The saints dignity and duty· Together with the danger of ignorance and hardness. /…The saints dignitie and dutie· Together with the danger of ignorance and hardnesse. /…

If it be so that men are blind in their minds, and cannot know the Word, if so be they are careless and do not attend to the Word, nay, if so be they be settled in their sins and corruptions from which they will not part, it is no wonder, that though they have means, yet they are not savingly informed in the truth of God, answerably to those means which are bestowed upon them.

If it be so that men are blind in their mindes, and cannot know the Word, if so be they are carelesse and doe not attend to the Word, nay, if so be they be setled in their sinnes and corruptions from which they will not part, it is no wonder, that though they have means, yet they are not savingly informed in the truth of God, answerably to those meanes which are bestowed upon them.

Let me add now but one thing for the full clearing of the Doctrine. You will say, we see the quite contrary: For it is clear and evident, that there are many that live in the bosom of the Church, that have a great measure of understanding, yet are not such as God hath wrought upon effectually; yea, the Devil himself hath knowledge enough, and many a man that is nought and carnal, hath an abundant measure of understanding, happily much more then some godly and holy men can attain to.

Let me adde now but one thing for the full clearing of the Doctrine. You will say, we see the quite contrary: For it is cleare and evident, that there are many that live in the bosome of the Church, that have a great measure of understanding, yet are not such as God hath wrought upon effectually; yea, the Devill himselfe hath knowledge enough, and many a man that is nought and carnall, hath an abundant measure of understanding, happily much more then some godly and holy men can attain to.

To answer this in two or three words. It is true I confess, there is many a cursed hypocrite that hath a great measure of knowledge; and yet in very deed hath no true understanding at all. For the knowledge whereby such men are enlightened, differs much from that information and understanding which the Saints of God have. For look as there is wild thyme and garden thyme, both of the same name, and both growing after the same manner, yet very different in their nature and qualities: so it is with knowledge; there is a gracious and a sanctifying knowledge, garden knowledge, as I may say; and there is a wild and a common knowledge. I will open it a little, in two or three words. If you go no further, but consider the understanding of both barely, you shall clearly perceive a main difference, between a Saint of God and an Hypocrite.