Heaven on Earth

Fifthly, That Knowledge that accompanies¹ Salvation, is a world despising, a world crucifying, and a world contemning knowledge; it makes a man have low, poor, mean thoughts of the world; it makes a man slight it, and trample upon it, as a thing of no value. That Divine light that accompanies salvation, makes a man to look upon the world, as mixed, as mutable, as momentary; it makes a man look upon the world, as a liar, as a deceiver, as a flatterer, as a murderer, and as a witch that hath bewitched the souls of thousands to their eternal overthrow, by her golden offers and proffers. Divine knowledge put Paul upon trampling upon all the bravery and glory of the world. Phil. 3. 4, to 9. I shall only transcribe the seventh and eighth verses, and leave ⟨p. 344⟩you to turn to the rest. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord: For whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, ([Greek or Hebrew] ²dogs dung, or dogs meat, course and contemptible) that I may win Christ. Divine knowledge raises his heart so high above the World, that he looks upon it with an eye of scorn and disdain, and makes him count it as an excrement, yea, as the very worst of excrements, as dogs dung, as dogs meat. Of the like import is that of Heb. 10. 34. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in your selves, that ye have in Heaven a better, and an enduring substance. Divine knowledge will make a man rejoice, when his enemies makes a bonfire of his goods. This man hath bills of exchange under Gods own hand, to receive a pound for every penny, a million for every mite, that he looses for him: And³ this makes him to rejoice, and to trample upon all the glory of this ⟨p. 345⟩world, as one did upon the Philosophers Crown. It was heavenly knowledge that made Moses to disdain and