The peril of the times displayed. Or The danger of mens taking up with…

7. The woeful ignorance that prevails among us. The knowledge of God, and of his ways is so necessary an help to the power of Godliness, that the Word of God frequently expresseth true piety by the knowing of God: and ungodly men are often stigmatized with that title, such as know not God. It is therefore mentioned as a great blessing, when God bestows upon a people, the means whereby they may be helped in obtaining of this knowledge, Jer 3 15. I will give you Pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you▪ with knowledge and understanding. When therefore a people enjoy plenty of means, and have the clear Gospel Dispensations in the midst of them, and all manner of advantages to store themselves with a treasure of this knowledge, and yet for all ignorance abounds, and increaseth among them, and that grows to be too general a fault with them, which the Apostle chargeth ⟨p. 109⟩them withal, Heb. 5.12. when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first Principles of the Oracles of God; it saith that the life of Religion is much decayed among them. If there were that love for God, which men would be thought to have in them, they could not but earnestly desire to have acquaintance with him, and that would encourage them, yea, and stimulate them thankfully and industriously to husband such rich opportunities as are afforded them for this purpose. We are told of some who tell God, they desire not the knowledge of his ways, Job 21.14. and would we know who they are, we shall find that they are the wicked verse 7. and I fear that there will be a great many such wicked ones found upon search, who have but a little distinct knowledge in the very Fundamentals of the Christian Religion; nor do they seek after it, but are very well contented to live without it; nor are indeed able to distinguish between •ound Doctrine, and pernicious Error: and I believe that this will be as fearful an indictment against this Land, ⟨p. 110⟩as any place in the Christian World; because there hath been so much light shining in the midst of us, well may God expostulate with us, as