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…

Hast thou friends, or do any love thee? (wherein much of the comfort of our lives consists, and therefore David says of Jonathan, 2 Sam. 1. 26.¹ Thou wert pleasant to me) it is God who gives favour in mens eyes: So he did Joseph, Gen. 39. 21.² If any man or creature doth thee a kindness, he toucheth their hearts, (as it is said of the men who clave to Saul) and visits for thee; He made the Egyptians beyond all reason the Israelites friends, gave them favour in their eyes, as the text tells us. And hence, Gen. 33. 10. Jacob says, He saw the face of God, in reconciled Esau's face; for Gods favour appeared in his look. He put you into your callings, ranks, and stations, gives you all your skill, success in them; The meanest of trades, to sow, and plough, and thresh, they are from the Lord, who is wonderful in working, (Isaiah 28. from the 23. to the end) even as well as the skill of the most curious Engraver, Limner, or Embroiderer (as of Bezaleel) the Scripture says, God was his Master, taught him. Hast thou enlarged parts and gifts ⟨p. 35⟩for higher employments?³ it is not thy birth, or age hath acquired them unto thee: Job 32. 8, 9. Great men are not always wise, therefore it goes not by birth; nor have the aged always understanding, it goes not only by experience; but it is the inspiration of the Almighty. And hast a calling answerable to thy parts, to be a Scholar, and have thy mind enriched and ennobled with the best and choicest jewel the world hath, wisdom and knowledge; whereby the mind is elevated as much above other mens, as they are above beasts? God hath been thy great Tutor, The mind of man is Gods Candle, and he maketh wiser than a mans teachers, as he did Moses in Egyptian learning, Daniel, David.