Baxter - HP BV4647 .S4 B39 1660

trio Vnnece ary Knowledge, andDelight therein. 5. Carnal knowledge would break Gods bounds, and would needs know that which God bath not revealed, and pry into the fecrets of heaven : with a prefumptuous irnmo- deity they would reach to that which is above man , while they are wilfully or negligently ignorant of that which fhould heal them of their brutifhnefs. They are fo (hallow that they comprehend not any one of the fmalleft creatures of God, and yet they have arrogant proud conceits that mutt be fatisfied about the highefl myfteries : and though through their own unpreparednefs and ignorance they know not that which elfe they might know, and cannot fee the ftrength of a reafon, which the wife can fee ; yet will they fooner quar- rel with the light then with their eyes, and fufped the reafons and words of God rather then their purblind minds. But Ipiritual knowledge is model, and humble, and obedient and prefnmeth not to climb any higher then the ladder, left. he lofe moreby fuch a ftep too high, then he got by all his labour hitherto ; and find himfelf all in pieces at the bottom while hewould needs climbe above the top. He finds work enough in what God bath commanded him to ffudy in his word and therefore hath no leifure to look after things that God bathhid from him : It is for the ufe of knowledge that he would know ; and therefore hehath no great mind of that which is ufelefs ; and heknows that God is thebelt Judge of that ; and thereforehe takes that to be beft for him which is prefcribed him. 6. Carnal Students are apt to learn in the wayes which their interefts and fancies lead them to : but holy Students learn of God in his prefcribedway ;= that is, I. In his Church which is his School. 2. And in and by his holy Scripture, which is the book he fets us to learn. And 3. By his Minifters whomhe commandeth to teach us. 4. And in obedience to his fpirit that mutt make all effeetual.- And 5. In fervent prayer toGod for that fpirit and a bleffing. This is Gods way in which hewill bring men to favingknowledge. 7. AlfoCarnal Students obferve not ( commonly ) Gods order in their learning : but they begin at that which futeth beft with their carnal intereft or difpofition , as being leaft againft

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