Ver.8. the i7thChapter of St. J O H N. 91 a Form of Godlinefs, Rom. 2.20. compared with 2 Tim. 3. 5. A Form of Know1edg, is nothing elfe but an artificial Speculation, a naked Model of Truth in the Brain, which like a Winter Sun, (hineth, but warmeth not. But let us a little Rate the Differences. I. The Light of Faith is Cerious and confiderate. Faith is a Spiritual Prudence, it is oppofed to Folly as well as Ignorance ; Luke 24.25. Oh Fools, and flow of Heart td believe al! that the Prophets have faid ! Faith always draweth ro ufe and practice. It is a Knowledg with Confederation ; Ephef t. t 7. That the God of our Lord jefus Chriiis the Father of Glory, would give unto you the Spirit of Wifdom and Revelation in the know - ledg of him. Many have Parts, but they have not Wifdom to make the belt choice for their Souls. There is a great deal of difference between Knowledg and Prudente 5 it is excellent when both are joined together : 1 Wifdom dwell with Prudence, Prov. 8.12. Wifdom is the Knowledg of Principles, Prudence is an Ability to life them to our Comfort. Knowledg is fetled in the Brain, not the Heart. When Wifdom entreth iota thy Heart, Prov. 2. to. it Itirreth up EBeem,,Affiance, Love. A Carnal Man may have a Model of Truth, a traditional difciplinary Knowledg, filch as lieth in Generale; not Particulars, and is rather for Difcourfe than Life. A Vintners Cellar may be bet- ter [cored than a Noble Man's; he hath Wines, not to tale, but fell : a Carnal Man bath a great deal of Knowledg for Difcourfe, not to warm his own Heart. 2. The Light of Faith is a realizing Light, hAti s zs gAsitoµ4veov, Faith is the Evia dente of things not feen, Heb. i t. t. it tnaketh abfent things prefent to the Soul. But the Light óf Parts, is a naked abfratt Speculation, it is without feeling, there is no fink and feeling of the things apprehended. True Knowledg is expreffed by Tatting; t Pet. 2. 5. If fo be that ye have tiled that the Lord is gracious. Tatting implieth more than Seeing; there is not only Apprehenfion, but Experience. Phil. t.9. I pray God that your Love may abound more and more in Knowledg, and in all.Jndgment, ÉV 77Dlon tt :Akss, in all fence. To others it is but an empty barren Notion. Phil. 3.1o. That I may know him, and the Power of his Reforrec7ion, that is, Experimentally. Car- nal Men have no feeling of the force of the Truths they apprehend, only now and then fore fleeting Joys, it is not realizing and affes ive. Strong Water, and running Water, differ not in Colour, but in Tafte and Vertue : They may know the fame Truths, but itdifferethinrelifh; they know the Things of God, only as things in conceit, not in being. 3.. The Light of Faith is wrought by the Spirit, this but an hear -ray, Knowledg ga- thered out of Books and Sermons, they thine with a borrowed Light,as the Moon that is dark in it felt and bath no Light rooted in its own Body. There thine with other Mens Light. John. 4. 42. Now we believe, not far thy flying, but we have heard him our Yves, and know that this is indeed the Chrift, the Saviour of the World. Men talk of Things by rote after others, and are rather faid to rehearfe than under(tand 5 it is not written in their Hearts, but only reported to their Ears. Heb. 8. so. I will write my Law in their Hearts. Truth is written there by the Finger of the Spirit, to others it is but traditional, learned as other Arts by Man. Now there is a great deal of difference between feting God in the Light of the Spirit, and feeing God, and the Things of God, by the Reports of Men; as between feeing Countries in a Map, or Book of Geography, and knowing them by Travel and Experience. 4. it is a transforming Light ; 2 Cor. 3. t8. We all as in a Glafi beholding the Glory of the Lord, are changed into the fame Image, from Glory to Glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Looking upon the Image of Chrift, we are changed into the fame Image and Likenefs,from Glory to Glory : as o4fofes his Face (hone: Converting with Chrift, it altereth and changeth the Soul, which is hereby renewed in Knowledg, after the Image of him that created him, Col. 3. to. That is no true Light and I< nowledgofGod, that doth not bridle Lulls, and purify the Heart ; a wicked Man's Knowledg, it is Light without Fire, direûive, not perfwafive. t John 2. 3, 4. Hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his Commandments. He that faith, I know him, and keepeth not his Commandments, is a Liar, and the Truth is not in him, it is a lie and pretence; un- aâive Light is but Darknefs. In Paradife there was a Tree of Life, and a Tree of Knowledg ; many tafle of the Tree of Knowledg, that never tafle of the Tree of Life. 5. The Light of Faith, is an undoubted certain Light, but in wicked Men it is always mingled with Doubting, ignorance, Ei'for, and Unbelief. It is not convictive, but a loofe wavering Opinions not a fetled grounded Perfwafion, they have not the M m m 2 riches
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