Experimental Knowledge, the onely Knowledg. [ 1227]
IT is well known, that the great Doctors of the World by much reading and speculation,* 1.1 attain unto a great height of Knowledge, but seldom to sound Wisdome, which hath given way to that common Proverb, The greatest Clerks, are not alwaies the wisest Men; It is not studying of the Politiques that will make a Man a wise Counsellor of Estate, till his Knowledge is joyned with experience; which ••eacheth, where the Rules of State hold, and where they fail; It is not book-knowledge that will make a good General, a skilfull Pilot, no not so much as a cunning Artizan,* 1.2 till that knowledge is perfected by practice and experience; And so surely, though a Man abound never so much in literal knowledge, it will be far from making him a good Christian, unlesse he bring precepts into practice, and by feeling experience apply that he knowes, to his own use and spirituall ad∣vantage.