A discourse concerning old-age tending to the instruction, caution and comfort of aged persons…

For Knowledge is either Infused, or Acquired by Study, Reading and Converse. In these the Aged must needs out-strip the Young, as having been much longer conversant in the use of them: and for the former, the Holy Ghost doth commonly impart these Habits in the use of means; and so every way the Old man hath the advantage in this accomplishment. Now Knowledge is that, wherein the Image of God partly consists, it is the glory of Angels, and it is the honour of Man. Those therefore were a strange sort of Friars in Italy, that Luther writes of, called Fratres Ignorantiae, that took a solemn Oath, that they would know nothing at all, but answer to all questions with Nescio: unless men were resolved to renounce both Divinity and Humanity at once. No, doubtless, saving Knowledge is to the Soul, as the Eye ⟨p. 81⟩to the Body, of great excellency and of great use. 'Tis this that Crowns the hoary head, and conveys Beauty unto wrinkles, Prov. 14. 18. The prudent are crowned with knowledge. Its true, many there are, who have tasted of the Tree of Knowledge, that have never tasted of the Tree of Life; and knowledge of it self puffeth up, so that a man may have all knowledge, and yet no Charity, 1 Cor. 13. 2. Yet as it is true, there may be much knowledge without a grain of Grace; so it is certain, there cannot be one spark of Grace without Knowledge^e. For how shall a Man know Sin, unless he understand the Law of God: how can he embrace Jesus Christ aright, except he know him? or build for Heaven without a Foundation?

For Knowledge is either Infused, or Acquired by Study, Reading and Converse. In these the Aged must needs out-strip the Young, as having been much longer conversant in the use of them: and for the former, the Holy Ghost doth commonly impart these Habits in the use of means; and so every way the Old man hath the advantage in this accomplishment. Now Knowledge is that, wherein the Image of God partly consists, it is the glory of Angels, and it is the honour of Man. Those therefore were a strange sort of Friars in Italy, that Luther writes of, call'd Fratres Ignorantiae, that took a solemn Oath, that they would know nothing at all, but answer to all questions with Nescio: unless men were resolved to renounce both Divinity and Humanity at once. No, doubtless, saving Knowledge is to the Soul, as the Eye