If Knowledge be the Key that opens the Heart to Christ, as its plain it is, from Luke 11. 52. where Christ denounceth a woe to them that took away the Key of Knowledge; then Ignorance must needs be the shutter that makes fast the door of the Heart against Christ. Upon this ground Christ told the Woman of Samaria, John 4. 10. that her Infidelity grew upon the root of her Ignorance, If thou […] the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldst have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. Ah sinners, did you but know what a Christ he is that is offered to your Souls in the Gospel, did you see his beauty, fullness, and suitableness, and feel your own necessities of him, all the World could not keep you from him: You would break through all reproaches, all sufferings, all self-denials, to come into the enjoyment of him. But alas, it is with you as it was with those, Cant. 5. 9. What is thy beloved (say they to the Spouse) more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us? Unknown excellencies attract not: Ignorance is Satan's Sceptre, which he sways over all his Kingdom of darkness, and holds his Vassals in miserable bondage to him. Hence the Devils are called, The rulers of the darkness of this World, Ephes. 6. 12. Alas, were the Eyes of sinners but opened to see their woeful ⟨p. 51⟩state, and their remedy in Christ, he could never hold them in subjection one day longer; they would break away from under his cruel Government, and run over by Thousands to Christ; for so they do as soon as ever God opens their Eyes; in the same hour they are turned from darkness to light, they are also turned from the power of Satan to God, Acts 28. 16. Oh, that you did but know the worth of your Souls, the dreadful danger they are in, and the fearful wrath that hangs over them; the willingness and ability of Christ to save them, you could not sleep one night longer in the state you are: The next cry would be, what shall I do to be saved? Who will show me the way to Christ? Help Ministers, help Christians, yea, help Lord; these would be the laments and cries of them that are now secure and quiet; but the God of this World hath blinded the Eyes of them that believe not. No cries for a Physician, because no sense how their Souls are stabbed by sins of commission, and starved by sins of omission.
If Knowledge be the Key that opens the Heart to Christ, as its plain it is, from Luke 11. 52. where Christ denounceth a wo to them that took away the Key of Knowledge; then Ignorance must needs be the shutter that makes fast the door of the Heart against Christ. Upon this ground Christ told the Woman of Samaria, Iohn 4. 10. that her Infideli•y grew upon the root of her Ignorance, If thou 〈…〉 the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldst have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. Ah sinners, did you but know what a Christ he is that is offered to your Souls in the Gospel, did you see his beauty, fulness, and suitablness, and feel your own necessities of him, all the World could not keep you from him: You would break through all reproaches, all sufferings, all self-denials, to come into the enjoyment of him. But alas, it is with you as it was with those, Cant. 5. 9. What is thy beloved (say they to the Spouse) more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us? Unknown excellencies attract not: Ignorance is Satans Scepter, which he sways over all his Kingdom of darkness, and holds his Vassals in miserable bondage to him. Hence the Devils are called, The rulers of the darkness of this World, Ephes. 6. 12. Alas, were the Eyes of sinners but opened to see their woful ⟨p. 51⟩state, and their remedy in Christ, he could never hold them in subjection one day longer; they would break away from under his cruel Government, and run over by Thousands to Christ; for so they do as soon as ever God opens their Eyes; in the same hour they are turned from darkness to light, they are also turned from the power of Satan to God, Acts 28. 16. Oh, that you did but know the worth of your Souls, the dreadful danger they are in, and the fearf•l wrath that hangs over them; the willingness and ability of Christ to save them, you could not sleep one night longer in the state you are: The next cry would be, what shall I do to be saved? Who will shew me the way to Christ? Help Ministers, help Christians, yea, help Lord; these would be the laments and cries of them that are now secure and quiet; but the God of this World hath blinded the Eyes of them that believe not. No cries for a Phisitian, because no sense how their Souls are stabbed by sins of commission, and starved by sins of omission.
