A treatise of conversion Preached, and now published for the use of those that are strangers to a true conversion, especially the grosly ignorant and ungodly. By Richard Baxter, teacher of the Church of Christ at Kederminster.

SECT. VII.

Direction 3. IF ever you would be converted, labour for true Knowledge: come into the Light, that your deeds may be manifested; and that your own hearts may be manifest to your selves. Nothing but Light will expel your Darkness, the Devil haunteth men in the night of Ignorance, and seldom ap∣peareth in the open Day-light: bring in but the saving Light of Knowledge and he will vanish and be gone: The first part of sa∣ving Grace is Illumination. The opening of the eye causeth the opening of the heart: Oh if you had but a little of the heavenly Light of the Saints, it would shew you that which would turn your hearts: you could not be of the same mind as you are, if you had but saving Light: Now you think highly of the world, and meanly of the world to come; you now think nothing too much for your flesh, and all too much that is done for Heaven; you could not be of this mind if you had the Light of the Spirit: you labour now for that which profiteth not, and neglect that which would pay you for your labour: you vilifie Christ, and Grace, and Holiness, while you magnifie the Dreams and Dung of the World; you could not do thus if you were savingly Illu∣minated. I beseech you therefore, if ever you would be convert∣ed and saved, labour presently to know the Lord▪ and his Will and wayes; Lament your former ignorance, and that Negligence which did maintain it. It is not so great a shame for you to be ignorant how to do your work in the world; no, nor how to eat,

or drink, or how to dress your selves, as it is to be ignorant of the Kingdome of Heaven, and the way thereto: you will never hit the way to Heaven if you do not know it: he that knoweth most knoweth too little; what then will they do that know almost no∣thing at all? Oh think not Knowledge a needless thing, but make out after it, and rest not till you do obtain it; to which end you must use these Means following.

1. Be much in hearing and reading the Word of God, as was before Directed; for that is it that giveth light to the simple, Psal. 119. 130. 105. This will make you wise unto Salvation, 2 Tim. 3. 15. 2. Read good Books that are written for the expounding and ap∣plying of the Scripture. Many have received much information by these. 3. Converse with wise and godly men: These are the means of Knowledge that were before made mention of.

Object. We are not learned, and therefore God will not require much knowledge at our hands.

Answer. You may say, Therefore God will not require Learn∣ing at your hands, further then you are without it through your own Neglect. But, first Every man that hath a reasonable soul should know God that made him; and know the End for which he should live; and know the way to his eternal happiness as well as the Learned: have not you souls to save or lose as well as the Learned have? 2. God hath made plain his Will to you in his Word; he hath given you Teachers and many other helps; So that, you have no excuse if you are ignorant; you must know how to be Christians if you are no Scholars. You may hit the way to heaven in English, though you have no skill in Hebrew or Greek: but in the Darkness of ignorance you can never hit it. 3. Will not God Judge you as well as the Learned? and will not he require an Account of the Talents which you possess? he hath set you on his work as well as others, and therefore you must know how to do his work. If you think therefore that you may be excuss∣ed from Knowledge, you may as well think that you may be excus∣ed from Love and from all Obedience; for there can be none of this without Knowledge.

Object. But I am not of so quick an apprehension as others; and therefore I cannot learn so well: and I have been brought up in ig∣norance, and therefore it cannot be expected from me.

Answer. Can any man have excuse for ignorance that liveth among such Teaching, and Books, and Christian company as we

now do? You may as well shut your eyes at noon day, and say you cannot do your work for want of Light. Were you but as willing to get the Knowledge of God and heavenly things as you are to know how to work in your Trade, you would have set your selves to it before this day, and you would have spared no cost nor pains till you had got it. But you account seven years little enough to learn your Trade, and will not bestow one day in seven in diligent learning the matters of your salvation. Is there not many an Opportunity of getting Knowledge which you miss of through your own neglect? You are at home or upon other business, when you might have been hearing the Word of God, and in the company of Diligent Christians, that are enquiring and learning these Necessary things; and when you neglect the Means you think to be excused for your ignorance. The way that God commandeth you for getting Knowledge, is, that you receive the Word of God and hide his Commandments with you; and encline your ears to wisdom, and apply your hearts to understand, and that you cry after Knowledge, and lift up your voice for Un∣derstanding, and seek it as silver, and search for it as for hid Trea∣sures. And if you would do thus, The Lord hath promised that you shall understand the fear of the Lord, and find the Knowledge of God, Prov. 2. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Me thinks light it self should be plea∣sant to you. Did Adam so desire Unnecessary knowledge as to undo himself and his Posterity to procure it? and will not you so desire that knowledge which is necessary to your salvation, and by which you may be recovered from that miserable estate? Acts 26. 18. How many years study will men spend to know a little of the creature, and will you not take pains to know the Maker and End of the whole Creation?

Object. But we hope we may be saved without so much knowledge.

Answer. Not without knowing the Necessary Fundamental Points of Christianity; and a desire to know more. Doth Christ, say, It is life Eternal to know God and Jesus Christ, and do you think to have Life Eternal without it? John 17. 3. God saith of people that have no understanding, That he that made them will not save them, And he that formed them will shew them no favour, Isa. 27. 11. And that Christ shall come in flaming fire to render Ven∣geance to them that know not God, and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Thess. 1. 8, 9. And that they shall be punished with everlasting Destruction from the presence of the Lord.