298 Chap. 28. an Expofition aeon the book, of J O B. Verf. aiJ ledge the key whereof God himfelf hath taken away; and yet, though the key be gone, what working is there at the door toget it open. I would only fay to fuch, remember, it is a great point of ignorance, to attempt the knowledge of thofe things which God would not have us know; but not to know their is no point of ignorance. It is ignorance, not to know that which is our du- ty, but not to know that which is not our duty, is nercience only, not ignorance ; And quietly to refi îin this nefcience, is not our fault, but our wildem. But forme may ask, why clothGod hide fo many things frorn the fons of men, and referee them to himfelfalone ? why are not all the locks opened and veiles takenaway,which holds us in fo much darknefs ? Is it not much honour toknow much, and the more any man knowes is he not the more fit to honour God ? I anfwer, firft, God keeps many things veiled fromus, that he might keep us humble ; he knows there is much pride in our hearts, and that our pride is apt to encreafe with our knowledge, yea, that if we knew force things,our pride would be intollgrable. Eliab, David; elder brocher,charged him falfly , when he Paid (a Sam. 17. 28.)I know thy pride and thenaugbeinef; ofthy heart But the Lord chargeth us moti truly,whcn he faith, I knowyour pride, and that your hearts are fonaughty, that a littlemore knowledge may makeyou a great deal more proud.( a Cor. 8,1,): ICnowlcdg puffeth up,- that is, knowledge is the head alone, or knowledge withcut a due ballance of grace and bolinefs in tire heart, puffeth up ; and is not only a temptation to.prde, but the very matter of it : yea,we have Peen tome fo puffed up that they have been quite blown away with knowledge. Paul himfelf was endar gered by it; though he was foholy a man,yet his know- ledge, as himfelf confeffeth, had almofl over-fethim (2 Cor.iz. 7.) Left I fhould be exalted above meafure, through the abundance of revelation,tberewaggiven to me a thorn in the flefh,tbe meffenger of Satan to buffet one,.left I (hamlet be exaltedabove meafure. He fpeakes it twice,lefl 1fhould beexaltedabove meafurt;a godly man, yea,the highefi of godly men,a Paul,when he is led into the fecret of God,; is in danger ¡ofbe lifted up in himfelf. All his other graces run a hazard by his knowledge. And if Paul had need- ed a corres ive , of a meffenger of Satan tokeep himhutrble,:. chat need may othershave ? Many arc exalted above meafure bv. w_
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