112 BAXTER'S DYING THOUGHTS. true knowledge. It is not that grace which Austin's definition saith, Nemo male utïtur; but it is that which the sanctified use well, and the unsanctified are puffed up by, and use to the oppo- sition of truth, the ostentation of a foolish wit, and the deceit of their own souls. And if it be sanctified knowledge, it is but me- diate, in order to our knowledge of things thus signified ; and it is the real good which contenteth and beatifieth,, though the notions may be a subordinate recreation ; and Intuition feasteth on these realities. ii. And as to the objects of this intuition, their excellency will be the excellencyof our knowledge. 1. I shall know God better. 2. I shall know the universe better. 3. I shall know Christ bet- ter. 4. I shall know the church, his body, better, with the holy angels. 5. I shall better know the methods and perfection of the Scripture, and all God's dirigent word and will. 6. I shall know the methods and sense of disposing Providence better. 7. I shall know the divine benefits, which are the fruits oflove, better. 8. I shall know myself better. 9. I shall better know every fellow- creature, which I am concerned to know. 10. And I shall better know all that evil, sin, Satan, and misery, from which I am de- livered. 1. Aquinas, and many others, took it for the chief, natural proof of the soul's immortality, that man, by nature, desireth notonly to know effects, and second causes, but to rise up to the knowledge of the first cause ; and, therefore, was, made for Such knowledge in the state of his perfection ; but grace hath muchmore of this desire than nature. Not that we must not be content to be without a great deal of knowledge, which would be unmeet for us, useless, troublesome, or dangerous to us ; nor must we aspire to that which is above our capacity, and to know the unsearchable things ofGod; but not to know God, is to know nothing, and to have an under- standing worse than none. I' presume not to pry into the secrets of the Almighty, nor to pretend to know more of God than, indeed, I do ; but O that I'might knowmore of his perfections, ofhis will, and love, and ways, with that knowledge which is eternal life Blessed be that love that sent the Son of God from heaven, to re- veal him to us in the gospel, as he bath done ; but all that hear the same words, and believe them, have not the same degree of light or faith. Ifan angel from heaven came 'down on earth to tell us all of God that we would know, and might lawfully desire .and askhim, who would not turn his back on libraries, and universities, and learned men, to go and discourse with such a messenger? What travel should I think too far what cost too great, for one hour's. talk with such .a messenger? But we must have here but such intima- tions as will exercise faith, and excite desire, and try us under the
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