Chap. 36. an Expopionupon theBokofJ o B. Verf. T2. fence given ) without knowledge, or not having a due fpiritual knowledge of Chrift in the holy (upper, which the Apoflle callo, their not difcerning the Lords body, (z Car. 11. 29.) and pre- fently tells them (ver. 3e. ) for this caufe many are weakand frckiy among you, andmany fleep ; that is,are taken away by death. Anykindor degree of fin is dangerous ; not to obey a hint of pro- vidence, not toobey an intimation of the mind of God in an af- flietion, may be very dangerous ; affli&ions may end in defiru- &ions, and fetters indeath, if the purpofe of God in them benot attended anfwered byus. Secondly note ; Net to obey whenGod calls erred commands, is folly and igno- rance. Such do as if they had noknowledge at all what orbow ro do. Laftly in that he faith, they (halt dye withoatt knowledge, we may learn this from it The ignorance and heedlefncfs ofmen undo them,andbring de- flrut`lroa upon them. Many die becaufe they have noknowledge, others not heeding or minding what they know. Holy David conferred that in one point he was ignorant andfoolifig, evert as abeafb, (ppd. 73. 22.) and when good men a& like beats, without a due improvement of reafon and underflanding, theymay perifhh (as to this tempo- ral life) like beafts, (Ifa. S. z 3.) Therefore my perpiearegone into captivity, becaufe they have noknowledge. The Prophet (f con- ceive) is robe underflood(as this text)not that theyhad noknow- leda at all, or were utterly ignorant, but they had no knowledge as to that fpecial difpenfationof God, how to make ufe of it or improve ic,at leall they took noheed,no care to ufe or imp°ove it;. and (faithhe)tkey thereforeare gone into eaptivity,they are b-ouglic under bondage to their enemies, they are fcactered, ruica'd, and (as to this world) quite loll tInd undone. Wicked men are un- done by a&ing a;ainit their knowledge ; good men may be un- done by a&ing belowtheir knowledge, or bynot a&ing accord- mg to what they know or mould haveknown ; and fo (through their ignorance or heed°lefnefs) they dye aeithont knowledge. o 2 5
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