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 of riches towards God Prov. 3.14 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 nobilissima eorum 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 soloecismes 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 posit 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 and you will find it so far to excell and exceed them all as heaven doth the earth Chrysost Homil. 4. in 1 Cor. Vitrea argumenta quae subtilitate lucent vaintate 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 is but foolishnesse 4. Knowledge is the Mother-grace 1. It is the Mother of faith If a man know God he will believe and trust in him They that know thy name will trust in thee Psal 9.10 we have known and believed saith the Apostle 1 John 4.16 Bellarmine saith Whosoever sees the Son and believes in him shall have everlasting life Joh. 6.40 that Faith ariseth from ignorance rather then from knowledge because saith he Faith is the evidence of things not seen but I say we first know a thing before we can believe now whereas the Apostle Heb. 11.1 saith Faith is the evidence of things not seen you are to understand that the Apostle doth
we want vessels to receive Gods gifts and graces Hoc est humilitatis miraculam ut elatio deorsum humilitas sursum tendat Aug. de Civit. 4. Dei lib. 1. cap. 13. for as full vessels will hold no more liquor so a soul stuffed with pride and vain glory cannot receive in nor hold Gods gifts graces the proud shut their windows and will not receive in the light of saving knowledge God is not so prodigal of his grace as to cast it in upon those that are not willing to entertain it heavenly mysteries are hid from the prudent but revealed unto babes This is a wonder of humility saith Augustine that pride tends downward humility upwards the more true knowledge a man hath the more he is sensible of his want of knowledge and that which he hath is nothing to what he wants Quest Now peradventure some may step in and ask me what shall we do with our knowledge having attained to a competent measure thereof Resp I shall shew you what is to be done with it Direct 1 As you know what to do so now you must do what you know put in practice what you know In Paradise there was a Tree of Life Rom. 2.20 Aliud est habere legem Dei in corde Aliud habere cor in lege legem in corde habent qui veritatem sciunt cor in lege habent qui veritatem diligunt as well as a Tree of Knowledge and as one saith well One apple of the Tree of Life is worth twenty of the Tree of Knowledge We read in Scripture that there is a form of Knowledge as well a form of godlinesse A form of knowledge is nothing else but an Idaea of truth floating in the brain that hath no influence on the heart or life like a Winters Sun which shines but warms not knowledge is as the eyes to direct us practice as the hands and feet to perform that direction knowledge alone is as the eyes without feet and hands and practice without a solid knowledge is as strong legs and nimble hands in a blind man light and life are best together if naked knowledge be sufficient 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then the Devill is a most perfect creature who hath one name from the greatnesse of his knowledg all men in the world do come short of him in the knowledge of good and evill he knoweth good but not to love and seek it he knoweth evill but not to hate and flee from it his actions and affections are set close unto his knowledge as Devils are called understanding spirits Eph. 6. â—2 so also they are stiled spiritual wickednesse his serpentine subtilty hath purchased him the name of an intelligent spirit but his wickednesse calls him Sathan an enemy to God It is said of the Cherubins that there were hands under their wings Ezek. 1.8 The word Cherubin signifies light intimating where there is the light of knowledge there should be hands to put that light into practice The Egyptians in their Hieroglyphicks painted a tongus and an hand under it to shew that knowledge and speech is good when that which is known and spoken John 13.17 is put in practice If you know these things sayes our Saviour happy are you if you do them It is nothing for one to have the Trumpet at his lips as Gideons souldiers who hath not the Torch in his hand saith a Father Greg. Nax the voyce of Athanasius was a thunder-clap and his life a lightning flash saith he because words never thunder well if examples enlighten not True wisdome is a prudence of works not of words saith Cyprian He that knoweth to do good and doth it not to him it is sin It is a great sin not to know what thou doest Jam. 4.17 a greater not to do what thou knowest Grave est peccatum non scivisse quod facias gravius non fecisse quod scias Ambr. de offic lib. 2.20 saith Ambrose for as one saith at the last day we shall not be demanded Quid legimus sed quid egimus nec modo quid diximus sed quomodo viximus what we have read but what we have done nor so much what we have spoken as how we have lived Bernard Knowledge and practice must go together for else as the saying is true amongst the Philosophers that power is to none effect which is never produced into act So