And thus we may answer that of the Apostle (1 Cor. 13.8.) saying, That in heaven, Knowledge shall vanish away. What, nothing but ignorance in heaven? Surely, nothing more unsuitable to, nor unbecoming the glory of that state. Ignorance may better be the Mother of Devotion here (as Papists with ignorance enough have affirmed) than in heaven the companion of our joy. The Apostle then means, that such knowledge as now we have, shall vanish, that is, knowledge so gotten as now it is. In heaven there are no Schools, nor Universities, nor Tutors, nor Teachers. Again, Knowledge of so imperfect a degree as now ⟨p. 162⟩it is of, shall vanish away; The knowledge which Solomon had on earth, will be but ignorance, compared to the knowledge which the Saints have and shall have in heaven; His largeness of heart (though like the sand of the sea) will be but narrowness of heart, compared with the enlargements which Saints shall have there. Glorified Saints shall be in natural things exact Philosophers, able to answer all the questions here put to Job. In spiritual things they shall be exact Divines; all dark Scriptures shall be clear to them; Christ will be their Comment: all da•k questions will be clear to them; Christ will be their light. Those perplexed Cases and fatal Controversies which have troubled the peace of the Church, and have occasioned the calling together of some hundreds of the ablest Scholars to debate and determine them, shall at one view be understood, shall have all their knots untied, and their difficulties removed by the meanest (if among them there shall be found any meaner than others) of glorified understandings. What sweetness the soul shall feel at this revelation of all knowledge, a little knowledge will serve to judge: For then not only to this challenge which the Lord made to Job, about those special matters, the gates of death, and the breadth of the earth; but also to any other, Declare if thou knowest it all, Every soul will readily and confidently answer, Lord, in thy light I know it all.
And thus we may answer that of the Apostle (1 Cor. 13.8.) saying, That in heaven, Knowledge shall vanish away. What, nothing but ignorance in heaven? Surely, nothing more unsutable to, nor unbecoming the glory of that state. Ignorance may better be the Mother of Devotion here (as Papists with ignorance enough have affirmed) than in heaven the companion of our joy. The Apostle then means, that such knowledge as now we have, shall vanish, that is, knowledge so gotten as now it is. In heaven there are no Schools, nor Universities, nor Tutors, nor Teachers. Again, Knowledge of so imperfect a degree as now ⟨p. 162⟩it is of, shall vanish away; The knowledge which Solomon had on earth, will be but ignorance, compared to the knowledge which the Saints have and shall have in heaven; His largeness of heart (though like the sand of the sea) will be but narrowness of heart, compared with the enlargements which Saints shall have there. Glorified Saints shall be in natural things exact Philosophers, able to answer all the questions here put to Job. In spiritual things they shall be exact Divines; all dark Scriptures shall be clear to them; Ch•ist will be their Comment: all da•k questions will be clear to them; Christ will be their light. Those perplexed Cases and fatal Controversies which have troubled the peace of the Church, and have occasioned the calling together of some hundreds of the ablest Scholars to debate and determine them, shall at one view be understood, shall have all their knots untied, and their difficulties removed by the meanest (if among them there shall be found any meaner than others) of glorified understandings. What sweetness the soul shall feel at this revelation of all knowledge, a little knowledge will serve to judge: For then not only to this challenge which the Lord made to Job, about those special matters, the gates of death, and the breadth of the earth; but also to any other, Declare if thou knowest it all, Every soul will readily and confidently answer, Lord, in thy light I know it all.
