644- T.he Knowledge of God. Vol. I; them to judge and cenfure Mens Hearts: which is tofpeak evil of the things which they know not; to meddlewith things which do not fall under their cognizance. What St. Yames faith, ch. ç. r z. There is one law- giver, that is able to fave and to deflroy ; who art thou that judgefl another ? is proportionably true in thiscafe ; there is but one that knows the heart; who art thou then thatjudgefl another Mani heart ? Whoart thou, O Man! that takeft upon thee to fit in judgment upon thy Brother, and to pals Sentence upon his Heart, to pronounce him a Hypocrite, a wicked Man, and a damned Wretch? Art thou a Man, and the fon of Man, and wilt thou affume to thy felf the Prerogative of God? Man can only look to the outward appearance ; but Godfeeth the heart. There's nothingdoth more palpably difcover the Unchriftian Spirit of that new Se& which is of late rifen up among us, than their taking upon them to judge Men's Hearts, and as confidently to cenfure every Man they meet, as if they had a window into his Breaft: But they are'not alone guilty of this ; thofe who are fo ready to call Men Hypocrites, they invade this Prerogative of God. We may pronounce an action Wicked, if it be contrary to the Rule ; or a Man Wick- ed, as to his prefent (late, if the general courfe of his Life and AQions.be wick, ed ; for our Saviour tells us, by their Fruitsye fhall know them; this we may do, provided we be called to it, and be Pure it is fo : but to call any Man an Hypo- crite, who makes an outward profeffion of Religion, and whofe external Conver- fction is unblameable; this is to judge a Man in a matter of which thou canft have no Evidence ; this isto afcend into Heaven, and ftep into the throne of God, and to be like the me high; for he,even heonly, knows the hearts ofthe children ofmen. . IV. FromGod's Knowledge of Future Events, we may learn, r. The Vanity ofAftrology, and all other Arts that pretend to foretell future Events, things that depend on the Will ofFree Agents. The vanity of thefe Arts hath been fuffrciently (hewn by Learned Men, from the Weaknefs and Uncertain- ty of the Principles they rely upon; I (hall only for the prefent take notice, that it contradicts this Principleof Religion, that God only knows future events. From prudent Colje&ions and Obfervations, probable Conjectures may be made of what will happen in fume Cafes; but there are no certain ProfpeEive- Glaffes, with which we can fee Future Events, but Divine Revelations ; therefore who- ever takes upon him to foretel Future Events without Divine Revelation; he ar- rogates to himfelfthat which is the Prerogativeofthe Deity; and God delights to chaliife the Curiofity, and crofs the Predi&ions of thefe vain Pretenders, Ifa. 44, 24, 25. Thus faith the Lordthat formed thee, Iam the Lord that maketh allthings, that firetcheth forth the Heavensalone, thatfpreadeth abroad the Earth by myfelf that fruflrateth the tokens of the Lyars, andmaketh Diviners mad; that turnethwife men backward, andmakeththeir knowledge foolifh. As he alto in Scripture threatens thofe who confult them, and rely upon them. Thofe who go to Aftrologers, of Wife Men, as they call them, to know their Fortunes, and enquire of the Events of their Life, they forfakeGod, and betake themfelves to lying vanities. z. Refer future Things to God who only knows them, craft him with all E- vents ; call your care upon him. When you have ufed your belt Prudence, and Wifdom, and Diligence for your Supply and Security for the future, leave the reft toGod, foryour Heavenly Father knoweth both. your Wants and your Dangers. When we are over-folicitous about future Things, we take God's proper Work out of his Hands, and ufurp the Government of the World. Why do we take too much upon us ? We are but ofyeflerday, and know not what will be to morrow. Mind your prefent Duty and Work, and leave Events to God. Secret things belong to the Lord our God ; but thofe things that are revealed, to us andour Children for ever, to do all the words of this law, Deut. 29. 29. Do your Duty, commit the refl to God in well-doing. In this World we are in a mixt condition, which is made up of Good and Evil, of Happinefs and Mifery ; what is good for us to know, is revealed, that is our duty ; but in great Wifdom and pity to Mankind, God hath con. sealed and hid the reft from us. He hath hid from us the Good that may happen to
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