Davids Repentance, Sermon · Commentary 7
VERSE. 6. 6. Beholde, thou loueſt trueth in the inward affections, therefore haſt thou thou taught me wiſedome in the ſecret of my heart.
IN the formet verſe Dauid had ſet out the grieuouſnes of his ſin, by that, that he was euen conceiued in ſin, and ſo was nothing elſe but a lump of ſin, and euen from the cradle was worthy to periſh, and to bee damned.
In this fixt Verſe the Prophet Dauid proceedeth to ſet out the grieuouſnes of his ſin, by an other Argument, taken from the moſt pure nature of Almightie GOD, who being moſt iuſt and holie, and moſt pure, can delight in nothing but in that which is pure and holy: But hee confeſſeth that by his ſinnes hee had defiled himſelfe both in ſoule and body, ſo as hee was not worthy to appeare in the preſence of Almightie God.
[Behold, thou loueſt]
The meaning of the wordsAS if he ſhould hauehave ſaid, O Lord my God, thou art a moſt holie God, and canſt abide no vncleane thing. But I, euen Dauid, once a man after thy owne heart, ſanctified by thy holy spirit, hauehave marred all, and with filthy vncleanenes and adultery, as alſo murder and ſhedding of innocent bloud, hauehave defiled and ſtained my ſelfe both body and ſcule, ſo as I am now cleane out of order, and ſo foule that I am not worthy to come into thy preſence, ſo as inſtead of that inward purity and ſinceritie, and that vprightneſſe both in ſoule and body, I hauehave brought out moſt vgly and curſed fruits of ſinne and vncleaneneſſe. Thus be doth ſtill lay open his miſery, and aggrauateth his ſin before the Lord.
Doctr. 1 Seeing that Dauid doth aggrauate his ſinne by weighing the moſt pure and holy nature of GOD that can abide no impuritie or vncleaneneſſe.Tru knowledge of God works true humilitie. Hence we learne, that a man or woman ſhall neuer ſufficiently enough know themſelues and their owne miſery, till ſuch time as they looke vp vntounto the moſt holie and pure nature of GOD: all the while we meaſure our ſelues by our ſelues, looke vponupon our owne goodnes, wiſdome, knowledge, vprightnes, wee thinke highly of ourſelues; but if we once lift vp our eyes to the moſt holy and pure nature of GOD; and withall, conſider how we are ſwarued from it, and be defiled with ſin; O then wee begin to pull downe our peacockes feathers, and to humble our ſelues in the ſight of GOD, Iob hee had a long time ſtoode vponupon his owne goodnes and vertue, but after the Lord opened his eyes to ſee the moſt pure and holy nature of GOD, and his owne vileneſſe, hee crieth out; O Lord, thou I know canſt doe all things, Iob 43.1, 2 &c.no thought is hid from thee, I hauehave ſpoken things I knew not; I hauehave heard of thee by the hearing of the eare, but now wine eie ſeeth thee. Therefore I abhorre my ſelfe, and repent in duſt and aſhes. Paul ſaith of himſelfe: Before the Commandement came, I was aliue: Rom. 7. A iolly fellow thought well of himſelfe, but when the Commandement came, and hee had gote the knowledge of God; namely, that he was a holy and iuſt God, then was he dead. The people of Iſrael thought it an eaſie matter to ſerue the Lord, and were forward; but Ioſhua aduiſeth them to take heede; for ſaith he, The Lord is a holy God, a iealous God, Ioſ. 24.19and will not pardon your ſinnes and iniquities: So that by all theſe it appeareth, that the knowledge of GOD, as hee is a holy, pure, and righteous GOD, is a ſpeciall meanes to humble vsus, and to make vsus know our ſelues, and our miſery, and therefore doth the Prophet Dauid prefixe before it this note of attention; Behold, marke, conſider it well.
