A treatise of the incomparableness of God in his being, attributes, works and word…

CHAP. XXIV. The Means of acquaintance with God. A sense of our Ignorance. Attendance on the word. Fervent Prayer.

The means which I shall offer, as helpful to the attainment of his knowledge of God, are these.

THe means which I shall offer, as helpful to the attainment of his knowledge of God, are these.

1. Be sensible of thine ignorance of him. A conceited Scholar is no good learner. He that thinks he knoweth enough already, will never be beholden to a Master to teach him more. Seest thou a man wife in his own conceit, there is more hope of a fool than of him, Prov. 26.12. This was that which locked up the Pharisees in the dark ⟨p. 256⟩dungeon of Ignorance: they were blind; Truth it self called them blind, Mat. 23.16, 17. But they conceited their eyes were good, and so neglected the means of curing them. Ye say ye see (I do not say ye see, but ye conceit so) therefore your sin remaineth, Joh. 9.40, 41. therefore your ignorance continueth. When Ignorance and Confidence (which are often Twins) go together, the condition of a man is helpless; partly, because such a person will not take that pains in reading, and praying, and conference, and meditation, without which the knowledge of God cannot be had, Dan. 12.4. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. It's an allusion to Merchants that run to this and that Port, to sell out and take in commodities; or to a Tradesman, that runs to this and that Mart or place to buy and sell, whereby their stocks are increased. But a conceited man will never labour thus for that which he thinks he hath already. If thou diggest as for silver, and searchest as for hid treasure, then thou shalt understand the fear of the Lord, and attain the knowledge of God,