The husbandmans calling showing the excellencies, temptations, graces, duties &c. of the Christian husbandmanThe husbandmans calling shewing the excellencies, temptations, graces, duties &c. of the Christian husbandman

And more sad, that the Husbandman should plead for this his Ignorance; that any should imagine his sin should excuse him, and bring him off before God; That when God saith, My people perish for want of Knowledge, he ⟨p. 115⟩¹should conclude, because I want knowledge, therefore I shall not perish; yea, and imagine, that he shall speed better, than the most knowing and conscionable of his Neighbours; what besotted blindness is this? Who can have patience to hear this confident folly? but who is more bold than blind Bayard? Alas, it is ignorance that feeds his presumption. If he did but see himself in a true glass, he would abhor himself in dust and ashes. And therefore its time to seek some Cure of this temptation; And that is,

1. 1Hos. 4.6.

1. Be persuaded of the absolute necessity of saving Knowledge. That no man is excused by his birth, poverty, or dullness, from getting so much knowledge in the fundamentals of Religion, as will let Christ into the soul, and steer it to Heaven. This is certain, that as no world was made without Light in the first place, so no new world in the soul without the light of Knowledge. Gods Method is, Acts 26. 18. To turn men from darkness to light, and so from the power of Satan unto God. This is the way to Eternal Life, John 17. 3. To know the only true God, and Jesus Christ. This is the first branch in the New Covenant, A heart to know God, Jer. 24. 7. not his Name, but his Nature, to know God in Chris, to know his will. Can you think any man goes to Heaven in the dark, to Heaven blind? Gods children are never born blind or dumb: must men of old be so many years, only to learn the principles of Philosophy,