Vſe. 1 What is the reaſon that ſinful and miſerable men dare bee ſo bolde to ſtand vponupon their owne goodnes and worthineſſe, when they come into Gods preſence,Lu. 18.14. like the proud Phariſie? Becauſe they doe not conſider with whom they hauehave to deale: with God who is moſt pure, and loueth purity, and can abide no impurity. Oh if men would looke vp vntounto the holy and moſt pure nature of GOD, it would be a ſpeciall means to humble them, and to plucke downe their pride: then they ſhould ſee and acknowledge, that they are but duſt and aſhes,Geneſ. 17. as Abraham pleading with GOD confeſſeth, and humbles himſelfe: then they would come with more reuerence and fe…re, and confeſſe themſelues vile and miſerable creatures. Oh then let vsus thinke vponupon this with Dauid, Iob, Abraham, when we come into Gods preſence, to humble vsus, that wee may come with great preparation, and looke vntounto our feet and affections, that we may remember wee come not into the preſence of an earthly king, but of the euer-liuing GOD, as that we thereby be not brought to conceiue too well of our ſelues, as many men doe.
[Thou loueſt truth in the inward affection.]
Doctr. 2 HEnce marke, that a ſound, vpright, and ſincere heart, is that the Lord loueth well, and taketh delight in: and without this, all that wee doe is loathſome and abhominable. This honeſt and good heart our Sauiour CHRIST commendeth in Nathanael; Iohn 1.47.Behold a true Iſraelite, in whom is no guile: This true Iſraelite, this vpright heart, the Lord loueth it,Luke 8.15 and the Lord delighteth in it; And the good ground are thoſe which with an honeſt and good hart heare the word, and bring foorth fruit with patience.
Vſe. 1 This ſerueth to cut the combe of all hypocrites and diſſemblers, who thinke God wil be pleaſed with outward ſhewes and colours, although they be rotten at the kore, like Apples of Sodome: the Lord ſheweth his diſlike of theſe naughty and diſſembling heartes,Eſay 19, 13 This people come neare mee with their lippe…, and honour me with their mouthes, but their hearts are farre from me. So the Lord telleth the Iewes;Iere. 42.20. They did but diſſemble with him in their hearts, when you ſent mee vntounto the Lord to pray for you, and that you would doe his will and hit word, but now you will doe nothing but the cleane contrary euen after your owne luſts. And amongſt vsus in theſe dayes, there are many hypocrites and diſſemblers, painted toombs, gay without, making faire ſhewes, and goodly colours, but their hearts are rotten at the kore, they are but counterfeit Chriſtians, and GOD abhorreth them, and hath no liking of them: for as hee loueth trueth, and ſoundneſſe of the heart, ſo hee hateth and abhorreth all hypocriſie. Let all ſuch looke vponupon the fearefull hand of God on Ananias and Saphyra, Actes 5.who becauſe they would ſeeme to be religious, and ſomewhat forward to ſell their land, and giuegive to the poore; becauſe their heart was not ſound and vpright, but they diſſembled; therefore the Lord ſmote them both dead. And to ſhew how the Lord hateth al hypocrites and diſſemblers, CHRIST in the foure and twenti…h chapter of the Goſpel of Saint Mathew and the one and fifty verſe ſaith, All vile ſinners ſhall hauehave their portions with hypocrites, becauſe of all men, hypocrites ſhall hauehave the greateſt meaſure of torment and condemnation.
Vſe. 2 Seeing that the Lord loueth and delighteth in trueth, and ſinceritie of the minde and affection, let vsus be carefull all our dayes to get a ſound and vpright heart, voyde of all hypocriſie and diſſimulation, ſo as i… all things wee finde our heart ſound and ſincere in all the dueties of th… worſhip of God, in ſpeaking, hearing, praying; yea in all things. Now this vprightnes and ſoundnes of th… heart will appeare, as by many other things, ſo by this, when a man i… carefull to pleaſe God, and to ſhunne ſinne in priuate as in publique, in ſecret as abroad: and making conſcience of ſinne, although no man nor Angell could accuſe him of it: then is it a ſigne his heart is ſound and vpright. But if thou finde that in ſecret thou daieſt commit thoſe ſins which thou wouldeſt bee loath to commit abroad in the ſight & view of others, it is a ſigne thy heart is not vpright with God. Oh then let vsus labour to get this honeſt and good heart, this ſoundnes and ſinceritie of our affections, this truth in the inward affections, Actes 15.9which will bring peace vntounto our ſoules, and make all we doe acceptable, when our heart is purified by faith. When the Lord deſcribes a bleſſed man, he ſhewes who it is; Euen in whoſe ſpirit there is no guile. Pſal. 32.2.And whatſoeuer a man doth, though neuer ſo excellent and glorious in the eyes of man, though a man could …peake with the tongue of Men and Angells, could pray neuer ſo excellent for wordes or matter: yet if the heart be not ſound, but hollow, and full of hypocriſie, all is not worth a button: whereas if the heart be ſincere and ſound, purified by faith in CHRIST, though men hauehave many wants and weakeneſſes, the Lord GOD regardeth the truth of the heart.
