Of the Byednefi of the Pure in Heart. 37 r the mind, bringeth to it a great deal of en- S E x M. tertaining objects, and enlargeth all its powers; XLII. and though there may be pain and diffi- culty in the acquiítion, and, in this fenfe, he that increafeth knowledge, increafeth for., row, yet that pain is overbalanced by the attainment, with great advantage and fatis- faftion to the diligent and well difpofed en- quirer of truth. But there is a great diffe- rence in knowledge, the excellency of which chiefly dependeth on the quality of the object, and the importance of the ends which it ferveth. The knowledge, or the intellectual fight here fpoken of, is ac- cording to this rule the molt valuable, becaufe the object of it is the molt perfect of all beings, it is the knowledge of the Holy, of God himfelf, in which the mind perceiveth a peculiar tranfcendent dignity, and it yield- - eth a pure intellectual pleafiire, which doth not arife from contemplation of any other object : Befides, that it anfwereth the no- bleft ends, the forming our tempers, and directing our practice to the imitation of God, for, beholding his glory, we are changed into the fame image, and it pre - pareth us for the enjoyment of his favour, which are the higheft purpofes of our being. B b 2 But
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