I answer, no: For to refuse knowledge will damn as much as abusing it. This you may see in Prov. 1. 23. Ye fools (says wisdom) you that hate knowledge, Turn, and I will pour my spirit upon you, and make known my words to you. Well, ver. 24. they refused, and would none of his reproof: Therefore says God, I will laugh at your calamity: that is, I will have no pity, but instead of pity, God will laugh at you; and when your fear comes, I will not answer, because ye hated knowledge, ver. 29. so as this is as bad. There remains therefore no middle way of refuge, ⟨p. 91⟩to extricate thy self at, and avoid all this, no remedy but turning unto God: otherwise thou canst not but be more miserable than other men; yea and this must be done speedily also: For thou having knowledge, God is quicker in denying thee grace, and in giving thee up to a reprobate mind, than another man, who is ignorant. He will wait upon another that knows not his will & ways, twenty, thirty, forty years, as he did upon the children of the Israelites that were borne in the wilderness, and had not seen his wonders in Egypt, and at the red sea: but those that had, he soon sware against many of them, that they should never enter into his rest. Christ comes as a swift witness against those to whom the Gospel is preached, Mal. 3. 5. he makes quick dispatch of the treaty of grace with them. Therefore few that have knowledge are converted when they are old, or that lived long under the means. And therefore you that have knowledge, are engaged to repent, and to turn to God, and to bring your hearts to your knowledge, and that speedily also, or else your damnation will not only be more intolerable than others, but the sentence of it pass out more quickly against you. Therefore as Christ says, Joh. 12. 36. Whilst you have the light, walk in it: For that day of Grace, which is very clear and bright, is usually a short one. And though men may live many natural days after, and enjoy the common light of the sun, yet the day of grace, and of gracious excitements to repent, may be but a short one.
I answer, no: For to refuse knowledge will damn as much as abusing it. This you may see in Prov. 1. 23. Ye fooles (sayes wisedome) you that hate knowledge, Turne, and I will poure my spirit upon you, and make known my words to you. Well, ver. 24. they refused, and would none of his reproof: Therefore sayes God, I will laugh at your calamitie: that is, I will have no pitty, but instead of pitty, God will laugh at you; and when your feare comes, I will not answer, because ye hated knowledge, ver. 29. so as this is as bad. There remaines therefore no middle way of refuge, ⟨p. 91⟩to extricate thy selfe at, and avoid all this, no remedy but turning unto God: otherwise thou canst not but be more miserable than other men; yea and this must be done speedily also: For thou having knowledge, God is quicker in denying thee grace, and in giving thee up to a reprobate mind, than another man, who is ignorant. He will wait upon another that knows not his will & waies, twenty, thirty, forty yeares, as he did upon the children of the Israelites that were borne in the wildernesse, and had not seene his wonders in Egypt, and at the red sea: but those that had, he soone sware against many of them, that they should never enter into his rest. Christ comes as a swift witnesse against those to whom the Gospell is preached, Mal. 3. 5. he makes quick dispatch of the treaty of grace with them. Therefore few that have knowledge are converted when they are old, or that lived long under the meanes. And therefore you that have knowledge, are engaged to repent, and to turn to God, and to bring your hearts to your knowledge, and that speedily also, or else your damnation will not only be more intolerable than others, but the sentence of it passe out more quickly against you. Therefore as Christ sayes, Ioh. 12. 36. Whilst you have the light, walk in it: For that day of Grace, which is very clear and bright, is usually a short one. And though men may live many naturall dayes after, and enjoy the common light of the sunne, yet the day of grace, and of gracious excitements to repent, may be but a short one.
