the mean time he want a light within him to shew him how to do those things that are pleasing to God what will it help the Musitian to have had a tunable tongue with an untunable heart what will it pofit the Logician to be able to dispute subtilly if he be gravelled and set Non-plus in the Devills sophistry what will it help the Lawyer to be able to prescribe to others the rules of equity and himself to live in the practice of all iniquity what good will it do to the Geometrician to know the measure and compasse of the whole earth and not to know and consider that himself must shortly return to the earth what will it advantage the Astronomer to have his eyes lifted up to heaven if he be ignorant of the God of heaven and his heart be groveling upon the earth what will it help the Arithmetician to be cunning and skilfull in numeration addition substraction multiplication division and all the severall branches of that Science Psal 90.12 if in the mean time he forget Moses numeration and never pray unto God to teach him to number his dayes and to apply his heart unto wisdom or Zacheus division in restoring what he had ill gotten to the right owners and disposing of what he had to spare of what he had well gotten to the poor and needy members of Christ what is a man profited with the Physician to know the state and constitution of other mens bodies and yet be ignorant how it fares with and what shall become of his own poor soul In a word if we were so well read in histories and had such firm and sure memories as that we could discourse of the affaires of all forreign and farre Countries as Turkie Persia the East and West Indies c. and in the meane time be strangers at home not knowing how things go in that Microcosme or little world of our selves it would but little profit us what if we could describe as in a Map or Table the warres of the Trojans Grecians Romans Turks and Persians and in the mean time be ignorant that we have a politick powerful mighty and malicious Adversary to encounter with our selves as Peter tells us 1 Pet. 5.8 yea that he useth treachery and treason against us being in league with our owne flesh which he stirreth up to rebell against the good motions of the spirit and make us yeeld our selves to be his Slaves and Vassals Beloved all these knowledges in their kind are good and commendable and good ornaments to those that have attained them and may be means to fit and furnish men to be more serviceable to Church and common-wealth but they must all be subordinate and stoop to this most excellent knowledge the knowledge of God in Christ Compare this excellent knowledge with other knowledges contained in the writings of Philosophers and other humane authours Chrysost Homil. 4. in 1 Cor. ◠Vitrea argumenta quae subtilitate lucen◠vanitate franguntur August and you will find it so far to excell and exceed them all as heaven doth the earth for their discourses and disputations be but like spiders webs many times so subtill as we scarce conceive the reason of them yet withall so light as they yield no comfort or content when we do conceive it and as Austin saith their arguments are glassy which shine with subtilty and are broken with vanity They discourse of knowledge and dispute thereof and yet still remain blind and ignorant as Bats or Beetles in respect of the main and chief knowledge the knowledge of God and Christ 1 Cor. 2.2 Paul determined to know nothing else save Jesus Christ and him crucified These men discourse and dispute of happiness and yet remain themselves most miserable being so far from enjoying it as few or none of them ever truly knew what it was they talk of the truth but many of them are liars they talk of vertue and yet remain most vitious briefly we may say of all their speculations and curious Arts and Sciences without the saving knowledge of God in Christ which none of them ever attained unto by the Moon-light of nature that it was but docta quaedam ignorantia Scientia optima non solùm quae doctiores sed quae meliores homines efficit Bernard a kind of learned ignorance or ignorant kind of knowledge as Austin calleth it at least nothing worth in comparison of this heavenly knowledge for as Bernard hath noted that is the best knowledge not onely which makes men more learned but better and more holy All riches in comparison of this is but drosse and rubbish all wisdom in comparison of this
equivalent with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies as much coming of Shaga which signifies to sin through ignorance as the Learned note I will instance in some particular sins and thereby you will see ignorance to be a mother-sin 1. It is the root of pride De ignorantia venit superbia Bern. in Cantic Ignorance of God and of a mans self puffeth up the heart with pride he that is wise in conceit is a fool in proof the more we know God the more humble shall we be in his presence and the more we know our selves the more vile shall we be in our own eyes when men are proud it is either because they know nothing of God at all or know nothing of him in a saving way not knowing him as they ought to know the more ignorant a man is of God the more doth pride prevail upon him now Ignorance being the root of pride it must be the chief cause of destruction to a people for pride goes before destruction saith the wise man Proverbs 16.18 2 Ignorance is the cause of Rebellion against God to this purpose the