it is as true in Divinity that it is a vain and idle antention Frustrà est potentia quae nunquam preducitur in actum Scientia contemplativa practica contemplativa quae docet res sibi subjectas scire tantum contemplari enjus finis est ipsa cognitio hac sufficit in Metaphysicis Physicis Mathematicis altera practica seu activa dicitur quae non solùm dicet scire sed agere operari aliquid corum quae cagnoscimus hujus finis est actio haec requiritur in disciplinis Ethicis Oeconomicis Politicis Porter Physic lib. 1. cap. 5. August 83. Quaest that is never put in execution The end of knowing Gods will is to do it There is say the Philosophers contemplative and practical knowledg contemplative or speculative is that which teacheth a man to understand things in their own nature and only to contemplate whose end is bare knowledge and this is sufficient in Metaphysicks Physicks and Mathematicks Practical or active knowledge is that which not only teacheth a man to know but to do the things which he knowes the end of this knowledge is action and this is required in Disciplines Ethicks Oeconomicks Politicks and Religion consisteth not in a bare naked profession but in action and practice all the bells of Aarons garments ring out a loud peal of practice and it is the common tenent of all the Fathers that Religion consisteth not so much in the fine faire leaves of knowledge profession and good words as in the sound and savoury fruits of practice and good works Yea even some of the Heathen have taught this truth for Aristotle affirmeth that felicity or happinesse consisteth not in the Theory or Knowledge but in the practice of vertue a man that hath knowledge without practice is like a man that carrieth a Lanthorn behind him to give light to others but breaks his own shins or like Noabs Carpenters Lyraglos in Jac. 1.22 that made an Ark to save others but were drowned themselves Lyra observeth that as that Physick is vain that doth not purge the bad humours and procure the health of the body so that knowledg is no better that makâ—â— no amendment upon the soule Aristotle in his Ethicks saith that such as content themselves with the naked knowledge of moral vertue and go no farther caring not to practice it are not unlike to such as consult with and ask the advice of Phyficians concerning their bodily diseases but care not for having them administer or apply any thing to
knowledge guideth the tongue understanding is a well-spring of life to him that hath it the heart of the wise teacheth his mouth and addeth learning to his lips that is as if he had said whereas a fooles heart is upon the tip of his tongue to vent and utter whatever he knoweth at all adventures a wise mans tongue is ordered and guided by his heart to keep and observe a decorum both in speech and silence And concerning actions Solomon bringeth in wisdom speaking thus in her own person saying Prov. 8.19 20. My fruit is better then Gold yea then fine Gold and my revenue then choyce Silver and then addeth a reason saying I lead in the way of righteousnesse and in the midst of the paths of judgement Now on the other side if thine eye be evill thy whole body is full of darknesse as a man that hath an ill sight a pearl in his eye or is pur-blind is oftentimes nay evermore deceived in his choyce and misseth his mark So he that hath his understanding darkned and dazzeled wanteth a right judgement to guide him in the worship and service of God the corruption of his own heart and proud flesh the sleights and suggestions of Satan and the evill examples of others with whom he liveth being as Gregory Nazianzen saith interposed between the eye of his mind and the light of the Gospel as a thick cloud or the shadow of the body of the earth between our eyes and the light of the Sun Now where this evill eye is there is nothing but darknesse and the fruits of it amazednesse horrour and confusion where understanding is wanting the whole life must be nothing but disorder knowledge in the soule is as a King in his Realm the head to the body the eye in the head a Pilot in a ship yea in a word as the Sun to the world now what truer mirrour of misery then a Realme without a King or Governour or whose King is a child not so much in years as in discretion as Rehoboam was and what can that body do that hath an head blind without eyes or that is still distempered fit for nothing but sleep what can be expected to become of a ship whose Pilot and guide is still stark drunk neither knowing nor caring how to guide her at Sea nor bring her to shore and what greater darknesse is there in the greater world then when the Sun the eye thereof hath run his race and is gone to rest untill his rising again as great disorder discomfort and confusion is there in a man without knowledge and spitituall understanding nay farre greater unlesse Jesus Christ the Sonne of Righteousnesse arise in it and shine upon it by the beames of his grace and favour 2. Knowledge is usefull to strengthen a man a knowing man is a strong man Eccles 7.19 a fool is a weak man wisdome strengthneth the wise more then ten mighty men that are in the City saith Solomon it will more support and strengthen a man then many great