An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…

Now this is a great sin in any but especially in the Priests. When others think that the knowledge of God and his truth is too slight too mean a thing to take up their thoughts, this is ⟨p. 93⟩vile. When Merchants and Tradesmen shall think they must busy thei• heads about some other matters, but for this knowledge of the Scriptures, it is no great matter, they may be happy without that, let them have their tradings and bargainings and houses and comings in stand that is that which is suitable unto them) let them have their cables spread and their dishes full, and for this Scripture and these points of Religion these are too mean things for them: These men now despise knowledge, for so the word here signifies, it is rejecting with a vile with a contemptible esteem of knowledge. But I say when the Priests shall reject knowledge, the Priests that should have laboured to have filled their souls with knowledge, if they shall seek to live bravely, to be gallant, to grow rich, to pamper the flesh, and care not either to have the knowledge of God in their own souls or to bring the knowledge of God unto the people, but look upon them as not worth the regarding, this is in a more special manner a most grievous sin. How many are there amongst us at this day that study to get preferment &c. and then sell away their books and never after any more mind knowledge! And others if they have knowledge and learning and prize it in some respect, yet in this they contemn it, they prize knowledge merely as serviceable unto their lusts. It is not for the beauty and excellency of the knowledge of God that they prize it so much, that sweetness that they find in the knowledge of Christ that they do search to know, but that they may be accounted Scholars, understanding men, learned men. This is to despise knowledge, when we seek for knowledge but in a way of service unto our lusts, and such men may be charged for men that despise knowledge.

Now this is a great sin in any but especially in the Priests. When others think that the knowledg of God and his truth is too slight too mean a thing to take up their thoughts, this is ⟨p. 93⟩vile. When Merchants and Tradesmen shall think they must busie thei• heads about some other matters, but for this knowledge of the Scriptures, it is no great matter, they may be happy without that, let them have their tradings and bargainings and houses and comings in stand that is that which is sutable unto them) let them have their cables spread and their dishes full, and for this Scripture and these points of Religion these are too mean things for them: These men now despise knowledge, for so the word here signifies, it is rejecting with a vile with a contemptible esteem of knowledg. But I say when the Priests shall reject knowledg, the Priests that should have laboured to have fill'd their souls with knowledg, if they shall seek to live bravely, to be gallant, to grow rich, to pamper the flesh, and care not either to have the knowledg of God in their own souls or to bring the knowledg of God unto the people, but look upon them as not worth the regarding, this is in a more special manner a most grievous sin. How many are there amongst us at this day that study to get preferment &c. and then sell away their books and never after any more mind knowledg! And others if they have knowledg and learning and prize it in some respect, yet in this they contemn it, they prize knowledg meerly as servicable unto their lusts. It is not for the beauty and excellency of the knowledg of God that they prize it so much, that sweetness that they find in the knowledg of Christ that they do search to know, but that they may be accounted Scholers, understanding men, learned men. This is to despise knowledg, when we seek for knowledg but in a way of service unto our lusts, and such men may be charged for men that despise knowledg.