z 7 Of the `Uncertainty of 'Vol: II. us the Knowledgeof thofe Things which are neceffary and ufeful for us toknow; fo no lefs in keeping us ignorant of other Things, which are not only not necef- fary for us to know, but which it would be very much to our Harm and Pre- judice, to have the Knowledge of them communicated to us. God bath acquaint- edus with whatever is neceffary to dire& and exciteus to our Duty ; but he bath purpofely concealed from us thofe Things, which might tend to make us slothful and carelefs, 'negligent and remits in it. He bath not acquainted us with the Secrets of his Decrees and Providence ; but bath referved thefe in his ownPower; becaufe it would be really to our Difadvantage to have the Know- ledge ofthem. If we knew all Events before-hand, and how and when all Things would happen, we Ihould be too much concern'd about fome Things, and too little about others;, and therefore God bath, in great Wifdom and Goodnefs, afforded us the Knowledge of thofe Things which are molt proper and ufeful for us, whereby we may be inftrueted in our Duty, and encouraged and`ftirredup to it. yob 28. 28. Unto Man hefaith, The Fear of the Lord, that is Wifdom 5 and to depart from Evil, is Underflanding. This is the Knowledge which is fit for us, and which no Man is deftitute of, but by his own Fault, and grofs Neglect of himfelf. So that God is very good to us, both in revealing fotne Things to us, and in hiding other Things from us; particularly thofe Things which we are fpeaking of, concerning the Time of the End of the World, and the Judgment of the Great Day. Whichdid Men certainlyknow it to be fo far oft, as it really was in our Saviour's Time, and may perhaps now be, it would very much abate the Force and Awe of it upon the Minds ofMen ; for then Men would think them- felves fafe, 'till Death Ihould remove them out of the World. But when, for any Thing we know, the general Judgment of the World may overtake us the next Moment 5 this Confideration gives a great Deal of Weight to all the reft, and is apt to ftrike a particular Terror into Men. What Man would not be afraid tooffend, if hedid not knowbut that the next Moment he fhouldbe brought to his Trial, before a fevere and impartial Judge ? So that for this Reafon, God bath in great Kindnefs to us concealed this Matter from us, and like a wifeand good Father, inftead of gratifying our Curiofity, hath confultedour real Benefit and Advantage. Befides this, that it is always ufeful to the World tobe kept in, awe by the continual Danger and Terror of an approaching Judgment, there feems to have been a more particular Reafon why our Saviour would have the Difciples and firft Chriftians ignorant of this Thing ; for which Reafon he difcourfed fo to them concerningit,as that theymight rather apprehend, that the Endof all Things was at Hand, and might probably happen in their Time. And thus it feems his Difciples underftood his Speech concerning St. John, as if he fhould not die 'IM our Lord came to Judgment. And theApoftles in feveral of their Exhortations, feem tourgeChriftians from this very Confideration,oftheNearnefs ofthe general Judg- ment. So St. Paul, Phil. 4. 5. Let your Moderation beknown to all Men; the Lord is at Hand. And the Author to the Hebrews, Ch. to. 25. encourageth Chriftians to Conftancy in their Profefiìon upon the fame Account, Not forfaking the afeesbling yourfetus together, as the manner of f me is ; but exhorting one another, andfo much the more, becaufe the Day approacheth. So likewife St. James, Ch. 5. 9. Grudge not one againfl another, Brethren, leftye be condemned : Behold, the Judge flandeth at the Door. And St. Peter tells us, that feveral impious Men fcoffed at them upon this Account, as if the Apoftles had been Deceivers in this Matter, and thereforePaid, Where is the Promifi ofhis Coming? as it were upbraiding them, for putting Men in a vain Expe&ationof it. And it was no Inconvenience at all, that the Apoftles and firi Chriftians had this Apprehenfion of the Nearnefs of that Time ; for noConlderation could be more forcible tokeep them fledfaftin their Profefion, and to fortifie them againft Sufferings, than a Perfwafion of the Approach of that Day, wherein thofe who füffered for Chrift fhould be fo glorioufly rewarded ; and thofe who for Fear of fuffering fell off from him, fhould be fo terribly punith'd. And nothing could be
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