124 Of Knowledge. SERM. our choice, as the molt precious treafure, pre - V. ferring it to all the enjoyments of the earth; ' when we efleem the merchandize of it better than the merchandize of filver, and the gain of it than fine gold. She is moreprecious than rubies, and all things we can defire are not to be compar'd to her*. And when, therefore, we fummon all the powers of our fouls to attend a diligent and impartial enquiry ; in this it is that the virtue of knowledge confilis, and this is the good difpofition and the commenda- ble practice which God approves, and fo ne- ceffary to attain the meafure of knowledge which is profitable to religious purpofes, to the practice, and to the growth of every virtue. Secondly, another thing which muff be underftood to be intended in this exhorta- tion, is a difpofition to improve knowledge to the proper practical ends of it. If ye know . theft things (faith our Saviour to his difciples) happy are ye if ye do them ±. As light is pleafant to the eyes, fo is knowledge to the mind ; but virtue is perfected in action ; our knowledge, therefore, is not to . be mere fpe- culation, to be dormant and unactive in the mind, nor to be fought with that view, but in order to ufe it to its true ends, that is, to * Prov. iii. t ¢, i 5. 1- John xiii. 17. practife
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