friends in Court or City it will strengthen a man in great straits Friends may faile a man and oftentimes do faile him but true wisdome doth not faile a man in the greatest straits it leadeth a man through the greatest difficulties and supports him under them to this purpose the Apostle prayeth that the Colossians might be filled with the knowledge of Gods will Colos 1.9 10 11. in all wisdome and spirituall understanding and increase in the knowledge of God that they might be strengthned with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulnesse Wisdome strengthens us rightly to use our spiritual armour both defensive and offensive as it is best for us and appointed to us When a great King besieged a little City and built great bulwarks against it there was found in it a poore wise man and he by his wisdome delivered the City then said I wisdom is better then strength Eccles 9.14 15 16. and verse 18. he addeth Wisdome is better then weapons of warre the Devill is like this great King that cometh against and besiegeth the little City of the soule buildeth great bulwarks against it but a poor Christian by wisdom delivereth his soule a man that knoweth his own weaknesse and wants that knoweth the necessity of grace that knoweth Jesus Christ to be the Fountain of wisdome and strength he goeth out of himselfe to Jesus Christ making use of the vertue of his death and resurrection to overcome all temptations unto sin 3. Knowledge doth exceedingly encourage a man and hearten him against all discouragements when a man knoweth God knoweth his service and knoweth what God requireth at his hands this doth exceedingly encourage a man upon the performance of his duty Paul saith 2 Tim. 1.12 I am not ashamed of my sufferings for the preaching of the Gospel and giveth this reason for I know whom I have believed and he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day When a man knoweth the will of God and walketh according to the light he hath received when a man knoweth the promises and his own interest in them this doth mightily encourage a man under sufferings when once we have gotten understanding of Christ and the Promises and Priviledges by him the heart is full of courage he knoweth then let God cast him into what state or condition he will that it shall go well with him this will make a man couragious in death it self What though I die yet saith he with Job Job 19.25 I know that my Redeemer liveth and in that he liveth he liveth for my good he is my life Col. 3.4 who is the life My life is bound up in him who is the Fountain of Life and because he liveth I shall live also Joh. 14.19 4. Knowledge is sweet and comfortable Eccles 11.7 light is sweet and it is a comfortable thing for a man with his eyes to behold the light of the Sun So when an ignorant soul is enlightened with the true knowledge of God and his wayes this is very comfortable What a comfort is it to come out of the dark dungeon of ignorance into Gods marvelous light the light of knowledge 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
will then tremble to think of the danger he hath escaped therefore the Apostle calleth the light of grace marvellous light because when God brings a man out of the dungeon of darknesse into the true light 1 Pet. 2.9 every thing is then to the poor soul very marvellous and full of admiration 4. thou sayest thou art not sensible of any danger in an ignorant estate no marvel for thou art dead and dead men are senselesse men the dead know nothing Paul tells us Ephes 4.18 that those that have their understanding darkened are alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them there is no life in the soul without knowledge spiritual knowledge is as it were the seed of true life in the soul and it maintaineth the life thereof and as the body is dead without the soul so the soul is dead without saving knowledge therefore being spiritually dead thou must needs be insensible of thy danger and so thou thinkest thou art in a good estate but hear O thou dead and sottish soul what the Lord saith unto thee this day Ephes 9.14 out of his word Awake thou that sleepest and stand up from the dead and Christ shall give thee light he doth not say Christ shall give thee life but Christ shall give thee light i. e. the light of knowledge if thou wilt awake from thy pleasing sleep and slumber Let me beseech you then if you love your souls labour to know God betimes even in your youth that is a commendable youth that is old in grace and savoureth of the wisdom of the Ancient of dayes happy is he whom Gods effectual grace saluteth at his Cradle whose spirit is Gods candle to discern youthful lusts and vanities so as to avoid them If we know God when we are young we shall not be strangers to him when we are old see thou that thy lampe be ready whensoever the Bridegroom passeth by thee make not that the task of thy Age which should be the practise of thy whole life you know by experience that a ship the longer it leakes the harder it is to be emptied an house the longer it goes to decay the worse it is to repair a nail the further it is driven in the harder it is to draw out again and can we perswade our selves that