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If this be so, what a strong engagement lieth upon all enlight∣ned persons to turn heartily to God; and reduce their knowledge into practice and obedience. The more men know, the more violence they do to their own Consciences in rebelling against the light; this is to sin with an high hand, Num. 15. 30. Be∣lieve it sirs, you cannot sin at so cheap a rate as others do: knowledge in a wicked man, like high mettle in a blind
Horse, doth but the sooner precipitate him into ruine. You may know much more than others, but if ever you come to Heaven, it must be in the same way of faith and obedience, mortification and self-denial in which the weakest Christian comes thither: whatever knowledge you have, to be sure you have no wisdom, if you expect salvation upon any other or easier terms, than the most illiterate Christian finds it. It was a sad observation of the Father, surgunt indocti & rapi∣unt coelum: the unlearned rise and take Heaven. What a pi∣ty 'tis that men of such excellent parts should be enslaved to their lusts! that ever it should be said, sapientes sapienter des∣cendunt in Gehennam: their learning doth but hang in their light, it doth but blind them in spiritual things, and prepa∣reth them for the greater misery.
Inference 3.