Chap. 13. AnExpofitian upon the Book ofJOB. Verf,_z a. never ( as he fuppofed ) have been fouiff towards him if they had remembred that themfelves were clay. A manbath force knowledge wherein he diftereth little from .a beafi,- which halt noknowledge. The Prophet teacheth this for truth (Jer.io.t4.) Everyman is brutifh inhis k,nowledge. A ftrange fpeech ; it might rather be Paid, that every man is brmti(h in his ignorance; though a beau cannot properly be called ignorant, yet a beau bath no knowledge r How is it then that-he faith, every man is brutifh in his knowledge? It is becaufe, though everyman knows that which a beaficannot, yet he doth not make that improvement of it which a man (efpeciallywhich a - Saint) fhould and might. This is a kind of brutifhnefs in knowledge : And when he faith, Every man is brutifh in his knowledge ; it is avery large word,for are godly men brunch in their knowledge? furely no; then every- manhere, is every wicked man, and all fuch are brutifh in their knowledge. Though a wicked man knoweth thathis body is a bodyof clay, though he knoweth there is a God, anda Chriu and if you fpeak to him of thefe things, hewill fay, he knows themni well asyou, yet he is brutifh in the knowledgehe bathof them all. Every wicked man is fo ; yea, in every thinghe know- ethand doth, he is brutifh... I conceive alfo that place of the Prophet may take ingodly men, in a mitigated fence; even they are brutifh in their knowledge ; Why ?. becaufe. they do not improve their knowledge to thatheight which they might, they . donot that good, nor raife that glory to Godby their know- ledge, -which the talents theyareentruued with, call for. The Apoule lode concludes of wicked men, That which they know naturally, in that likq brute beafis theycorrupt themfelves : and I may fay , what the Saints know fpiritually, if they corrupt themfelves, or are corrupted in anyof that,knowledge, fo far theyknow but likebrute beaus : Therefore - though this is a com- mon' leffon, yet it is but need to press it upon all,- as job here loth: It is not without caufe that men are told that their bodies are bodies of clay. It is no enfie - matter to .know our feflee in thofe things whichare eafily known. -It is a good determination which onehath made concerning knowledge P;rfi, He that knowethnot what hefhould, is a beafl amongmen. Secondly, Ile that knoweth no more then needs mull, 'is a mne among beafls. Thirdly,' He that :knoweth allthat he may know, is a God among men: The- third mutt be taken thus; Hethat knoweth all objeEl:s knowable 4'I
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