Chap. 36. efyrs Expofition upon the Book of Jo B. Verf. a 2. 2S3 Hence learn ; They whogive net glory to God in lefferor in lighter aflllions drawgreater upon thensfelves; Theymay come from a cord to a fword, from being bound to be (lain. God hash feveral forts of Inítrurnenrs to chaflen his peo- ple with, and as the bell of outward go©d things may be the por- tion of evil wicked men, fo theworli of outward evils may be the portion of good men ; they may at any time, and fometimes fhalt perifh by the [word , and as it followes, They fhall die without knowledge. The fword is death, a deadly fword ; they [hall die Without knowledge, or, as the text may be read, becaufe they were without knowledge. But is any righteous man without knowledge ? That the foul be without knowledge is not good, (faith Solonmo.v, Prov. 19. 2. ) How thencan he be good whole foul is without knowledge? And feeing we interpret this text of the righteous, how can it be Paid, they die without knowledge ? I anfwer,Knowiledge maybetaken in a more general fenfe, and fo no righteous man either lives or dieswithout knowledge ? he neither lives nor dies withotat the knowledge of God in Jesus Chriff,whom to know is eternal life, (3ohss 07.3.) and without the knowledge of, whom, all ( who are a&&uaily capable of fuch know- lodge) nau( die eternally ; he neither lives nor dies without the knowledgeof hirmfelf as a (inner, and. of Chrift who laver h him from his fins. Such ignorances are inconfifient with the fate ofa godly man ; he may do foolifhly, but he is not a fool; hemay be wanting in fome kind of knowledge, but he doth not want knowledge ; he cannot be without laving knowledge,though he may perifh ( temporally) without knowledge. The Srll thing that God makes in the new creation is light, the light of knowledge, there h.; begins his work ; therefore we cannot take knowledge generally, limply and abfolutely,in this text ; but as knowledge Dei monita per may be taken rellrietively, for knowledge in or about this or that (liaatin.,; .s articular foagoodmanma want nowledge k l e,there befotne- P s y Y gore noI ,runt. what which the Lord would acquaint the righteous wirh,and teach Druf, them Siÿ1 t17
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