Verf. 3 3. Vfe. the Epifile to the Romans. cannot be fetched and drawne out. Secondly, our undecflanding Is finite and limited. Looke What a fpoon is to the holding of the whole Sea, or a panne to the meafuring of heaven ; or one file to the griping of the earth, that is mans knowledge being com- pared with Gods knowledge. Gods knowledge is mofi excellent, and not only firfi,forthe immcnfity and largenes of it, knowing himfelfe and all things; but fecondly, for the perfe &ion of it, knowing all things perfe &ly ; and thirdly, alfo' for the manner needing no meanes of knowledge at all : and fourthly, for the celerity ofit, in a mo- ment knowing all. Fiftly, the certain- ty, it cannot be deceived. Sixdy, the eternity. Seventhly, the efficacie, being the caufe of all,and enlighting all. Thirdly,therebe many things which God keeps and referves as fecrecs in his owne bofome, and cannot be known of us, no more then we know anothers thoughts or the reafons of o- thers doings, efpecially of the a &s of Princes, whole wayes are like a great deep, faith Solomon; which if we can- not alwayes lock into, how much lellè into all Gods matters ? As our bodily eyes, howfoever quick -lighted, yet are notabiedire&ly to Tooke upon the Sun (pining in his brightnefi`e : fo the perfe& wifdome of God by many degrees, doth exceed the molt perfe& and profound wifdonie of man. T 1 M. Talus ue what duties this dotttfne may pat us in minde o[? S i r. That we are bound moll reverently to think and (peak of'thofe words and wakes of God which we doe not know, as being affured they proceed ` from moll excellent know- ledge, and infinite wifedome. Second- ly, it may move us to confider with humility, the weakneffe of our owne knowledge, which we hall never perceive how poore and fimpie it is,till we put it in the ballance, and compare it with Gods knowledge. As Peter the better faw his owne vilenefle, when the majetly and divine power of Chrill, appeared at the draught of Fifties; and 497 I /graham bd o!ding the unfpeakeable glory of God, was the more eafìfy brought to perceive his owne bafeneffe, that he was but dull and alites : and as the molt piercing and lighted eye,will prove dul,if it be fee againll the brantes of t.e Sunne : fo the bei and greatefl knowledge of any man (howfoever it may feeme much ) when hee corn- , pareth himfelfe with others that are tarie more ignorant then Ice, yet in re- fpc& of God it will be found moere ignorance and blindneffe, even asdark- neffc is in con-path-on of the light : let every man therefore, as he leeks know- ledge to puffe him up, beat it down with this thought ; O Lord, how little of portion of wífde me have I in regard of thee T r At. What doe jugements and wages fgni fie ? S 1 L.Some take them to lignifie one thing, the counfell of God touching mankinde , and the everts of thole counfels; but the heft is to dillinguifh them,and to expound judgements of the meanes which God uleth in the difpofi- tion and government ofmankinde, ac- cording to his eternal' counfels: in which fenfe the Hebrews doe ufe to take this word for Gods adminif}rati- on, as Pfal. g. 7.and 67. 4. Judges 7.26. John 5.22. By [ Wayes ] are meant the purpofes and decrees of God, touching all perfons, and touching their eternal' condition, together with the reafons why he doth this to that man, and not to that.And whereas his wayes be two - fold,either thole by which we come un- to him,which are his precepts and pro mifes,Pjal. I 12.0. and 119. 1. ( for as by the way we are lcd to the City,fo by the word of promifes, and commande- ment we are brought to God:) or thofeby which God comes to us,which are the wayes of his providence, and de- crees ofmercy and jullice : Thefe latter are nnderffood here, and thefe are tear - rned [unfearchable,] becaufe they ought not to be fearchéd nor équired into, and [untraceable and pall finding out,] be- caufe by no fearch they are to be found; as the way ofa hip in the Sea, and the Ll u 2 way
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