the trembling joynts the dazeled eyes the fainting heart and failing legs of a decrepit and indisciplinable old age is able to repair the many ruines which so many years ignorance have brought upon us Are there not twelve hours in the day saith our Saviour If any man walk in the day he stumbleth not John 11.9 10. because he seeth the light of this World but if a man walk in the night he stumbleth because there is no light in him It is no wisdom to defer to get the knowledge of God Non semper manet in foro pater-familias August Greg serm 1. de sanctis till old age cometh which usually brings with it a bedroll of follies to repent of no wisdom to post off this knowledge to the last hour the Lord of the Vineyard is not alwayes in the Market to set thee a work saith Austin and no marvel saith another Father if that man at the last gaspe forget himself who in all his life neglected to remember God Object 3 Others are ready further to object We have neither time nor leisure to get knowledge one saith I am in great trading and have a great many servants and much businesse in my hands to look after And another faith I have a great charge of children at home to look to and provide for and I cannot go abroad nor spare any time to get knowledge I live altogether by my labour I can spare no time for such occastons Resp 1 It is not multiplicity of businesse nor weightinesse of affairs that can excuse any mans ignorance and therefore those that are in the highest places and have the management of the greatest affairs are charged to know the Lord and to study his Word Who hath greater affairs than a King yet even Kings are commanded to know the Lord thus David chargeth Solomon his son now entering upon the Regal Dignity And thou Solomon my son 1 Chron. 28.9 know thou the God of thy Father and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind Kings and great Personages are to take care of Religion and Gods Service which they cannot do without the knowledge of the Lord therefore God charged Moses that the King that should rule his people after him should take a copy of his Law Deut. 17 18 191 and write it in a Book and keep it by him and read therein all the dayes of his life that he might learn to fear the Lord his God and to keep all the words of that Law and his Statutes to do them So God commandeth Joshua the Captain and General of the Armies of Israel The Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night Josh 1.8 that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good successe And according to the direction of God to Moses Samuel upon the election of Saul their first King 1 Sam. 10.25 having declared to the people the manner of the Kingdom wrote it in a book and laid it up before the Lord where no doubt the King might repair to it or have a copy taken out of it for his private instruction Herein doubtlesse Jehojada the Priest 2 Kings 12.2 instructed King Jehoash this Book surely had lien neglected by the space of 57 years viz. the time of Manasses and Amnon the Father and Grandfather of King Josiah for in his time we read that Helkias the High-Priest told Saphan the Scribe That he had found the Book of the Law which he took and read first by himself and afterwards before the King whose heart melted at the hearing of it 2 Reg 22.8 9 10 11 because his Predecessours had neglected the Law and not hearkened to the words of that Book to do it Thus you see it is not weighty affairs that must hinder men from the knowledge of the Lord. Therefore Christ upbraides Nicodemus for his ignorance Joh. 3.10 Art thou a Master of Israel and knowest not these things Ignorance of God and of the things of God in them that are Rulers is a very great sin those that rule over others are to defend the true Religion and the truths of Christ and those that are professors thereof now this they be not able to do unlesse they have knowledge to discern between truth and falshood Now as weighty affairs so neither must multiplicity of businesse hinder us from attending on the means of knowledge to this purpose our Saviour gives Martha a check that she was cumbred with too
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 fight 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 admire 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 in he aven therefore the Lord hides not himself as though he were unwilling to be known but he desireth to be known by us he bids us seek his face therefore if we do not 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 Prov. 30.31 what then will he do to them 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 benefit by his death if you abide in ignorance this is the condemnation That light came into the world and men love darknesse rather then light men that are in love with darknesse and ignorance shall be condemned If you shall yet say further that the Apostle saith that God would have all men to be saved 1 Tim. 2.4 then take in the next word following And come to the knowledge of the truth so that all those that will not come to the knowledge of the truth there is no hope of their salvation I may say that God wills not their salvation that never come to the knowledge of the