A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

So should Magistrates, how they are to behave themselves in the Commonwealth, Masters in their Families, Husbands towards their Wives, Wives toward their Husbands, both toward their Children, and they again toward their Parents. In a word, Men are to study those things which are most profitable; such as will better their condition, and not only improve their understanding. You know a sick Man had rather have a good Medicine than fine Clothes, he minds more the easing of his Pain, than the dressing up of his Body; That which will make you spruce, will not always make you well; Fine trappings will not Cure a lame Horse, nor the Painting of the Face heal the Diseases of the Spleen or Liver; That knowledge, which adorns your Mind, yet may not always mend your Heart; To conclude this, Men must labour to know the truth as it is in Jesus, Eph. 4.21. So to know it as to feel it, and be under the influence of it; or to know the truth to that end, for which Christ teacheth it; that is, that Men may be better, as well as wiser, more ready to do their Master's will, as well as know it. Men know the truth as they should, and as Christ would have them, when their knowledge puts them upon the great duties of Mortification, and Sanctification; v. 22. That ye put off as to your former Conversation the Old man; and v. 23, 24. Be renewed in the Spirit of your Mind; and put on the New man.

Prop. 7. Every Man should labour to get as much Spiritual knowledge as he can, by the means of the knowledge he hath, and as he can get, without the neglect of other necessary duties. It is not for nothing that the Apostle prays for the Colossians Ch. 1.9. that they might be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all Wisdom and Spiritual understanding: and exhorts the Corinthians Epist. 1.14.20. though in Malice they were Children, yet in understanding to be Men. If Christians ought to grow in every Grace, why not in knowledge, which is it self a Grace, and helpful to all other Graces? We are to be accountable for the means we have of getting our knowledge increased, and therefore sure are to labour that we may get it increased. And though a less measure of knowledge might serve turn to bring a Man to Heaven, yet 1. It is contrary to that Spirit of Ingenuity, that largeness of Heart towards the things of God, which