Lord complains of his people I have nourisht and brought up children and they have rebelled against me and the reason of their rebellion against God is their ignorance of him the Oxe Isai 1.2 3. saith he knoweth his owner and the asse his Masters crib but Israel doth not know my people doth not consider Thus when Moses cometh with a message from God to Pharaoh thus saith the Lord Let my people go that they may serve me Pharaoh said Who is the Lord Exod. 5.2 that I should obey his voice c. I know not the Lord neither will I let Israel go Ignorance is the root of disobedience this sin was that which brought swift destruction upon Pharaoh and his people 1 Pet. 1.14 15. when Peter would have men like obedient children he bids them not fashion themselves according to the former lusts of their Ignorance 3. Ignorance is the root of persecution 1. It makes men persecute Christ himself when Christ called to Saul from heaven as he was persecuting and making havock of the Church Saul Saul why persecutest thou me like one wholly ignorant of Christ he said Who art thou Lord Acts 9.5 the Lord answered I am Jesus whom thou persecutest It is said by the Apostles Act. 2.17 1 Cor. 2.8 that none of the Princes of this world knew Christ for had they known they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory Object But it may be said from Matth. 21.38 that they did know who Christ was when they saw the Son they said among themselves This is the heir come let us kill him and let us seize on his inheritance and they caught him and cast him out of the vineyard and slew him in this place it is evident that they did know him and in the other place that they did not know him for they would not have crucified him if they had known him how shall these places be reconciled Resp They did know him in regard of the reality of the thing but they had not an effectual knowledge able to change their minds and affections that were set to crucifie the Lord of Glory thus people that have the means of knowledge may be said to be ignorant First In regard they may have a general knowledge and yet be ignorant in the particular application of what they know Secondly in regard they may have a particular knowledge and yet be ignorant in regard of an effectual knowledge and this kinde of ignorance is a destroying sin a man may know what is to be done and in particular that such a thing is to be done and yet this knowledge is uneffectual if it change not the will and affections to yield obedience and so it is no better then ignorance 1 Joh. 2.4 1 Sam. 2.12 He that saith he knoweth God and keepeth not his commandements is a lyar the sons of Eli were sons of Belial and it is said of them They knew not the Lord though they were the Priests of the Lord whose lips should preserve knowledge Malachi 2.7 And as ignorance makes men persecute Christ himself so it makes them persecutors of the faithful messengers and members of Christ Ignorant men love not their teachers that be eyes to guide them seers to go before though they stand in danger of their own lives to save theirs and if the seers were once out of the way into what errour would not the blinde multitude suddenly fall were there no faithfull Ministers to lead them or speak to the people from God they could not chuse but fall to every sinne against God our Saviour tells his Disciples a little before his departure out of this world If they have persecuted me they will also persecute you Joh. 15.21 but all these things they will do unto you for my names sake the reason followeth because they know not him that sent me and he tells them further that they should put them out of the Synagogues yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God service and gives the reason of it These things will they do unto you because they have not known the Father nor me John 16.2 3. Psal 14.4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge who eat up my people as bread the Prophet Hosea sheweth Psal 74.20 where there is no knowledge of God in the land there is no truth nor mercy in the land the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty that is of cruell men men that have no true knowledge of God among them are ready to act ay manner of cruelty against the people of God 4. Ignorance is the cause of Idolatry the Prophet Isaiah shewing the dotage of idolaters he sets it down thus Isai 44.17.18 he falleth down to his graven image and worshippeth it and prayeth unto it and saith deliver me for thou art my God then he sheweth the root of it to be their blockish ignorance they have not known nor understood Ignorance of the true God makes men adore any fantasticall deity Ignorant men like bruit beasts are ready to run into any sin and danger Reas 2 Because ignorance is the breach of Gods Commandments and especially the first Commandment mandment he that is ignorant of God is so farre from worshipping God as he ought to be worshipped that he is an enemy to God an ignorant man walkes in darknesse and he that goes in the dark is apt to stumble at every stone and fall into every ditch he that knowes not the way to life must needs walk in the way that goes down to the chambers of death he that is ignorant of him who is the Way will soon wander in a wildernesse where there is no way where there is no plain and beaten path an ignorant man runs out of Gods way viz. the way of his
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
