Chap. 2$. an Expoption upon the Book, of J ©s. Verf. 2s. 299 what they know,but few keep to the mealure of what they know ; manyare puffedup by what they know,but few are edified or go- verned by what they know. And if the knowledge of chofe things which are ufeful and profitable for us, doth often runout more to our pride then to our profit, what would the knowledgeof fuch things do as are not for our ufe or profit ? The knowledgeof the bell and holyeft things doth not make us better, or more holy by it felf, but the knowledge of fome things is very apt to make us worfer and more unholy. The Lord will hide none of that knowledge from us, which barb a natural tendency to makeus more holy,or morehumble;But when he fees, that we would only wound and hurt our felves by the knowledge of fuch and fuch things, then he bides them from us. As a father hides a knife from his child , not becaufe he loves theknife better then his child, or would deny his child any thing that is good for him; But becaufe the child may foon doe himfelf amifchief with the knife ; So the Lords hides force things out of our fight, chi we might not doour felves a mifchief. Secondly, He doth it, becaufe though he is exceeding ready to fatisfie our neceflities,yet he will never feedour curiofity ; there and there only he cuts us fhort.His heart is inlarged tous in giv- ing, and he would have our hearts enlarged in defiringand ask- ing any (apply of our wants ; but ashe forbids us to ask, fo him- felfwillnot give (unlefs in wrath and fore difpieafure,is he gave the 1fraelites Qailes,I fay unlefs in wrath he will not give) us any thing to feed our wantonneffe, or meat for our luUUs. Paul writing to the Tbeffalonians,tells them of aknowledge which they have no need of, (s 7hef. 5. s.) But of the times and the feafons Brethren, ye baveno need that Iwrite unto you. As if he had laid, I know ye are looking, yea longing that I who bavewritten to you, that the Lord himfelf (hall defcend from Heaven with a Pout, with the voice of the Arebangel,andwith the trump of Cod, and the dead in CbrifiE (hallrifefirfi ; having(I fay)written to you of thefe things, I know ye will be expecting that I fhould write fomewhat to you about the time when thefe things (hall be ; But all that I (hall write toyou about the times and feafons is only this, that of the times and feafons ye have noneed at all, that I fhould write untoyou ; and as it is betides my duty, fo T am not at leifure to writeof needlefs matters. Patel (hunneth not do declare all the Qq 2 CROP.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=