Ion} Reafnswasing'totbecontempt ofvnfiuitfuflknowledge. &4ifyingand failing graces; for wecannot loueGod, norbe- leeue, hope, and trill in him, vnlcffe wee know him; nor yeeldanyobedience vnto him, vnleffe wee bee acquainted wish his word, wherein heehash reucaled his will vnto vs. But yet this excellent gift ofGod is liable to theabufeof worldiings; (or if not that fpeciall grace of failing know- ledge,which is aiwaics accompanied with all ocherfpirituall gifts, yet at leaf} the counterfeit ofthis pure gold,which is focunninglyclamped andcoyned, thatit cannotpoflìblybe difcerned from the other,vnleffe it bebrought to the touch- lione of true obedience) and fo is made the ground ofdi- uers dangerous tentations : as namely, when men can no longerbe led hoodwinckt with ignorance,in the broadway that leadeth to deflruólion, but plainly difcerne that the knowledgeofGod andhis will is moll neceffarie to their faluation, then the diuell and the world give them libertie to takewhat paines they will in attainingvoto the know- ledgeofGods truereligion, yea and oftentimes eggethem on, when as they haue found out .tome neceffarie know- ledge, curioufly to prie into Cods hidden fecrets, and to fearchout thatknowledgewhich is fuperfluous and vone- ceffarie, to the end that in the meane time they mayneglefl the knowledgeof things whichareofbetter vfe.And when they haue proceeded thus farre, then they labour to make themproudofthisknowledge, and to takeall their delight in thisfpeculatiue fludie and contemplation, and in letting it foorth to thepraife of men, in all their difcourfes; but withall.theymoue. them-to red in thisbare knowledge, as being fufhcient to gaine for them the glorie ofthe world, andof heauen too; feuering it in the meane time,from 211 fandlifyingandfauing graces,and from the fruitfull praflife ofthattheyknow,in.holyobedience toGods will. 4 Sect. Which tentations that wemay ouercome,let vs confider, that this idle knowledge which fwimmeth in the braise Thatoarknow- a ( , ledge is maimed and fan6lifieth not the heart; but being wholly taken vp, isdimperfal, and exercilèdin fpeculation and difcourfe, is feuered frotrt the true loue of Godand our neighbour, and from all fan- &ifying and fauing graccs,as alto from the praétifeandho- ly
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