and cozenage and yet so cunning they are that they keep themselves out of the reach of the Law Now if men would employ their wisdom and diligence in getting spiritual knowledge as they lay out about the world they might not only be wise for the world but wise to salvation also 2. What though you are simple and unlearned yet God calleth upon such to turn unto him Prov. 1.20 22 23. Wisdom crieth without she uttereth her voyce in the streets c. saying How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and the scorners delight in their scorning and fooles hate knowledge turn you at my reproof behold I will poure out my spirit upon you I will make known my words unto you wisdom calleth upon simple ones to leave their simplicity with great affection he seemeth to bewaile mens simplicity and kindly invites them to repentance Gerunt secum noctem suam i.e. non tantum consuetudinem peccandi sed etiam amorem peccati Aust in Psal 5. you have continued too long in your folly and simplicity it is high time now to think of returning to the wayes of wisdome it is a great weaknesse for a man to be simple but to be in love with simplcity is egregious madnesse it is the worst of evills to be in love with folly hearken therefore to wisdomes call give eare to his reproof and turn in to the Lord Jesus Christ who is this wisdome here meant and he hath promised to poure his spirit upon you and to make known his words unto you and then you shall be filled with all true wisdome and spiritual understanding here then 's Gods promise to the simple and unlearned mark what David saith the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple Psal 19 7. the Lord not only gives wisdome but subtilty to the simple to the young man knowledge and discretion yong men of all other are most rash and heady and very unteachable yet the Lord gives subtilty to the simple and to the young man knowledge and discretion It was written over Pythagoras School-dore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let no man ignorant of Geometry enter but the Lord calleth upon ignorant persons upon babes and little children to come to his Schoole and be instructed in the doctrine of the beginning of Christ the simplest that cometh to the Schoole of Christ learneth wisdom at his very first entrance there the entrance of thy words saith David giveth light Psal 119.140 it giveth understanding to the simple 3. Consider that many simple ones have attained to a great measure of knowledge who more simple then babes and little children yet to such John writeth 1 John 2.13 Basil Epist 75. ad Neocaesan I write unto you babes because you have known the Father It did not a little move our Saviour when they forbad little children to be brought unto him and when the chief Priests and Scribes took it ill that the children cryed out after Christ Hosannah thou Son of Dvid he told them it was written Mat. 21.15 1 Sam. 3.7 Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou perfected praise though young Samuel knew not God when he first called him yet from that time forwards he knew him 2 Chron. 34.3 Josiah began to seek after the God of his Father when he was but young and Paul commendeth Timothy that from a child he had known the holy Scriptures which were able to make him wise unto salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 It is the good will and pleasure of our heavenly Father to hide heavenly mysteries from worldly wise men and those that are wise in their own eyes Matth. 11.25 Just Mart. Apol. 2. and to reveal them unto babes and many that have been but children in understanding when they have applyed their hearts to wisdome and enclined their ears their thoughts their desires their affections to wisdome they have attained to a great measure of heavenly knowledge Ruffin Eccles Hist lib. 1. cap. 3. when a Philosopher subtilly disputed against Christ in a great Councell a plain simple man to look to stands up and makes confession of his Faith We believe that Jesus Christ was incarnate c. O Philosopher saith he believest thou this The Philosopher was presently stricken with astonishment and said I could answer the Philosophers with reason but this man speaks so powerfully that I am not able to resist what he saith as it is said of the Libertines that disputed with Stephen Acts 6.10 they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake So even babes and simple ones shall rise up in judgement against many men at the last day when they shall appear before the tribunell of Christ even against those that despised instruction and hated knowledge and set at nought holy counsells when as poor simple and ignorant men have attained to abundance of knowledge therefore let not your simplicity keep you off from seeking after knowledge the Lord now calleth loud in your ears O ye simple ones Psal 94.8 understand O ye brutish among the people and ye fools when will ye be wise Wisdom cries O ye simple ones understand wisdom Prov. 8.10 11. and ye fools be ye of an understanding heart receive my Instruction and not silver and knowledg rather then choyce Gold for wisdom is better then rubies and all desirable things are not to be compared to it Object 2 Object Some will be ready further to object and saye We have lived many yeares some 30 some 40 some 50 some 60 yeares without preaching and without the meanes of knowledge and we find we are well enough and that