N02458:41
Ignorantia scientifica. A brief essay on mans not knowing his time: the just inferences…
Ignorantia scientifica. A brief essay on mans not knowing his time: the just inferences from it, and the great advantages of it. : Upon a special and mournful occasion. : [Seven lines of quotations]
printed by B. Green for Samuel Gerrish, 1727
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Again; IT may be ascribed unto the Mercy of GOD, that we do not know our Time. For, hereby we come the better to Know and to Do, the Duty of our Time. Here is indeed an Ignorance, that is very truly, and very justly, the Mother of Devotion. Our not knowing our Time, and the Things to come, does train us up, to a Filial Faith in the Fatherly Care, of the Lord, who only has all those Things in His own Hands. We read; Jam. IV. 14, 15. Ye know not what shall be on the Morrow;—Ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that. We Refer our selves to the Will of GOD, with the more of Resignation; a most humble and lovely Resignation; because we know not what shall be on ⟨p. 13⟩the Morrow. And our Preparation, a Watchful and Prayerful Preparation for the worst that may happen to us; This is promoted by our not knowing our Time, and what shall happen to us. It is pressed upon us; Mar. XIII. 33. Take heed, watch, and pray; for ye know not when the Time is. Because we know not the Time, when we or ours are to Die, or what is to befall us; If this won't put us upon Watching and Praying, and keep us in a way of Holy walking, I don't know what will! I know not my Time, nor what I am to see in a very Little Time. A Man of any sense will think so. But Methinks, One that has the least grain of sense, must go on to think; I desire now to keep alive the constant Fear of GOD, all the Time that He shall allow me; I desire to be armed with Patience and Submission, for all the uneasy Things which in my Remaining Time I may find reserved for me. Sirs, we must yield a Blindfold Obedience unto GOD; This Blindfold Obedience is a Well aimed Obedience.
Again; IT may be ascribed unto the Mercy of GOD, that we do not know our Time. For, hereby we come the better to Know and to Do, the Duty of our Time. Here is indeed an Ignorance, that is very truly, and very justly, the Mother of Devotion. Our not knowing our Time, and the Things to come, does train us up, to a Filial Faith in the Fatherly Care, of the Lord, who only has all those Things in His own Hands. We read; Jam. IV. 14, 15. Ye know not what shall be on the Morrow;—Ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that. We Refer our selves to the Will of GOD, with the more of Resignation; a most humble and lovely Resignation; because we know not what shall be on