itá}e Wrinottvoftbe tzÍbUIe ttábufe , Chap. VI. But this Knowledge is abfolutely neceffary to Juftifie, San6tile, and Save us. All other knowledge is ufe- lefs at the hour of death : then the richeft Bock of tra' S' Learning is loft, the veffel being fplit wherein the trea- rure was laid; but this Pearl of íneftimable price is both the ornament ofour profperity and the fupport of our adverfìty : A little ray of this is infinitely more deferable , than the light of all humane Sciences in their luftre and perfe6tion. And what an amazing folly is it, that men who are pofeft with an earneft paffion of knowing, fhould wafte their time and ftrength in fearching after things, the knowledge of which can't remove the evils that opprefs them, and be carelefs of the raving knowledge of the Golpe!? Were there no other reafon to dimi- nish the efteem of earthly knowledge, but the difficul- ty of its acquifition, that error often furprifes thofe who are fearching after truth, this might check our intemperate purfuit ofit. Sin path not only fhortned our underftandings, but our lives, that we cannot ar- rive to the perfe& difcovery of inferior objects. But fuppofe that one by his waft mind fhould comprehend all created things, from theCentre ofthe Earth to the Circumference of the Heavens, and were not ravingly inlighten'd in the Myftery ol` our Redemption with all his knowledge he would be a prey to Satan, and increafe the triumphs of Hell. The Hiftorian up- quis non mi- braids the Roman luxury, that with fo much coft and recur umbroe hazzard they fhould fend to foreign parts, for Trees rantum gra- tis ex alieno that were beautiful but barren, and produc'd a fha- petitamorbe? dow only without fruit. With greater reafonwe may ;'' wondér that men fhould with theexpence oftheir pre- cious hours purchafe barren curiofities, which areun- profitable to their lift end. How can a condemned Criminal, who is in. fufpence between Life and Death, attend
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