Truth indeed runs about the Church-walls for ears, and goeth about the Pillars, but it findeth no nearers, and as the wise man saith, he that hath a Treasure in store and not in use, is, as though he had it not: so we may say of our Age, men have a little knowledge, but for want of using it, they are as though they had no knowledge, and seeing we hide our knowledge if we have it, and we cannot speak the truth, at our going in and our going out, as men are charged by Moses, we cannot be said to have the truth. So in a second degree Paul would have us use the world, as though we used it not, surely had he made his wish of the Truth, as he did of the world, he had surely had it. All our knowledge is a knowledge of the brain, it is not a knowledge of the hart, for it never makes us set less on1 the score of sin: ye shall see this plain, we know that fire will burn, and because we know it indeed, by no pain almost can we be brought to put our finger in the fire; and doubtless, if we were persuaded that sin would burn us as a fire, we would not so easily put our hands unto it. And I would know, if a man had a rule or gold-weight, whereby he might measure his timber, & weigh his metals, and yet he never useth either his rule, or his weights, what good it would do him. Talk of religion, and begin to speak of the word, and you shall have many, that will hold you talk a whole dinner time, or half a day, and look into their lives and common course of their conversation, and they will falsify whatsoever they have said; so they have a thing, but without all use of it. There is yet another2 thing mentioned, Ephes▪ 6. and that is a girdle of Truth, it must be tied to us, but our truth is not girt to us, it sitteth not close to us, it will easily be shaken off from us, if the Cross come, and persecution shake us a little, we can easily shift it off.
Truth indeede runnes about the Church-walles for eares, and goeth about the Pillars, but it findeth no nearers, and as the wise man saith, he that hath a Treasure in store and not in vse, is, as though he had it not: so we may say of our Age, men haue a little knowledge, but for want of vsing it, they are as though they had no knowledge, and seeing wee hide our knowledge if wee haue it, and we cannot speake the truth, at our going in and our going out, as men are charged by Moses, wee cannot be said to haue the truth. So in a second degree Paul would haue vs vse the world, as though we vsed it not, surely had hee made his wish of the Truth, as hee did of the world, hee had surely had it. All our knowledge is a knowledge of the braine, it is not a knowledge of the hart, for it neuer makes vs set lesse on1 the score of sinne: yee shall see this plaine, wee know that fire will burne, and because wee know it indeede, by no paine almost can wee be brought to put our finger in the fire; and doubtles, if wee were perswaded that sinne would burne vs as a fire, wee would not so easily put our hands vnto it. And I would know, if a man had a rule or gold-weight, whereby he might measure his timber, & weigh his mettals, and yet he neuer vseth either his rule, or his weights, what good it would doe him. Talke of religion, and begin to speake of the word, and you shall haue manie, that will holde you talke a whole dinner time, or halfe a day, and looke into their liues and common course of their conuersation, and they wil falsifie whatsoeuer they haue said; so they haue a thing, but without all vse of it. There is yet another2 thing mentioned, Ephes▪ 6. and that is a gyrdle of Truth, it must be tyed to vs, but our truth is not gyrt to vs, it sitteth not close to vs, it will easilie be shaken off from vs, if the Crosse come, and persecution shake vs a little, wee can easily shift it off.
- 1Simile.
- 2Verbal profession.Verball profession.
