Addresses to old men, and young men, and little children. In three discourses ...…

The first Counsel.

I entreat you Fathers, that you be not content with a common measure in the more common knowledge of him that is from the Beginning. He is called, the Ancient of Days; O that all ancient men would study to know much of a Subject so agreeable! You best know, what you have all this while been contriving and labo•ring for the getting of; ⟨p. 20⟩but an old man once under the inspirations of the Almighty, gave that advice to Solomon, in Prov. 4. 7. Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get Wisdom. And surely, an old man himself is not unconcerned in that Advice! A common knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, indeed is not enough to make you happy; but I am sure, the want of such knowledge will render you both wretched here and undone for ever. He was a wise man that said, in Prov. 19. 2. That the Soul be without knowledge, it is not good; but it is not so bad being without any Knowledge, as being without the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. This ignorance will prove the woeful mother of two things. It will render your Unbelief incurable. As it was said, in I Cor. •. 8. Had they known, they would not have Crucified the Lord of glory; so may it be said, those that remain in their Distance from the Lord Jesus Christ They refuse the Lord of glory, because they have not the Knowledge of Him. And it will also render your Destruction unavoidable. It was of old complained, in Hos, 4.6. my people are destroyed for the lack of knowledge; but the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus is that, the lack whereof is most of all destructive; the world will one day with hot Thunderbolts be set on a light Fire for it. Well then, look to it, Fathers, that you been't unacquainted with the Great Mystery of Godliness. If you have never yet studied that Mystery, I pray begin, and count not your selves too old to learn; that man is too old to […], that is too old to learn. ⟨p. 21⟩