Aggravation of sin and sinning against knowledge. Mercy. Delivered in several sermons upon divers…Aggravation of sinne and sinning against knowledge. Mercie. Delivered in severall sermons upon divers…

These are the Demonstrations of it,¹ the Reasons are

1. 1Secondly, Reasons, which are 6. 1. Because knowledge is the greatest […].Secondly, Reasons, which are 6. 1. Because knowledge is the greatest 〈…〉.

First, because knowledge of God and his ways, is the greatest mercy, next to saving grace: He hath not dealt [so] with every Nation. Wherein? In giving the knowledge of his ways: and as it is thus, so to a nation, so to a man; and therefore Christ speaking of the gift of knowledge, and giving the reason why it so greatly condemneth, Luke 12. 48. says, For to whom [much] is given, much is required. As if he had said, To know his Masters will, that is the great talent of all other. There is a [much] in that. Thus it was in the Heathens esteem also: They acknowledged their foolish wisdom in moral and natural Philosophy, their greatest excellency: and therefore Plato thanked God for three things; that he was a man, an Athenian, and a Philosopher. And Rom. 1. 22. the Apostle mentions it as that excellency they did profess. And Solomon, of all vanities says this is the best vanity, and that it exceeds folly, as light doth darkness, Eccles. 2. But surely much more is the knowledge of the Law, and of God, as we have it revealed to us; this must needs be much more excellent. ⟨p. 43⟩And so the Jews esteemed theirs; as in this second Chapter of the Romans, the Apostle shows also of them, that they made their boast of the Law, and their form of knowledge of it, and approving the things that are excellent. And what do the two great books of the creatures, and the word, and all means else serve for, but to increase knowledge? If therefore all tend to this, this is then the greatest mercy of all the rest.