CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

2. Another cause of Ignorance is Slothfulness and negligence; They strive not, they pray not for knowledge, whereas this cannot be obtained without prayer and diligence: Then shall ye know if ye follow on to know the Lord, Hos. 6.3. and Solomon bids us seek after it more then for gold, or the richest treasures, Pro. 2.3. & 8.10. to love it as thy Sister or Mother, many people complain they are ignorant, God help them, for they have little knowledge, and where is the fault all this while? Is it not thy negligence, thy slothfulness? May we not produce many instances of those who have been very ignorant and stupid, yet by prayer and hearty endeavour have obtained to a competent measure of knowledge: for humane knowledge shall there be so much labour taken, sudavit & alsit, said the Poet, and for Christian knowledge wherein is our happiness and eternal life, shall we not be as industrious? Why dost thou not rather cry out of thy self every night? I go to bed, and yet have got no knowledge: I understand such and such things in the world, but nothing at all about God and Christ; Thus the sluggards Field is ⟨p. 82⟩full of briars and weeds; At the day of judgement when God will call for an account of every day and hour, thou wilt bewail thy folly, that time was not more redeemed to get knowledge.

2. Another cause of Ignorance is Slothfulnesse and negligence; They strive not, they pray not for knowledge, whereas this cannot be obtained without praier and diligence: Then shall ye know if ye follow on to know the Lord, Hos. 6.3. and Solomon bids us seek after it more then for gold, or the richest treasures, Pro. 2.3. & 8.10. to love it as thy Sister or Mother, many people complain they are ignorant, God help them, for they have little knowledge, and where is the fault all this while? Is it not thy negligence, thy slothfulnesse? May we not produce many instances of those who have been very ignorant and stupid, yet by praier and hearty endeavour have obtained to a competent measure of knowledge: for humane knowledge shall there be so much labour taken, sudavit & alsit, said the Poet, and for Christian knowledge wherein is our happinesse and eternel life, shall we not be as industrious? Why dost thou not rather cry out of thy self every night? I goe to bed, and yet have got no knowledge: I understand such and such things in the world, but nothing at all about God and Christ; Thus the sluggards Field is