there is no such great danger in ignorance as you would bear us in hand and we hope we shall do well enough for time to come without troubling our selves to get knowledge Resp 1 Resp Dost thou think that because thou hast as yet found no trouble in an ignorant and sinful way for many years past that thou shalt therefore never meet with any trouble at the last alas thou art much mistaken read one place of Scripture and think seriously of it and the Lord set it home on thy heart and then come and tell me what thou thinkest of such flattering and vain delusions of thy poor soul It shall come to passe that that man when he heareth the words of this curse Deut. 29.19.20 21. that he blesseth himself in his heart saying I shall have peace though I walk in the imagination of my heart to adde drunkennesse to thirst the Lord will not spare him but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousie shall smoake against that man and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven Deut. 29.19 20 21. and the Lord shall separate him unto evill out of all the Tribes of Israel according to all the curses of
this running after Sermons and reading and studying of the Scriptures if we can but say our Belief and the Lords Prayer and the ten Commandements we know as much as we need to know and as much as all the preachers of the world can tell us and we know and are told that if we can but love God with all our hearts and our neighbours as our selves it is enough and this we are instructed in and what need we to know any more Resp If a man should speak of any Art or Science in the world and should discourse of the great skill and long experience that is requisite to make a man a proficient in this or that Science and another man that standeth by should say tush it is nothing but to go and do such a thing would not such a person be an object of derision to those that should hear him for it is not unknown though this or that be the summe of every Art and Trade yet in every Science there are some particular mysteries which are not so quickly learnt and put in practice which a man must understand before he can be an ingenious Artist if he have not skill in such a mystery his labour will be without successe as his undertaking was rash and inconsiderate so in the businesse of Religion we must be acquainted with the mysteries of godlinesse there are profunda Dei Spiritus the deep things of God and of the Spirit and though to love God with all our heart and to love our neighbour as our selves be the summe of the moral precepts yet it is necessary that we have a more particular knowledge then the knowledge of these generals that we know the particular branches of the mystery of godlinesse without which we shall neither love God with all the heart nor our neighbour as we ought if thou wilt learn a trade thou must first understand the rules and principles of it and every particular branch belonging to every mystery so if thou wilt have any understanding in the mystery of Christ thou must be acquainted with the rules and grounds of spiritual understanding 2 Pet. 1.8 so thou shalt neither be barren nor unfruitfull in the knowledge of Christ Object 6 Some are ready further to object that God is not easily known the Scripture tells us that no man hath seen God at any time John 1.18 and no man hath seen him nor can see him and God is often said in Scripture to hide his face how then can he be known by such poor creatures as we are Resp We cannot know Gods Essence here in respect of the manner of his being thus no man hath seen him at any time or can see him for when Moses desired God to shew him the fulnesse of his glorious Majesty God tels him the granting his request would be very hurtful to him Exod. 33.10 for saith he there shall no man see me and live the weaknesse of mans fraile nature cannot bear the infinite glory of the divine presence but is swallowed up with the transcendent lustre of the heavenly Majesty even as we see the sight of the eye to be dazzeled with the brightnesse of the Sunne shining in his strength or a Chrystall glasse to be broken in pieces with the strong operation of the fire but yet there is much of God that may be seen and known as the Lord tels Moses Exod. 33.22 I will put thee saith he in the cleft of a rock and I will cover thee with my hand when I passe by after I will take away my hand and thou shalt see my back-parts but my face shall not be seen where God speaks to us of himself as of a man having face and back shewing us hereby that it is impossible for any man in this mortality to know the nature and being of the most high We know God here but in part like the sight of a man in transitu as he passeth along by us whose face we discern not whose back-parts onely we do behold the more exact knowledge of him is reserved for that time 1 Joh 3.2 when being changed into his likenesse we shall see him as he is even face to face but yet much of God may be seen and known in this life which he calleth his back parts his wisdom goodnesse mercy grace his long-suffering his faithfulnesse and truth his slownesse to anger being provoked daily by the sins of men his readinesse to pardon iniquity transgression and sin these back-parts of Jehovah are clearly revealed in the word And when God is said in Scripture to hide his face from his people it is not that we should not see him but that we should the more earnestly seek after him the Lord is willing to be known unto any that have a mind to know him God takes no delight in hiding himself from us but is willing to open and manifest himself to us God stands not upon State as some great Princes do that seldom shew themselves but think their presence and converse lesseneth their respect the more we know man the more we shall understand his errours and imperfections as well as his excellencies but the more we know God the more we shall â—dmire him none admire him so much as the holy Angels that see most of him Matth. 