the, Ufo of the Holy Scriptures. ------- quickening to Duty ; let me tell you, you either read ~t wirhont attending to it, or clfe attend without belie\•ing it. lt is therefore no dtfconragement from fearching and ftuclying the Scriptures, that its Commands be many and difficult, for it dirc8:s you whither to go for promifed Strength, and the more you converfe with h, the more will you find your Hearts quickened to a due Obedience of it. That's the fir{t Anfwcr. But then Secondly, \:Vhereas many think that it is better not to know, than not to pratl:ifc; we muft here diftioguilh of Ignorance, which is of two kinds, either invincible, or clfe affefred : Invincible Ignorance is fuch as is conjoined with, and proceeds from an utter impoffibility of right Information, and itarifethonly from two Things. Firft, Abfolute want of necelfary lnftruetion: Or, Secondly, Want of natural Capacity to receive it. AffeEt.ed Ignorance, is an Ignorance under the means of Knowledge, and always arifeth from the negle8', or contempt of them. Such is the Ignorance of thofe who do, or may live where the Gofpel is preached, and where by Pains and lnduftry they may arrive to the knowledge of the Truth. Now here for ever to anfwer this ObjeCtion, and to fuew you how neceffary Knowledge is, 1 Jhalllay down thefe two Particulars. Firft, l grant indeed, that unpraB:is'd Knowledge is a far greater Sin than invincible Ignorance, and cxpofeth to a much forer Condemnation. Hcli·fire burns with Rar,e, :md meets with Fuel fully prepared for it, when God dooms unto it an Head full of Light, and an Heart full of Lufts. Thofc who know God's Will, but .do it not, do but carry a Torch with them to Hell, to fire that Pile that mUft for ever burn them. We have a common Proverb, That KnowLedge is no Burthcn: But believe it, if your Knowledge in the Scripture be meedy Speculative, and ovcrborn by the violence of unruly Lufts; this whole Word will be no otherwife to you, than the Burthen of the Law, as the Prophets fpeak, a Burthen that will lie infupportably heavy upon you for ever. Better for you were born under Barbarifm in fome dark Corner of the Earth, where the leaft Gleam of Gofpel· light never {hone, and where the Name of Chrift was pever mentioned, than to have this weighty Book, a Book which you have read and known, hung about· you to fink you infinitely deeper in the Burning Lake, than a Mill·ftonc hung about you can do in the midft of the Sea. What St. Peter fpeaks of Apoftates, 2 Pet. 2. 21. is but too well applicable to the knowing Sinner? It had been !mter for them not to have known the way of Righteoufnep, than a[r(r they have lmown it, to turn afide from the Commandments delivered to them. How? Better not to have knowJl it? Why, is there any poffibility to efe1pe the Condemnation of Hell without the knowledge of the way of Righteoufnefs revealed in the Scriptures? No, Damnation had been unavoidable without this Knowledge; yet it had been better they had ·not known it. For here is the Hyperbole of their Mifery ; better they had ~cen Damned than to have known thefe Truths, and this Rule of Righteoufnefs, and yet turn from the Obedience and Practice of it. 0 fearful State ! 0 drca'dful Doom! When a fimple and gP.nuine Damnation fhall be reckon7d a Gain and Favour in corn pad.. fon of that exquifite one Which God will with all his Wifdom prepare, and all his Power int\ict on thofe who knowing the righteous Judgment of God, thttt they who ctJmmit fuch things are worthy of Death, do notwithftanding, pcrfevere in them ; He that knew his Maflers will and did it not, flail be beaten with many ftripcs, Luke I 2. 47· And, If I had nor come and fpoken unto them, they had not had Sin, bur ttow they have no Cioak for their Sins, faith our Saviour, 'J~n 15. 22. The Sin Puuifhment of thofe who are invincibly ignorant, is as nothing compared to what the knowing Sinners lie under. But do not flatter your felves, your Ignorance is not invincible. -Are you not called to the knowledge of Chrift ~ Do you not read or hear the Scriptures? Do you not enjoy Gofpel Ordinances and Miniftry? May you not, if you will be but diligent and indufrrious, underftand what you are ignorant of? Certainly there is nothing that can prove your Jgnorance invincible, unlefs it be your obftinacy, that you wilJ not be prevailed with to be inftrutl"ed by all the means of lnftruC\ion. Your Ignorance muft therefore be JffeB:ed. Well then attend unto The fecond Particular. AffeCted Ignorance is a greater Sin, and will be more forcly
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