A25478:443
A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…
A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically resolved by sundry ministers
London: printed for Thomas Cockerill, 1676
Sermon 5: What Spiritual knowledge they ought to seek for that desire to be saved, and by what me…
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
II. The cause of the judgment to be inflicted: it is a People of no understanding, [Greek or Hebrew] it is not a People of Understanding; as much ⟨p. 109⟩as to say, It is not a people of any understanding, or as we read it, It is a people of no understanding; It is a sottish, ignorant people, such as take no notice of any thing, know not God, observe not his works, understand not their duty. Other sins, no doubt, they were chargeable with; but the Lord takes notice especially of their ignorance, and it is for that they are here threatened. Hence we take notice, that,
II. The cause of the judgment to be inflicted: it is a People of no understanding, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 it is not a People of Ʋnderstanding; as much ⟨p. 109⟩as to say, It is not a people of any understanding, or as we read it, It is a people of no understanding; It is a sottish, ignorant people, such as take no notice of any thing, know not God, observe not his works, understand not their duty. Other sins, no doubt, they were chargeable with; but the Lord takes notice especially of their ignorance, and it is for that they are here threatned. Hence we take notice, that,
Obs. 1. Ignorance of God, his truths or ways is no security against his judgments. Jer. 10.25. Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen that know thee not, &c.
Obs. 2. The knowledge of the will and ways of God is necessary for them, that expect to find favour with God. They that desire God would save them, must labour to know him. That some knowledge of the will of God is needful to all those that expect to be saved, (for we set aside the case of Infants.) I suppose is clear in it self. But when you hear this Doctrine, you may be ready to ask, What is that knowledge, which they who would be saved should seek after? And when that is answered, you may again enquire, What means you are to use for the obtaining of it. And so the case to be spoken to is this, What Spiritual knowledge, or knowledge of the things of God, (for other knowledge at present we take no notice of, however commendable in it self, or secondarily useful to higher ends.) they ought to seek for, who desire to be saved; and how such knowledge may be attained. Of this Case