Doctr. 3 Laſt of all,A ſanctified ſanctified heart the greateſt bleſſing of god obſerue hence what a ſingular fauour and grace of GOD it is, when we hauehave ſound and ſanctified hearts, ſincere and vpright with God, voyde of hypocriſie and diſſimulation. It is that the Lord ſo highly eſteemes of, that hee wiſheth moſt earneſtly for it, Deuteronomy 5.29. O that there were this heart in them! And the Prophet Dauid ſaith heere, that the Lord doth louelove Truth in the inward affection. And againe, Prouer. 11.20. They that be of a froward heart, are abomination to the Lord; but they that bee vpright in heart are his delight. This vpright heart is in none but thoſe that be truely regenerate, which hauehave truely repented of their ſinnes and beleeue in Chriſt Ieſus, Acts 15.9. Becauſe faith alone doth purifie the heart: and therefore thoſe that doe not beleeue and repent, can not hauehave this pure heart: And it is ſuch an heart as hath no purpoſe to liue in any knowne ſin whatſoeuer, but a deſire and carefull indeuour to performe obedience to eueryevery one of the Commandements.
Vſe. Well, ſeeing that the Lord GOD ſo highly commendeth an honeſt heart, and ſo earneſtly deſireth and wiſheth it, Oh how ſhould wee labour for it, to hauehave a ſound heart purified by faith in Chriſt Ieſus, to carry no purpoſe to ſin in any thing, but in all things to pleaſe him, and to do his will; and therefore againe and againe I ſay, let vsus locke to our harts, that they be ſound, and that as wee profeſſe our ſelues to bee Chriſtians in ſhew, ſo we may proue our ſelues Chriſtians in the ſight of God: That he may approue of vsus in that we hauehave ſound hearts to walke with our God, and purpoſe in all things to doe his will, Iohn 1.48. It is no ſmall commendations that Chriſt giues of Nathanael, that hee was a true Iſraelite in whom was no guile: And nothing indeed doth more diſtinguiſh a true Chriſtian from a counterfeit: But this trueth and ſinceritie of heart, Eſau Geneſ. 27. can mourne like Ezechias: And Ahab can put on ſackecloth, 1. Reg. 21. And Saul as well as Dauid can ſay, I hauehave ſinned, but their hearts were full of Hypocriſie: farre from ſinceritie before God.
Doctr. 4 Seeing GOD loueth trueth in the inward affections:Sinne is but a lying vanitie. we learne where trueth doth not raigne, ſinne doth raigne, which is but a lying vanitie. And all thoſe that hauehave beene in louelove with it, in the end hauehave found the ſame too true. Achan through hi… couetous deſire thought to enrich himſelfe by the wedge of golde,Ioſua 7.25 and the Babyloniſh garment which hee had purloyned contrary to the Commandemenr of God; but it fell our to his owne deſtruction. Ahab roſe vp and tooke poſſeſſion of Nabaoth▪ Vineyard, but withall,1. Reg. 21. he purchaſed the wrath of GOD, the deſtruction of himſelfe, & the ruine of his whole houſe. The like may be ſaid of Iudas, who through his couetous deſite was led to betray his Maſter, but how he digeſted the ſame in the end,Mat. 26.27 the Euangeliſt declareth: when hee ſaw that Chriſt was condemned, hee brought againe the thirtie peeces of ſiluer to the high Prieſts and Elders, ſaying, I hauehave ſinned betraying the innocent bloud. And this ſhall all men one day be ſure to finde, that the periſhing pleaſures of ſin ſhall hauehave ſorrow in the end: that if they hauehave not truth in the inward affections of the heart, there muſt needes raigne ſinne, and ſin is but a lying vanitie and will deceiue them in the end.
Indeed all ſin to a naturall man is delightfull and pleaſant, he findeth it ſweete to his taſte, but it is as ſweet meate that hath poyſon mingled with it:Hebr. 3.3. That howſoeuer it is ſweet in the taſte, yet in the end bringeth death; So is it with ſin, it doth delight in the committing thereof, but in the end it turneth to the deſtruction of the whole man.