18.10 that alwayes behold the face of our Father which is â—n heaven therefore the Lord hides not himself as though he were unwilling to be known but he desireth to be known by us â—e bids us seek his face therefore if we do â—ot know the Lord the cause is not in God but in our selves that we are not willing to know him nor desirous of his acquaintance Object 7 Ignorant persons are ready further to object and say What though we be ignorant yet God is a mercifull God and his mercie is over all his works and therefore we hope to find mercy from God notwithstanding he that made us will surely save us Resp Let such poor souls see what the Prophet Isaias saith to them Isai 27.11 It is a people of no understanding therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them and he that formed them will shew them no favour if thou art ignorant under the means of knowledge thou art wilfully ignorant therefore he that made thee will not save thee c. God will not be mercifull to men because they are ignorant what then will he do to them Prov. 30.31 you may read it at large Prov. 1. For that they hated knowledge and did not chuse the feare of the Lord they would none of my counsell they despised all my reproof therefore shall they eat the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own devices But they are ready farther to say Christ dyed and we hope to have some benefit by the death of Jesus Christ for he came into the world to save sinners I answer No. You are like to have no
to bring others unto Christ now with the very reversion of this Feast not only the needy on earth but the very Angels in heaven were made merry Luke 15.7 But I dare not strain it thus farre with Stella It was a great Feast saith Calvin not so much for the multitude of guests as for the variety of cheer which doubtlesse he being of ability would provide to manifest his love and duty by way of thankfulnesse to Christ that had entertained him into his service as the manner is of servants inviting their Masters to this Feast he inviteth many of his old companions labouring to draw them also unto Christ So David first professeth that he will praise the Lord himself saying I will alwayes give thanks unto the Lord his praise shall be in my mouth continually Psal 34.1.3 Cant. 1.3 and then presently he addeth praise ye the Lord with me let us magnify his name together So the Spouse in the Canticles promiseth that if Christ would draw her she would procure company to go with her True Christians are not like Rayles but like Partriges that fly in companies together This was prophesied that it should be the disposition of those that should be brought in by the Gospel into the Christian Church one should provoke and call upon another come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord Isa 2.3 Zech. 8.21 and they that dwell in one City shall go to another saying up let us go and pray before the Lord of Hosts Joh. 7.38 These are the rivers of water that flow out from the belly of a true believer Psal 66.16 Come ye hearken to me saith David and I will tell you what God hath done for my soule Therefore let everyone that hath knowledg communicate it to others labour thou according to thy calling according to the measure of knowledg which thou hast received to work upon others by advice and counsel by entreaty and perswasion to bring them to the saving knowledge of God and his ways Art thou a Magistrate thou must labour to reclaim men from the works of darknesse Art thou a Minister thou must feed the flock 1 Pet 5.1 2 taking the oversight thereof thou must feed them with the bread of knowledg and of understanding thou must make it thy work to winne soules and to turn the people from the wayes of folly and ignorance Art thou a husband thou must dwell with thy wife as a man of knowledge husbands must instruct their wives with the knowledge of God Art thou a Master of a family thou art to instruct thy children and servants at home and bring them out to wisdomes gates to Gods Ordinances abroad that so if it may be thou mayest bring them to the knowledge of God that they may be saved The Apostle exhorts Parents to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Fathers Eph. 6.4 provoke not your children too much by tyrannizing over them Inutilis est animadversio ubi silent verba saeviunt verbera Marlorat and immoderately exercising your authority over them using all correction and no instruction being silent in words yet being more sharp and severe many times then there is just cause whereby the discipline is spoyled but bring them up in the instruction and admonition of the Lord teach them how to carry themselves towards God in the duties of his service and in civility and courtesie towards men in the common affaires and dealings of the world so shall they keep a good conscience before God and get themselves credit before men Now as Parents must not use too much severity and austerity so neither must they use too much lenity whereupon as many mischiefs and inconveniences ensue as upon the former for as it is said of the Ape that she having but two young ones kills one of them with over-much kindnesse so some fond and foolish parents if they do not kill yet they spill their children by too much cockering them where of we have an example in old Eli towards his sonnes 1 Sam. 2.23 24 25. 