Use. 1. This doctrine informs us, 1. How miserable they are that are without knowledge, poor ignorant blind sinners, that know nothing of God and Christ and the mysteries of the Gospel, and the way of duty: but especially they that enjoy the means of knowledge, and are in a capacity of obtaining it. Woe be to them that are ignorant in an Age of knowledge, blind in a land of light, see so little even in a valley of vision; that are ignorant in England, ignorant in London; that are ignorant because they will be ignorant, are in the dark because they love darkness. We may even wonder at many, what shift they make to maintain their ignorance, when so much knowledge is abroad, but that they draw the curtains and close their eyes, and wink away the light, and instead of looking for saving knowledge, they hope to be excused by their ignorance. What though such as are under an invincible ignorance of revealed truths, may not be damned for not believing what they have not heard, or for not doing what they have not known? they are miserable enough in not knowing what might save them, as well as in their not practising the little they do know, which though it be not sufficient to make them happy, yet is sufficient to make them inexcusable. And what is this to those that are so deeply ignorant under the means of knowledge? who is there among us, but might come to know so much as is needful to his Salvation? who is there but might hear good Ministers, or hath some good Relations, or might converse with some good people, or read some good book? Who is there but hath, or may have a Bible, and a Catechism? and so long as Men have the Bible in their hands, they can never be excused, if they perish ⟨p. 125⟩in their ignorance. So long as Christ is the Prophet of his Church, and promiseth his Spirit to them that ask him, and offereth so freely to instruct them; the case of those that are among, and converse with God's people, and yet remain ignorant, must needs be desperate. Is it so great a matter to hear the word, to read the Scriptures, and to pray to God for an understanding of them? who will pity a man that perisheth for thirst, and yet sits by a fountain? or that starves for hunger, and yet may come every day to a full granary?
Ʋse. 1. This doctrine informs us, 1. How miserable they are that are without knowlede, poor ignorant blind sinners, that know nothing of God and Christ and the mysteries of the Gospel, and the way of duty: but especially they that enjoy the means of knowledg, and are in a capacity of obtaining it. Woe be to them that are ignorant in an Age of knowledg, blind in a land of light, see so little even in a valley of vision; that are ignorant in England, ignorant in London; that are ignorant because they will be ignorant, are in the dark because they love darkness. We may even wonder at many, what shift they make to maintain their ignorance, when so much knowledg is abroad, but that they draw the curtains and close their eyes, and wink away the light, and instead of looking for saving knowledg, they hope to be excused by their ignorance. What though such as are under an invincible ignorance of revealed truths, may not be damned for not believing what they have not heard, or for not doing what they have not known? they are miserable enough in not knowing what might save them, as well as in their not practising the little they do know, which though it be not sufficient to make them happy, yet is sufficient to make them inexcusable. And what is this to those that are so deeply ignorant under the means of knowledge? who is there among us, but might come to know so much as is needful to his Salvation? who is there but might hear good Ministers, or hath some good Relations, or might converse with some good people, or read some good book? Who is there but hath, or may have a Bible, and a Catechism? and so long as Men have the Bible in their hands, they can never be excused, if they perish ⟨p. 125⟩in their ignorance. So long as Christ is the Prophet of his Church, and promiseth his Spirit to them that ask him, and offereth so freely to instruct them; the case of those that are among, and converse with God's people, and yet remain ignorant, must needs be desperate. Is it so great a matter to hear the word, to read the Scriptures, and to pray to God for an understanding of them? who will pity a man that perisheth for thirst, and yet sits by a fountain? or that starves for hunger, and yet may come every day to a full granary?