Ʋſe. 1 Heere then we may ſee the wofull fruit of ſin, which na…urall men make their chiefe h…ppineſſe and felicitie. They may indeed delight for a time, and pleaſe the carnall deſires of Naturall men; but Oh alas, they bring an heauy accompt and reckoning in the end. So that wee may ſay to all naturall and carnall men, whoſe portion is in this life, as Abner ſaid in an other caſe;2. Sa. 2.26. Knoweſt thou not that it will be bitterneſſe in the latter end? This wee may ſee in Cain, in Eſau, in Ahab, in Iudas, &c. That hauing taſted of the bread of deceit, hauehave had their mouthes filled with the grauell in the end. For the Motions of ſinne are like thoſe locuſts of the bottomleſſe pit, hauing faces like men,Reuel. 9. and their haire like the haire of women, but a taile like a Scorpion which ſtingeth to death.
Vſe 2 Wee learne hence what muſt bee the chriſtian practiſe of a godly man, namely, to walke plainely and ſincerely to be a true Iſraelite indeed, in whom is no guile. This is that which Salomon teacheth, He that walketh vprigh…ly walketh boldely, but he that peruerteth his wayes ſhall be knowne. Oh it is a gracious thing for a m…n,Prou. 10.9 in all things to labour to keepe faith and a good conſcience: ſuch a man may aſſure himſelfe that the Lord loueth him; For he loueth trueth in the inward affections. But ſuch as commit wickedneſſe without care or conſcience, ſhall be ſure to feele the ſmart in the end.
[Therefore haſt thou taught me wiſedome in the ſecret of my heart.]
Dauids ſin heino…s, why?IN this laſt place the Prophet Dauid aggrauateth his ſinne by that knowledge which God in mercy had beſtowed vponupon him; namely, that God had taught him heauenly wiſedome by the Lawe of God, whereby he knew very well what God required at his hands, and how hee ought to ſerue and worſhip GOD: nay, that hee had taught him wiſedome, not after a common manner, but euen by his holie Spirite had taught him wiſdome in the ſecret of his heart in a ſpeciall manner,Becauſe God had taught him wiſedome ſecretly. reuealing his will vntounto him: and therefore he confeſſeth that his ſinne was the more hainous and grieuous: for if hee had neuer beene ſanctified, nor truely called, if he had beene ignorant and blinde in the word of God, though it could not excuſe him, yet his ſin had not beene ſo great, but ſeeing he, who had made ſo good proceeding in the ſeruice and worſhip of GOD, who had taught others, who was ſo inſighted by the Spirit, and beene taught in a ſpeciall manner, againſt knowlege, againſt conſcience, and ſo fouly ſinned againſt God; this highly increaſeth and aggrauateth his ſinne.
Doctr. 1 Hence then learne that it is a fearfull and verie dangerous ſin for anie man or woman to ſinne againſt the knowne trueth of the word,A feareful thing to ſin againſt knowlege. and Law of GOD, againſt knowledge and conſcience, when as wee hauehave not onelyonly knowne the will and word of GOD, but beleeued it, beene enlightned by the Spirit, and being taught of GOD in our inward affections, then againſt all theſe means to ſinne and to commit iniquitie againſt knowledge and conſcience, it is a moſt dangerous thing: this may heere appeare in Dauid, who was grieuouſly wounded for this ſinne aboue all other, and felt the ſmart of it to humble him all the dayes of his life. So Peters deniall of Chriſt Luke 23. chapter, though it was of feare, yet being againſt knowledge and alſo conſcience; oh! it cauſed him to weepe bitterly: and indeede ſinnes of knowledge and againſt conſcience are done with ſome preſumption againſt God. And therefore if euer a man be touched for them, they will wound deepe, and cauſe teares to follow.
