Downame - Houston-Packer Collection BX5133.D76 C552 1611 v.2

Reafonsmatting to the contempt ofvnfruitfoellknowledge. kei, tongues ceafe, cr+ knowledge vanifh away. - But as it is in itfclfe vaine,-fo it is vntovsvnprofitable; &; Scci 4 when it is fettered from true charitie and. the feare of God : rhat vq t- an sl this theApoflleplainly affirmeth, that ifhebadthegift offsllknowledge prophecie,and /knewallfecrets andall knowledge,ándhadnot loué, is znprofitable: it were all nothing worth,yeahe himfelfwere noth'ing.And 1.Cor.r3.z. another faith, that wedonot trulyknow that which isgood, vn- Pjgn eft vera lefeweattainevntoit to thisend, that we maypral-fife it; andfcientiaBoni, that hedothvn ra.5tabliemeditateinthelawofggod, which la-nifradhoecom- p prchendatur, vt boureth to retain that inhiememorie, whiclllhe h.athnoprerpafe agatur,&c. Au. topraflefe in his aiions.For this idleknowledge doth notbe- gull. fentèn. get or nourifh in vs the fading graces ofGodsSpirit, nor Tom.3. Bernard. f makesvs anywhit more firong and vigorous in our fpirituall Cant fémuper eflate, yea rather it impaireth our fouleshealth, and weaker neth our firength in grace : in which refpeól knowledge idlcly fwimming in the braine, isfitlycompared to meatflö- ting on the flomacke which is vndigefled ; for as fuch mcate forwantdffit conco6tiondoth nöt nourifh vs,but begetteth ill humoursand corrupteth thebodie; fo much knowledge negligently caf+ into the floniackeofthe foule, which isthe memorie,ifit be not decoó+ed with the heate ofcharity,and fotransfufedand digefled into the feuerall parts, and as it were the outward limmesofthe foule, namely, our manners and a6tions, that fo it felfemaybemadegoodby the good things it knoweth, thé life andmanners according with it; Thal not thatknowledge forwant ofdigeflion turne into the corrupt humours offinne, and in (lead ofnourifhingvs im- paire our fpirituall health, fvvelling vs with the winde of pride, and gnawing and gripingvs with that torturing col- licke ofan euill confcience?neither willit helpe forward our iourney towards our heauenlycountry,but when wemount vp highefl in our owneproud coñceit,thofewaxenwings of knowledge and fpecula;ion, not enduring the heat of Gods iuftice,will molifaile vswhen we moll trufl in them,and let vs fall without hope orhelpe into thatbottomleffc gulfeof hell & condemnation. And as it little profiteth amanfor the running ofa race& gainingofthegarland,though he plain- lyfee the way, anddifcerne thegole, if he eitheridlcly lie 11,11: a

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=