1 Reg. 1.6 and in David who was to blame too both towards Adonijah and Absalom He that desireth a good crop of corn must not only sow good seed but also weed it and use other good husbandry about it and he that desireth his son may prove a good man and a profitable member in the Church and Common-wealth must procure him a good Tutour and must himself be continually dropping good and wholesome instructions and directions upon him for the soul of a child is as Aristotle saith tanquà m abrasa tabula as a smooth table or like a piece of wax apt and fit for any impression Thus have the godly done from time to time and so it seemeth Adam instructed his sonnes concerning the worship of God else what should move them to offer sacrifice Genes 4. Thus did Abraham God himself giving this testimony of him I know Abraham Gen. 18.19 that he will command his children and his houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do judgement and justice that the Lord may bring upon A braham that which he hath spoken of him thus also Isaack Jacob and the rest of the godly Patriarchs and we may very well suppose that they would never have suffered themselves to be circumcised had they not been formerly instructed in the law of the Lord and made acquainted that it was the Lords will and pleasure So Joshua I and my house saith he will serve the Lord. Solomon was taught by his Father David Prov. 4.4 and by his Mother Prov. 31. 2 Tim. 1.5 2 Tim. 3.15 Timothies Faith was derived from his Grandmother and Mother and it is said of him that from a child he knew the holy Scriptures Every Master of a Family hath charge over the soules of his children and servants this God commanded the old Israelites these words which I command thee this day Deut. 6.6 7. shall be in thy heart and thou shalt teach them diligently to thy children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house and when theu walkest by the way when thou liest down and when thou risest up thus doth King David charge his sonne Solomon telling him that he was going the way of all flesh take heed to the charge of the Lord thy God and walk in his wayes and keep his Statutes and Commandements and Judgements and Testimonies pressing him with many words of the same signification that he might the rather remember the substance of his charge 1 Reg. 2.2 he addeth a reason that thou mayest prosper in all thou doest Josephus saith that the children of the Jews knew how many letters were in the Old Testament and that they could recite them as readily as their owne names Joseph lib. 2. cont Appian Chrysoft Homil. de Anna Samueli tducationi and in every thing
or beasts spoil it Such Parents have commonly as little comfort of their children being grown up as they had little care in bringing them up in the knowledge of the Lord. 2. How are those Parents also to be reproved that are so far from teaching their children good things Quorum vita turpuÌ„ eis objurgandi libertas eripitur Plutar. Turpe est doctri cum culpa redarguit ipsum as they teach them evil things either by giving them evil example or by acting or talking of what evil they have done with a kind of delight for of such it is true as Plutarch saith They lose their authority of reproving others whose lives are filthy and vitious Clitipho in Terence scorns his Fathers grave counsell because he was apt now and then to break out and discourse of his own knaveries for youths are apt to think that such men envy that to them that age deprives themselves of Therefore the Romans would not have a Father and his son seen in a Bath together and Cato sharply censured a Senatour for kissing his wife before his daughter because onely it might carry a shew of levity though no dishonesty yet by circumstance indecency What then shall we say of such Parents as teach their Children as soon as they can speak to sweare and to swagger to dice dance and drink and think these good qualities for them to be like their Fathers surely without the great mercy of God they traine up their children to the devil such children will curse their Parents at the last day and wish that they rather had been the off-spring of a Toade or a Dragon than the Children of such Parents then will they cry out for judgement against them Let Parents therefore be exhorted to teach their children the principles of Religion to which no course that I can conceive is more fitting then catechising both by the Minister in the congregation publiquely Praestat multum quam multa audire Seneca Mark catechised at Alexandria then Clement and after him Origen Vide Catechisme Cyril Hierosol Catecheses mysiagoâ— cas and themselves privately that they may be spiritually built in the knowledge of the principles of Religion having faith the foundation in the Articles of the Creed the walls of hope in the Lords Prayer and the roof of Charity in the ten Commandements that which Seneca saith of reading is true also of hearing It is better to hear understand and learn of one thing then to hear many things and of them to understand and know little or nothing therefore was the course and custome of catechising first invented which hath been an ancient custome in the Church but little younger then the world as I have shewed before Vid Tract Angust de catechizandis rudibus Item Tract de Symb. ad Carechumenos this was the practice likewise of the Ancient Fathers in the Primitive Church to compile compose Catechismes or Introductions containing the summe and substance of Christian Religion That the Apostles and their associates did urge those to give some evidence and testimony of their faith and of their purpose to walk with God in newnesse life whom they drew out of Judaisme and Gentilisme is apparent John Baptist began Matth. 