§. 112. Of the danger and damage of ignorance.
THat which hath been noted of ignorance aggravating sinne, shews, that the* 1.1 Position of Papists concerning ignorance to be the mother of devotion i•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 most absurd Position. I would demand, Whether devotion be a good thing or 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ If good, How can it be the childe of such an evil as ignorance is? Can sweet wa•…•… come from a salt spring? Iam. 3. 12. Who can bring a clean thing out of an •…•…∣clean thing? Not one, Iob 14. 4. Surely the devotion which is pretended to co•…•… from ignorance, is meer superstition, or, which is worse, Idolatry. When you 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not God, you did service unto them which by nature are no gods, Gal. 4. 8.
It is also made by the holy Ghost the mother of self-conceit, Rom. 10. 3. O•…•… •…•…∣tempt of holy things, Iude v. 10. Of lust, 1 Thess. 4. 11. Of murther, Luke 23. 3▪ Of all manner of sin, 1 Tim. 1. 13. Experience sheweth, that where there i•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 knowledge, there is little conscience. Of the hainousness of ignorance, S•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 whole Armour of God on Ephes. 6. 17. §. 24.
They savour too rank of that Popish errour, who think that much knowledge 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not fit for common people: and thereupon do what they can to suppress freq•…•… and powerfull preaching.
Hereby it further appears, that it is a most wofull plight, wherein most peo•…•…∣lie:* 1.2 and those not only Savages, Pagans, Turks, Jews, Papists, but also the •…•…∣mon sort of Protestants. For ignorance blindeth the mindes of most: which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them so provoke God as they do. The Devils are said to be the Governours of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 darknesse of this world, Ephes. 6. 12. Who can be meant by darknesse, but bl•…•… and ignorant persons? such as the God of this world is said to have blinded, 2 Co•…•…▪ 4. No marvel that Satan ruleth over such, for they cannot discern his power, •…•…∣lice, subtilty, sedulity and mischievous enterprises. When the Troops of Sy•…•… were smitten with blindeness, they were easily led into the midst of their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (2 King. 6. 18, 19, &c.) So ignorant persons are easily drawn into Satans p•…•… Consider the case of a blinde man, how ready he is to wander out of his way, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 stumble at this stone, to rush against that poste, to fall into any pit or pond▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is the case of an ignorant man.
The sinne of ignorance therefore is a sinne for which ignorant persons 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be deeply humbled, as for a disgracefull and dangerous sinne, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 earnestly to crave pardon for this sinne. The Sacrifices that were offered 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Law for ignorance, Levit. 15. 27, &c. afford good ground for performing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 duty.
It is a vain conceit that many have, that their ignorance will be a sufficient 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.3 against divine judgement. Where Christ aggravateth sins against knowledge, concludeth, that they also who sin on ignorance shall be beaten, Luke 1•…•…. Though some kinde of ignorance may somewhat extenuate a sinne, yet no •…•…∣rance