A27053:553
A treatise of self-denial. By Richard Baxter, pastor of the church at KidderminsterA treatise of self-denial. By Richard Baxter, pastor of the church at Kederminster
London: printed by Robert White for Nevil Simmons, 1675
Treatise › Chapter 32: Unnecessary Knowledge, and Deligh therein
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.
God cannot be known too much, nor can any man be too much in love with the true knowledge of God in Jesus Christ: without this knowledge the mind is not good, nor can the heart be sanctified, or the man be saved: Nor can any man know too much of the will and word of God; nor yet of his works in which he revealeth himself to the world. But the Carnal knowledge which is to be denied, is of another nature than the sanctified knowledge of believers. I shall show you the difference in certain particular respects.
God cannot be known too much, nor can any man be too much in love with the true knowledge of God in Jesus Christ: without this knowledge the mind is not good, nor can the heart be sanctified, or the man be saved: Nor can any man know too much of the will and word of God; nor yet of his works in which he revealeth himself to the world. But the Carnal knowledge which is to be denied, is of another nature than the sanctified knowledge of believers. I shall shew you the difference in certain particular respects.
1. This desire to know, which is in the unsanctified, is, partly from mere nature, and partly from a distempered fantasy, which is like a corrupt enraged appetite, that chooseth that which is unwholesome, and yet is overgreedy after it. But the desire after knowledge in the sanctified, is kindled by the love of God, and the love ⟨p. 209⟩of those holy and heavenly things which they are inquiring after. It is not the Love of God that sets ungodly men upon their studies, but a common and carnal desire to know; and this appears in the end, which is next.
1. This desire to know, which is in the unsanctified, is, partly from meer nature, and partly from a distempered fantasie, which is like a crorupt enraged appetite, that chooseth that which is unwholsom, and yet is overgreedy after it. But the desire after knowledge in the sanctified, is kindled by the love of God, and the love ⟨p. 209⟩