3. and the rest followed And some learned men think that the order of asking questions of the Baptized dost thou believe dost thou renounce is very probable to have been in use in the Apostles time whereunto that saying of Peter gives a good colour where speaking of Baptisme he mentioneth the Answer of a good conscience 1 Pet. 3.21 the stipulation of a good conscience the baptized affirming that thus and thus he believeth and thus and thus he engageth And in the Primitive Church there was a certain form or rank called Catechumeni who were first trained up in the knowledge of the grounds of Faith before they were babtized they being converted from Gentilisme the chief of which grounds the Apostle sets down Heb. 6.1 terming them the doctrine of Baptismes because they were the heads in which they that desired to be numbred among Christians were instructed before they were baptized And it is a generall opinion that the Creed was digested into such a form as seemeth to be an answer to a question The baptized was demanded what dost thou believe he answered I believe in God the Father c. And divers Divines of later times have compiled short Catechismes containing the heads of the Christian Faith that hereby feeding their people at first with milk they might fit and prepare them for stronger meat wherein doubtlesse they had been well advised and taken the right course for to presse deep mysteries of Divinity to an ignorant people not well catechised or instructed in groundâ— and principles of Religion were but tâ— build a great frame to an heavie burden upon a weak foundation which will not beaâ— it It cannot be denied but plain anâ— ignorant people coming to hear a learneâ— and eloquent discourse may be moved anâ— well affected therewith but they cannâ—â— profit half so well as if they understood hoâ— it were gathered from Gods word or to whâ—â— point and head of Divinity or Christian dâ—ctrine it belonged and might be referreâ— as Master Perkins proveth in his Epistlâ— before a little Treatise of his called Tâ—â— six Principles of Christian Religion anâ— surely the learning of short Catechisme and especially the shorter Catechisme the late Assembly of Divines cannot but concerne us all whether we be learned or ignorant strong or weak Christians if we be weak and ignorant we should hereby be taught and instructed and hence get knowledge or otherwise if we have some competent measure of knowledge already then hereby we may be occasionod to rub up our memories and call to mind what formerly we have learned or at leastwise be called upon to practise what we know already And if any one shall object the hardnesse of learning good things Prov. â— 7 let him labour to have the feare of God planted in his heart The feare of God is the beginning of knowledge and let not the seeming difficulty of obtaining it hinder thee from using any good meanes to get it It is said of Apelles the painter that drawing but every day a line in a short space he became an exquisite and exact Painter and surely if wee could every day learn but one line or but some little short Lesson in Divinity we should in short time perceive our selves to have made some proficiencie Thus you see that instructions and good directions are very necessary for youths and young men of whose Age a witty man in his time said that it is incredulous and and also unexpert unable to direct it self Javenilis aetas incredula simul inexperta est contemptrix alieni consilii inops sui Petrarc de remed utr fort 1 Reg. 12. and despising the counsels of others the truth of which assertion is corfirmed sufficiently by that wofull
rent that happened in Israel when ten of the twelve Tribes revolted from Rehoboam the Sonne of Solomon because he refused the grave and wise Counsell of the Ancient Nobles that had attended on his Father and harkned to the rash advice of the green-headed youths brought up with himself and of his own standing when young men therefore doe excedere ex Ephebis as the Poet speaks or be adulti as they say at the Universities they should remember what Plutarch saith in his book de liberis educandis of bringing up of children that they do not abjicere imperium sed tantùm mutare imperatorem i. e. being freed from the Ferula and discharged from subjection to a Tutour that even they be left to the guidance of their own discretion 2 Tim. 2.22 whereby they must follow Pauls counsell to his Schollar Timothy to fly all youthfull lusts and labour being well instructed in the grounds of true Religion as they grow in yeares to grow in wisdome and knowledge then shall no man have cause to despise their youth as the