692 Chap. 2r. .fln Expofation upon the Book of J o B. Verf. 14. Secondly, As knowledge is an obligation, fo it is a Provo- cation toduty ; It will puta man on, and urge him, it will be As a fpurre in his fide to make him goe , yea run the wayes of God. Thirdly, Knowledge bath a ling, a vexation in it when we aeglecq duty.The confcience ofawicked man cloth often break in upon him, and finite him, when he knowingly breaks out of the wayes ofGod. Now left the knowledgeof the ways ofGod . thould be troublefome to wicked men ; in any ofthefe three things, therefore to way-lay and prevent their own trouble, theyhave no delire to the knowledge of thofe wayes. Befides, their deires after the knowledge ofthofe wayes is )opt and quencht by a multitudeof prejudices & hard thoughts, which they have ofthofe wayes : As firth, that they are unequall and rigorous ;therefore theLord taxeth his ancient people for that apprehention(Mal. i. 13.)Tefaidalfo, beholdwhat a wearinefä is it. ? and he calls them by the prophet Michah to give an ac- count in what, ( Mich. 6. 3 ) O raypeople what have.i1done un- to thee; andwherein have Iwearied thee? teflifle aping me, Se- condly, As dithonourable and contumelious, they think the wayes of God too low and fimple for their fpirits, and are a- fhamed to be found in the prattife of them. The word of God is in that fence, a reproach to them. Thirdly, As fruitieffe and unprofitable, they fee notwhat they can get by them, and then why fhould they goe in them ? Which prejudice is expreffely held out in the latter claufe ofthe following verte. Secondly; Obferve; TSt to defire to know the wages ofÇod,issnore an sell and dangerous, thenthe ignorance ofthem. f There are three fortsofignorance. Fir$, a groiie or invin- cible ignorance, which proceeds either from the total) abfence> ofall means of knowledge, or from a total! /ability to mannage and improve thofe means. Secondly, There is an . unwilling ignorance in the midi{ of means and abfiries to know ; a man may be ignorant of Tome things, which he is willing enough to know, and this ignorance may run him up. on that evill which he had not ( premeditately and purpofely ) a.will.to doe. Thirdly there is a willing ignorance, whena man
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