Ʋſe. 1 Seeing it is ſo fearefull and dangerous to ſin againſt knowledge and conſcience, becauſe thereby we doe what lieth in vsus to quench the Spirit, to wound our conſciences, and it is a great ſteppe vntounto the ſin againſt the holy Ghoſt; Oh then let vsus in the feare of GOD take heede wee neuer giuegive that liberty to our owne luſtes and liking, as to ſin againſt knowledge and conſcience. If the Diuell tempt thee to any ſinne which thou knoweſt is condemned in the word of God, as ſwearing, lying, ſtealing,Note. murther, adultery, &c. and thy conſcience telleth thee of it, and checks thee for it, do not commit it though thou mighteſt gaine a kingdome by it: for that which followeth will be a farre greater loſſe; for thou ſhalt loſe peace of conſcience, and ioy in the Spirit, feeling of GODS louelove, comfort in affliction: and if GOD be not mercfull vntounto thee, thou ſhalt run on from ſin to ſin to a reprobate ſenſe. It is true, ignorance ſhall excuſe no man; yet ſinnes of ignorance are farre leſſe then ſins of knowledge and againſt conſcience:1. Tim. 1.13. Paul perſecuted the Church of God, but it was by ignorance, and therefore GOD ſhewed him mercy: but if thou of ſpite and malice ſhalt perſecute, and againſt knowledge, and the checke of thy conſcience, hurt and iniurie the ſeruants of GOD and members of Chriſt, how canſt thou euer look to finde mercy? Thou knoweſt that GOD forbiddeth and condemneth lying, ſwearing, ſtealing, murther, adultery, drunkenneſſe, &c. And if thou ſhalt wittingly and willingly ruſh into them, though thou know they be forbidden, thou maieſt look for ſome fearefull iudgement of God vponupon thee: And therefore if thou be …empted, anſwer; I will not yeelde: It is written I may not ſteale, lie, commit adultery,Matth. 4.2 &c. as Chriſt anſwered the diuell.
Vſe 2 We ſee, that if God leaue his children, they may fall dangerouſly into great ſinnes, yea againſt knowledge and conſcience, as Dauid, Abraham, Peter, &c. for of our ſelues we hauehave no power to reſiſt the ſubtill temptations and aſſaults of the Diuell: but euen as a ſtaffe ſtands ſo long as it is ſtayed, but when it is left alone preſently it falles with the leaſt puffe of winde, ſo doe wee: And therefore let vsus not relie too much vponupon our owne power, as Peter did, and fell: but feare our weakneſſe, and ſuſpect our ſelues, and pray the Lord to hold vsus, and not to leaue vsus to our ſelues, for then there is no ſinne ſo fowle into which wee will not eaſily plunge our ſelues.
And yet if the Lord leaue vsus to fall into ſome great ſinne againſt knowledge and conſcience, let vsus not deſpaire, or thinke wee hauehave ſinned againſt the holy Ghoſt: as it is the diuells vſuall temptation to perſwade a Chriſtian that hee hath ſinned againſt knowledge and conſcience, and therefore againſt the holy ghoſt, and that God hath no mercy for him, and to that purpoſe hee abuſeth one eſpeciall place, Hebr. 6.4, 5, 6. For it is impoſsible that they which were once lightned, and hauehave taſted of the heauenly gift, and were made partakers of the holie Ghoſt, and hauehave taſted of the good word of God, and of the power of the world to come, if they fall away ſhould be renued againe by repentance. By this place and ſuch like the cunning Diuell labours to bring the children of God to diſpaire if they commit ſinne after they be called and inlightned, becauſe they ſinne againſt knowledge and conſcience.
But that the children of God may ſinne, and commit ſome great ſinne and euill againſt knowledge and conſcience after they be inlightned and effectually called and ſanctified appeareth in Abraham, Sara, Dauid, Peter, &c. and daily experience proueth it: and therefore all ſinnes of knowledge and againſt conſcience are not ſins againſt the holy Ghoſt: but in that place he ſpeaketh of ſuch as of deſperate, malice and ſet purpoſe ſinne againſt the holy Ghoſt, and wholy fall away, and abandon all Religion, and renounce Chriſt and his Goſpel: and therefore the holy Ghoſt ſaith not onelyonly if they fal, but if they fall away, that is, euen cut themſelues cleane off from Chriſt: Againe, that they ſinne wilfully euen deſperately perſecuting Chriſt in his members, and crucifie the Lord of glory, and make a mocke of him, trample vnderunder foote the ſonne of God, and accompt the blood of the New Teſtament as an vnholie thing, and diſpite the Spirit of God, now none of all theſe did befall Dauid, Peter, or any elect child of God: who though they ſin of knowledge againſt conſcience, yet doe they mourne and are grieued for it: and it is for feare, or by the continuall inſtigation of the diuell and ſtrength of his temptation: or in haſte and of weakeneſſe: but afterwards they do grieue for it, and deſire nothing more then to repent, and to be reconciled to GOD: which they cannot doe that ſinne againſt the holie Ghoſt.
