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…

Thirdly, which is yet much worse, when men §3refuse knowledge,¹ that they may sin the more freely; and do stop the ear, lest they should be charmed: As when men are loath, and afraid, and dare not read such a book as discovers, or might discover that truth to them, the submission to which would prejudice them, and this to the end that they may plead ignorance of their sin. Thus also those that assent not to truth when it comes in strongly upon them, but seek to evade it. But 1 Cor. 14. 38. when the Apostle had clearly discovered the truth in those things controverted, so as who ever was spiritual, or not fully blind, might see, and would acknowledge the truth: then he shuts up his discourse about them, ver. 27. If any be ignorant, let him be ignorant: for it is wilful, it is affected; he speaks it, as elsewhere, Revel. last, it is said, He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: that is, he that will be unjust, and refuseth to turn, let him go on. This is a great sin, for God, you see, gives such a man over: one that is but neglectful, or dull of capacity, God will take pains with him, to teach him, and bear with him, as Christ did with his Disciples: but if he be wilfully ignorant, he lets him die in his ignorance, and yet will reckon with him, as if all his sins had been committed against knowledge, because he refused to know.

Thirdly, which is yet much worse, when men §3refuse knowledge,¹ that they may sinne the more freely; and doe stop the eare, lest they should be charmed: As when men are loath, and afraid, and dare not reade such a booke as discovers, or might discover that truth to them, the submission to which would prejudice them, and this to the end that they may plead ignorance of their sinne. Thus also those that assent not to truth when it comes in strongly upon them, but seek to evade it. But 1 Cor. 14. 38. when the Apostle had cleerely discovered the truth in those things controverted, so as who ever was spirituall, or not fully blind, might see, and would acknowledge the truth: then he shuts up his discourse about them, ver. 27. If any be ignorant, let him be ignorant: for it is wilfull, it is affected; hee speakes it, as elsewhere, Revel. last, it is said, He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: that is, hee that will be unjust, and refuseth to turne, let him goe on. This is a great sinne, for God, you see, gives such a man over: one that is but neglectfull, or dull of capacity, God will take paines with him, to teach him, and beare with him, as Christ did with his Disciples: but if he be wilfully ignorant, he lets him die in his ignorance, and yet will reckon with him, as if all his sinnes had beene committed against knowledge, because hee refused to know.