., ~14 Rom. I .l I ,2'2,l3. 'Tis very norable,and it cloth excec.dingly ~.erifie d See Dethe ApoiUes,obfervation, d that tlle moll rehned and civ-il Heathens JPaigne's ~ew (who are .prefumed to have moll: light) were given up ro themofi ub!ihervcauonds beafily Errors about the Nature of God; as the Roman:r and qreon t e ree . (,L • d .r: d h ,rr. l · about the be~ ctans wormlpe 1 evours an umane pa 11 1ons, cam c· oacmam, ginning' every paltry thing for God; whereas the Scythians, and more bar· barous Nations,worthiped the Thnnder, the Sun, things terrible in themfelves, which plainly difcovereth Gods juil Judgment in d.zrk= ening their foolifh he~rt, becaufe they were n0t thankful in the im– provement of light received. But the greatefr difpleafure of God againfi fins of knowledg is declared hereafter in the torments of eLuk. u 4 s. Hell, where the e proporcions of everlafring horrors do rife higher and higher according to thc:.feweral aggravations ·offin. Thus God puniiheth fins of koowledg in the Repmbate; but his owrn Chi!· dr.en do alfo perceive the d1.tference between thefe and other-fins; nothing breaketh the bones, and fcourgerh the·S~tll with fuch afad remorfe as fiAs againfi light: This broke Davids heart, Pf~J/.)1.6. Thou had(t put k.,ttow!~dg in my inward p.trts: He had -committed adultery againil che(jks ofConfcience, and the watchful light -of his inward parc.s, &c. _I might fpeak much more-upon this Argument, but that I 6Hly intend hints. Concerning the danger of fins dfk0oW– ledg you may fee more in Mr ThomM Goodwins Tt'eatife, called Aggravations of Sins ofKnow!edg-, whofe judicious Obferva– vations being fo fell and exprefs, I fliall prefume te addne m0re. Ohflrvm, 3• 3· Sins ofo.mi!fian .are aggrt~vaP.ed by k_now!ed$,~®ell tt4 (ins of commijfion. The Apofile .faith, To him that k_now-oth t6 d(} g-ood, and doth it not,&~ Ufually in fins of commtffion nanurallight is moll: working, becatlfe there is anactual di.ftmbance, hy which the free contemplation ~f the mind is hindered ; .and becaufefoHl a0!1 bring more ihame, and imprefs more .horror, th~n bo~re n~gletls; yet .to omit a duty agaiofi ~nowledg may be a61bad as to teJI!a lye againll: knowledg: The Rule ispojitive, (!nfoFcing duty, as well as privative, forbidding fin ; and according t0 the knowledgofir, (c:> is the obligation. Oh that we might be more confcil!mious.in this matter 1a11dhe as tendetrof omiting prayar·againfi hghc,and rregleCt• ing eo .medieare an&examine Confoience againft-lighc, 'a5·wecari: of c;o~minting aduher._¥ againfUight 1· , · , • , . r J ' '[h~ end if the foHrih Ch~ter~ _ JAMES
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