Doctr. 2 Wee learne that heauenly wiſedome and ſauing knowledge, which worketh on the heart,Heauenlie wiſedome is the proper gift of Gods ſpirit. and conuerteth the ſoule, is the proper worke and gift of God alone by his Spirit: Thou (O Lord) haſt by thy Spirit taught me wiſedome in the ſecret of my heart; enlightning and giuing mee a heart to know thee: All the elect ſhall be taught of …od. Againe the Lord promiſeth, To make all her children the Scholers of God. Iohn 6.45. Eſay. 54.13And hee will be their Maſter and Teacher: ſo that it is manifeſt that God alone is the Schoolemaiſter who doth teach by his Spirit true and heauenly wiſedome, ſauing and ſound knowledge in the heart.
God teacheth his wiſedome two waies.And this teaching of God containes two parts. Firſt, the enlightning of the mind. Secondly, the bowing of the heart.
Firſt, the Lord doth by his Spirit, which is the eye-ſalue,Reue. 3.9. 1. Cor. 2.10. annoynt our eyes, and cleare our mindes and maketh vsus able to vnderſtand his will in his word; by nature (alas) we cannot know his will: for The naturall man perceiues not the things that are of God: for they bee fooliſhneſſe vntounto him: and euen as the cleare Sunne is vntounto a blinde man, ſo is the word to vsus, by nature we vnderſtand nothing to our good.
Secondly, the Lord teacheth wiſedome in the ſecret of the heart, when he bowes the heart to obedience of his will, ſo the Lord opened the hart of Lydias to attend vntounto the preaching of Paul.Acts 16.14
Ʋſe. 1 Seeing it is GOD who teacheth wiſedome and ſauing knowledge, we muſt labour to become his Scholers and diſciples: we muſt be willing to learne of this Maſter, to come to his Schoole where his Word is taught, and intreate him that hee will teach vsus his will, and teach vsus wiſedome in our hearts, Dauid, Pſalme 119. in many verſes hath it, Teach mee thy word, O Lord, and I will keepe it euen vntounto the end: and as for ſuch as ſcorne to hauehave GOD for their Schoolemaſter, to come to his Schoole, to be taught of God: all their wiſedome, if it were as great as the wiſedome of Salomon or Achitophel, it is but follie with God.
Vſe. 2 Seeing God that is our ſpirituall Schoole-maſter, he teacheth not only the eare or the tongue, but he teacheth the heart, in the ſecret of the heart and affection by moouing and bowing them to obedience: this ſheweth that moſt men are not taught of God, for all the knowledge that they hauehave of God and his word, it is onelyonly in words, lipp-knowledge and knowledge in the tongue, to talke of God, to diſcourſe and commend Religion, but it neuer commeth to the heart and intrailes to humble them, to enlighten the minde, truely to conuert the ſoule, to bow the wil and affection to obedience: Well, know this, that all thy knowledge and wiſedome can not doe thee any good, vnleſſe it be in the heart, vnleſſe it bring foorth obedience to the will of GOD, and therefore prooue thy knowledge, whether it hath humbled thy heart, moued thy affection, to obey the will of God, to keepe his Commaundements; for it thy heart runne after ſinne, and thou art not purged, nor bettered, nor reformed in heart and life (alas) thy knowledge is but carnall and wil neuer ſaue thy ſoule.
And this ſerues to cut the combs of many vaine hypocrits and diſſemblers, who becauſe they can talke and diſcourſe of matters of religion, and commend the Preacher, they do thinke themſelues iolly fellowes and good Chriſtians. But I ſay, vnleſſe the Spirit of God teach thee wiſedome in the ſecret of thy heart by bowing it to obedience and reformation, all thy knowledge it is but a carnall and fleſhly knowledge which may befall a reprobate: Paul ſhewes vsus how we may vndoubtedly know, whether we be taught of God, or not; If any man louelove God he is taught of God: 1. Cor. 8.3.ſo that by our vnfained louelove of God, which will appeare in keeping his commandements and doing his wil, we ſhall know whether we be truely taught of God: And he that hath not the louelove of God, nor care to keep his Commandements, that man, let his knowledge bee neuer ſo great, certainely he was neuer yet truly taught of God.