What this knowledge is, and the nature of it, I will open unto you afterward, only thus much take along with you for the present, That by knowledge here, I mean saving knowledge. Knowledge, no doubt, this people had, and happily a great measure of understanding, they might know many things that belonged to grace and salvation; yet for the main, for the substance and truth of it, it was not the knowledge of God, it was not saving knowledge. A people may be in the bosom of the Church, live under the means of grace, and partake of the Ordinances of God, and yet notwithstanding all this, be void of the saving knowledge of God. This is a Point that ariseth clearly and evidently from the Text: These people of whom the Prophet speaks, were in the Church of God, lived under the Ordinances, and enjoyed all the outward privileges of the people of God, yet, he saith of them, they are a people of no understanding; they knew nothing of God and salvation in a sanctifying and saving manner. It is easy to confirm the truth of this Doctrine, by other places of Scripture. The Scribes and Pharisees sate in Moses chair, and were the teachers of others, and therefore (one would think) should have understanding themselves, yet our Saviour saith, Matth. 13.14. That in them was fulfilled ⟨p. 195⟩the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand, and seeing, ye shall see, and shall not perceive. It was not any want of means, they could allege, or that they lacked the Ordinances; for they were always hearing and hearing, they had all the light that could be afforded them to guide their feet into the way of peace, and no question but they waited upon those means, and yet they were not informed, yet they were not enlightened; to know the things that concerned the glory of God, and their own peace in a saving manner; they heard, but understood not; they saw, but perceived not. In the like manner Isai. 42.19. the Lord complaineth of his own servants, those that should have been near to him indeed, Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? Who is blind, as he that is perfect, and blind, as the Lords servant: Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not:
What this knowledge is, and the nature of it, I will open unto you afterward, onely thus much take along with you for the present, That by knowledge here, I mean saving knowledge. Knowledge, no doubt, this people had, and happily a great measure of understanding, they might know many things that belonged to grace and salvation; yet for the main, for the substance and truth of it, it was not the knowledge of God, it was not saving knowledge. A people may be in the bosome of the Church, live under the means of grace, and partake of the Ordinances of God, and yet notwitstanding all this, be void of the saving knowledge of God. This is a Point that ariseth clearly and evidently from the Text: These people of whom the Prophet speaks, were in the Church of God, lived under the Ordinances, and enjoyed all the outward priviledges of the people of God, yet, he saith of them, they are a people of no understanding; they knew nothing of God and salvation in a sanctifying and saving manner. It is easie to confirm the truth of this Doctrine, by other places of Scripture. The Scribes and Pharisees sate in Moses chair, and were the teachers of others, and therefore (one would thinke) should have understanding themselves, yet our Saviour saith, Matth. 13.14. That in them was fulfilled ⟨p. 195⟩the prophesie of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing yee shall hear, and shall not understand, and seeing, yee shall see, and shall not perceive. It was not any want of means, they could alledge, or that they lacked the Ordinances; for they were alwaies hearing and hearing, they had all the light that could be afforded them to guide their feet into the way of peace, and no question but they waited upon those means, and yet they were not informed, yet they were not inlightned; to know the things that concerned the glory of God, and their own peace in a saving manner; they heard, but understood not; they saw, but perceived not. In the like manner Isai. 42.19. the Lord complaineth of his own servants, those that should have been neer to him indeed, Who is blinde, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? Who is blind, as he that is perfect, and blind, as the Lords servant: Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the eares, but he heareth not:
