Doct. 3. It may here be further noted, that it is a hateful thing to be an ignorant and foolish man in spiritual things: they are mentioned here with a kind of grievous scorn; many reasons make this point evident. For first, the Sacrifices offered for the ignorances of the people, showed them, that it was a vile thing to be ignorant, Heb. 9.7. Secondly, the very nature of ignorance shows it to be a vile thing; for, is it not a hateful thing to us to be blind in our bodies? how much more is it, to have the eyes of our minds out? Thirdly, because it argues that a man hath not the Spirit of God in him; for God's Spirit is given to men, that they might know the things of God: and therefore when a man cannot know the things of God, it is a sign that he wants God's Spirit, 1. Cor. 2.12, 14. Fourthly, because when God would of purpose plague a man with a special or horrible curse upon his soul, this is it, to give him up to a sottish spirit, John 12.40. with Isaiah 6.10. Fifthly, it may appear ⟨p. 648⟩by the effects of this sottishness, when we respect the sins it breeds, or the punishment it brings upon the ignorant persons for sin. It is certain, that ignorance is the mother of vice and corruption: an ignorant person may quickly make himself guilty of a world of sins: yea there is no sin so grossly absurd or abominable, but this kind of men may commit it, and without sense or care too. The Prophet Isaiah opens the dotage of Idolaters, and shows the root of it to be their blockish ignorance, Isaiah 44.18, 20. As ignorant persons may be made wilful Idolaters, and that easily: so may they be whoremongers, Prou. 7.22. drunkards, &c. yea, they would at sometimes kill Christ himself, if he come in their way, Luke 23.34. We see into what sins ignorant persons fall,1 into such as whoredom, Sodomitry, buggery, stealing, murder, drunkenness, swearing, and yet see not their danger, but like brute beasts are senseless; and for the offences, in respect of punishment, they are fearful, whether we respect this life, or another world. In this life their ignorance deprives them of the sight of all those things that have true glory or comfort in them. To live in ignorance, is worse for the wicked, then it is for the body to live in a dungeon; besides, all their best works are lost; all they do is abominable, Hosh. 6.7. Psalm 14.1, 2.
Doct. 3. It may here be further noted, that it is a hatefull thing to be an ignorant and foolish man in spirituall things: they are mentioned here with a kinde of grieuous scorne; many reasons make this point euident. For first, the Sacrifices offered for the ignorances of the people, shewed them, that it was a vile thing to be ignorant, Heb. 9.7. Secondly, the very nature of ignorance shewes it to be a vile thing; for, is it not a hatefull thing to vs to bee blinde in our bodies? how much more is it, to haue the eyes of our mindes out? Thirdly, because it argues that a man hath not the Spirit of God in him; for God's Spirit is giuen to men, that they might know the things of God: and therefore when a man cannot know the things of God, it is a signe that he wants God's Spirit, 1. Cor. 2.12, 14. Fourthly, because when God would of purpose plague a man with a speciall or horrible curse vpon his soul, this is it, to giue him vp to a sottish spirit, Iohn 12.40. with Esay 6.10. Fiftly, it may appeare ⟨p. 648⟩by the effects of this sottishnesse, when wee respect the sinnes it breedes, or the punishment it brings vpon the ignorant persons for sinne. It is certaine, that ignorance is the mother of vice and corruption: an ignorant person may quickly make himselfe guilty of a world of sins: yea there is no sinne so grossely absurd or abominable, but this kinde of men may commit it, and without sense or care too. The Prophet Isaiah opens the dotage of Idolaters, and shewes the roote of it to bee their blockish ignorance, Esay 44.18, 20. As ignorant persons may be made wilfull Idolaters, and that easily: so may they be whoremongers, Prou. 7.22. drunkards, &c. yea, they would at sometimes kill Christ himselfe, if he come in their way, Luke 23.34. We see into what sinnes ignorant persons fall,1 into such as whoredome, Sodomitry, buggery, stealing, murther, drunkennesse, swearing, and yet see not their danger, but like bruite beasts are senslesse; and for the offences, in respect of punishment, they are fearefull, whether wee respect this life, or another world. In this life their ignorance depriues them of the sight of all those things that haue true glory or comfort in them. To liue in ignorance, is worse for the wicked, then it is for the body to liue in a dungeon; besides, all their best workes are lost; all they doe is abominable, Hosh. 6.7.
- 1Vide Eph. 4 17, 18
