A Christian library, or, A pleasant and plentiful paradise of practical divinity in 37 treatises of sundry and select subjects ... / by R. Younge ...

Sect. 43.

SEcondly, There is another degree of Knowledge, that is accrued or obtained, by education and learning, observation and experience, called natural or speculative knowledge, or reason improved. For hu∣mane learning, is as oyl to the lamp of our reason, and makes it burn cleerer; but faith and illumination of the spirit, more than doubles the sight of our minds; as a prospective glass does the corporal sight, Matth. 16.17. 1 Cor. 2.7. to 17. Joh. 12 46. For as the soul is the lamp of the body, and reason of the soul, and religion of reason, and faith of religion: so Christ is the light, and life of Faith, Joh. 1.9. & 8.12. Act. 26.18. Eph. 5.14. Christ is the sun of the soul; reason and faith the two eyes: reason discerns natural objects, faith spiritual and supernatu∣ral. We may see far with our bodily eye sence, farther with the minds eye reason; but farther with the souls eye faith than with both. And the Beleever hath the addition of Gods spirit, and faith above all other men. I am the light of the world, saith our Saviour, he that ••olloweth me (meaning by a lively faith) shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life, Joh. 8.12. and more see two eyes than one: yea, the day with one eye, does far more things descry, than night can do with more than Argos eyes. So that as meer sense is uncapable of the rules of reason; so reason is no less uncapable, of the things that are divine and supernatural, Jer. 10.14. 1 Cor. 2.14, 15, 16. Eph. 5.8. And as to speak is only proper to men: so to know the secrets of the kingdom of

heaven, is only propper to believers, Psal. 25.14. Prov. 3.32. Amos. 3.7.

Now of natural and speculative knowledge, the wicked have as large a share as the godly: but of spiritual, experimental, and saving know∣ledge which is supernatural, and descendeth from above, Jam. 3.17. and keepeth a man from every evil way, Prov. 2.12. the wicked have no part with the godly. Whence all men in their natural condition are said to be blind and in darkness, Matth. 4.16. & 15.14. Eph. 4.18, 19. & 5.8. Whereas believers, are called children of light, and of the day, 1 Thes. 5.5. 1 Pet. 2.9.

Nor is this kind of knowledge, any way attainable, but by Grace from above. No learning, experience, or pains in studdy and Books, will bring them to it, Ephe. 1.17, 18. & 3.19. except they be∣come new creatures, have hearts, eyes, and eares sanctified from above; and that the holy Ghost becomes their teacher, Deut. 29.2, 3, 4. Psal. 111.10. Joh. ••••.15. Rom. 8.14, 15.

Nor is it saving knowledge that they seek after: For though many of them, be great seekers after knowledge, great pains-takers to be∣come wise: yet it is not divine and supernatural knowledge, that they labor for, or desire.

Indeed wisdom in the largest sense, hath ever carried that shew of excellency with it, that not only the good have highly affected it, (as Moses who studied for wisdom; and Solomon who prayed for wis∣dom; and the Queen of Sheba who travelled for wisdom; and David who to get wisdom, made the word his counsellor, hated every false way, and was a man after Gods own heart) but the very wicked have la∣bored for it, who are ashamed of other vertues; as, O the pleasure that rational men take in it! Prov. 2.3, 10, 11. & 10.14. Phil. 3.8.

Knowledge is so fair a virgin, that every cleer eye is in love with her; it is a pearl despised of none but swine, Prov. 2.3.10.11. (whereas bru∣tish and blockish men, as little regard it) they who care not for one dram of goodness, would yet have a full scale of knowledge. Amongst all the trees of the garden, none so pleaseth them as the tree of know∣ledge. And as wisdom is excellent above all, so it is affected of all, as oyl was both of the wise and foolish virgins. It hath been a mark that every man hath shot at, ever since Eve sought to be as wise as her Maker: but as a hundreth shoot, for one that hitts the white: so an hundred aim at wisdom, for one that lights upon it, Eccles. 7.28. because they are mistaken in the thing. For as Iacob in the dark mistook Leah for Rachael, so many a blind soul, takes that to be wisdom, which is not like Eve, who thought it wisdom to eate the forbidden fruit, and Ab∣salom, who thought it wisdom to lye with his Fathers Concubines in the sight of all the people; and the false Steward, who thought it wisdom to deceive his Master. And so of Josephs brethren, of Pharoah and his deep counsellors, of Achitophel, of Herod, of the Pharisees in their pro∣ject to destroy Jesus; and many the like. All these thought they

did wisely, but they were mistaken, and their projects proved foolish, and turned to their own ruine.