Doctrine. None know so much of God and his Wayes, but they still need to know more: Petitions for understanding do not only become beginners, but grown Christians.
Three Reasons of this Point.
1. That we may escape the deceits of a subtle Devil, who lyeth in wait for us, and assaults us on every hand, and maketh great advantage of the Relicks of our Ignorance. The Devils are called, Eph. 6. 12. Rulers of the darkness of this World. The dark part of the World is the Devils Territory; and so much of Ignorance as is in the Children of God, so much advantage hath Satan against us. 2 Corinth. 2. 11. Lest Satan should get an advantage, for we are not ignorant of his devices. The more me know, the less Advantage the Devil hath of us, he layeth snares for us where we least suspect.
2. That we may serve an Holy God with that exactness and diligence as will become his Excellency. The fault of the Heathen was, that when they knew God, they glorifi∣ed him not as God, Rom. 1. 21. because they knew so little, they did not improve the knowledge they had, and this is true in some degree of every Christian: God would be more loved, feared, trusted, served, did we know more of him: the clearer our sight, the warmer our hearts will be in his service. 1 Chron. 28. 9. Know thou the God of thy Fathers, and serve him with a perfect heart and willing mind: If we did know God, we would devote our selves to his service.
3. That we may be prepared for our everlasting estate by degrees: Our everlasting estate is called the inheritance of the Saints in light: Now we grow more meet for it, by increasing in holiness. Prov. 4. 18, 19. The path of the Iust is as the shining Light, that shineth more and more to the perfect day, the way of the wicked is darkness, they know not at what they stumble. The Just man is like the light that increaseth as the day groweth: The wicked are like the Night, that encreaseth to thick darkness, till at last they fall into utter darkness.
Use. Well then, Let not only poor ignorant Creatures, or young Beginners take up Davids prayer, but also grown Christians of longer standing; go to God, and say, Give me Understanding: Partly because practical knowledge is never at a stand, knowing of things as we ought to know them; 'tis possible for a man to see round about the compass of revealed truths: Though extensively no more truths are to be known, yet intensively we may know them better: The best are defective in their knowledge. And Partly too, because 'tis a very satisfactory thing to be sure we are in Gods way; in some nice debates 'tis hard to discern Gods Interest, when all circumstances must be considered, and Temptations hinder the sight of our Duty. And Partly that we may Justifie the wayes of God against Cavils, Matth. 24. 24. We have to do with men that would even puzzle the very Elect, if it were possible.
III. To whom is this Petition made? To God.