same Apostle speaketh 1 Tim. 4.12 But the wisdome of their young yeares shall be their Crowne and Glory As Virgil said of Aeneas his Sonne Sequitur Patrem non passibus aequis he followeth his Father not with even and equall steppes so it may be said of most of the children of faithfull Parents Let me presse this upon you that are old to teach the young do you not read that the Psalmist speaks often that the praises of the Lord should he declared from generation to generation Psal 22.31 Psal 79.13 And so the very Heathen understood that it was the duty of the old to teach the young Jura senes norint Praecipere mitem convenit pueris senem Seneca quid liceátque nefasque Fásque sit inquirant legémque exanima servant Ovid. Old men are or should be very knowing it belongeth to them to teach and to youth to learne of them this is chiefly to be observed among Christians hence it appeareth how grossely old men sinne if they who ought to informe others do themselves know little or nothing of those things that appertain to everlasting salvation and if they have neglected the meanes of knowledge and in their old age are so rude and ignorant that they had need to bee taught by children the heads of Catechisme which sometime happeneth what will they be able to answer to the righteous Judge of all the world when he shall aske them how they have done their duty upon the earth Let every christian now be conscientious in this duty to exhort and instruct one another to edify one another and provoke to love and to good works to stirre up one another to the wayes and work of godlinesse And to move you all hereunto I desire you to confider 1. The great benefit that will come to such as truly performe this duty the Lord hath made a gracious promise to it Jer. 23.22 if we stand in his counsell and cause his people to heare his words i. e. if we faithfully instruct them in the knowledge and feare of the Lord then we shall turne them from their evill way and from the evill of their doings Happy is that man that can turne a sinner from evill wayes and evill doings to the wayes of godlinesse This is the Reason why the Apostle will not have the believing husband or wife to separate one from another because by dwelling together they may instruct and do good one to another 1 Cor. 7.16 for what knowest thou O wife whether thou shalt save thy husband or how knowest thou O man whether thou shalt save thy wife 2. If thou canst winne but one soule to Christ Isa a. 28. thou shalt bring much glory to God Solomon saith that in the multitude of poople is the Kings honour So herein is the great King of heaven honoured when many people shall go and say Come ye and let us goe up to the mountaine of the Lord to the house of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his wayes and we will walke in his pathes he that converteth a sinner shall save a soule from death and cover a multitude of sins Jac. 5.20 3. It will bring in great peace and comfort to your own soules what greater comfort in the world then to see those that sate in darknesse to have the eyes of their understandings opened to see those that were dead translated from death to lise to be new borne to be converted unto God Oh what abundance of comfort will this consideration work upon thy heart However let Ministers do their duty Parents their duty Husbands their duty Christians their duty in their respective places and then let the successe be what it will we shall have comfort therein Ezek. 2.5 Ezek. 2. God commands the Prophet to speak to the people whether they would hear or whether they would forbear and thus saith the Prophet Isaiah though I have laboured in vain and spent my strength for nought Isa 49 4 5. yet surely my judgement is with the Lord and my work or my reward with my God though Israel be not gathered yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord and my God shall be my strength Thanks be to God saith Paul which alwayes causeth us to triumph in Christ and maketh manifest by us the savour of his knowledge in every place for we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ 2 Cor. 2.14 15. Heb. 3.13 in them that are saved and in them that perish Therefore exhort one another daily while it is called to day Do not think it a duty onely belonging to the Minister to instruct and stir up others in the wayes of Religion it is his duty principally Per hoc nal aliud est scientia nostra quam culpâ—â— Salvian but it is thy duty also Do not say with wicked Cain Am I my brothers Keeper If thou seest thy neighbour lying in the pit of ignorance and thou hast that which might help him out and doest it not thou art guilty of his perishing by this our knowledge is no thing else but a fault saith Salvian Labour with all thy might to help thy Wife and Children Servants and friends and neighbours out of this dark dungeon Direct 7 Hath God enlightened you with saving knowledge Eph. 5.8 See that you walk as children of the light If a man have never so much knowledge if he walk not answerable to it it is but a glow-worm light if thy head be full of light and thy workes be full of darknesse it is an evidence that the light that is in thee is no better than darknesse The night is farre spent saith the Apostle the day is at hand let us therefore cast off the workes of darknesse Rom. 13.12 Pareus in loc and let us put on the Armour of light Pareus by night understandeth our estate of ignorance