Chap. 37. an gxpoftion upon the Book of j o B. Verf. 19. 583 12. 3 5.) He that wa1keth in darknefsknoweth not whither hegoetbb In what an uncertain condition is that man who is dayly going, yet knows not whether he goerh ? whether he be going right or wrong, whether he be going for his good.or for his hurt, whether he be going homeward or from home, whetherhe be going to a pallace or a p; ifoz, whether to life or death; to heaven or hell. Thus 'cis with a. man in darknefs, and proportionable to the dark- nefs that is in any man, is the uncertainty of that mans condition ; and therefore tilia man be got out of this darknefs of ignorance, he is in a very uncertain condition, he knoweth -not whither he is going, though Ise be certainly going downward, and that to dc- ftruaion, Secondly, If ignorance be darknefs, in what degree foever it is, then, ignorance is very dangerous. Darknefs fubjedls us to dan- ger.As a man is in an uncertain condition whilehe is in darknefs,co in a dangerous condition. If the blind lead the blind,both fall into the ditch. O how dangerous is the flareof that manwho is altogether in darknefs ! We find trefe two put together (Ifa. 9. a. repea- ted Matth.4. t b.)7'o them thatfate indarknefs,and in the valleyof the fhadew of death,ís light rifenup. How near are they to danger, who are even in the valley of the fhadow of death ? Thus 'tis - with thofe that are in a flare of darknefs; and fo far as darknefs is in any man, he is in danger tobe mifled,and to erre both inopini- on and praelife. Woe to thole who,when light is come into the world 11411 be found loving darknefs rather than light (1 oh. 3, 1.9.) thefe are in the.greatefl danger, thedanger of condemnati- on, yea, this is the condemnation. Thirdly, To be in an ignorant condition, is to bein a very un- comfortable co dition darknefs is uncomfortable. And though fuck as are in fp it rial darknefs are not fenfible of their danger (and therefore take up their comforts, rejoyce in the crea:ure, and fing care away) yet their danger is not the lefs,but more ; and whenonce a man is made fenfible of kis darknefs, he is compafl about with many feares, doubts and furrows, c,'c. 'The darknefs ofthe night isvery uncomfortable, in cotnparifonofche light of the day ; what the is the darknefs of tinand ignerance,in comparifon of the light of grape and ofthe knowledge of Gad ! And there- fore we fliould, Firfl, Pity the ignorant, chofe efpeciallywho are totally,ignc -. rant
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