The Righteous Mans Tower, Section 1
1. It comprehends the Knowledge of God, as hee hath revealed himſelfe in his word.
Firſt the knowledge of him in all his glorious attributes of his wiſdome, power, mercy, providence. Wee muſt know him to bee a God ſo wiſe as can Infatuate all the crafty counſels, and policies of enemies, to bee a God of ſuch power that hee is able to deliver, and defend all that doe betake themſelves to him for ſuccour, To bee a God tender-hearted, merciful, and compaſſionate to his people in their diſtreſſes, To bee a provident God that hath the ordering and governing of all events, and occurrences here below. And
Secondly, there muſt bee the knowledge of him in Chriſt.
A man that will Runne to a Tower for ſafety, he muſt
Firſt, know that there is ſuch a Tower. Though there bee a Tower, yet if a man know not of it, or know not the way to it, hee will never Runne to it, for who will Runne hee knowes not whether.
Secondly, Hee muſt know that it is ſuch a Tower as it is, of ſufficient ſtrength for ſafety and defence, for if hee know that there is a Tower, and doe know the way to that Tower, yet if hee doe not know it to bee a Tower of ſtrength, a Tower of Defence, that is able to hold out an enemy, hee will have no heart to Runne unto it.
Thirdly, He muſt know that there is a poſſibility of admittance and entrance into that Tower: for though a man know there is ſuch a Tower, and that is a ſtrong and a ſafe Tower, yet if hee thinkes when hee comes to this Tower, that hee ſhall get no entrance, but ſhall have the Tower gates ſhut upon him, and barred againſt him, hee will never Runne to that Tower.
Now Iuſt ſo it is here.
Firſt, When a man knowes God, hee knowes there is a Tower.
Secondly, When hee knowes him in his attributes, hee knowes the Tower is ſufficient.
Thirdly, when he knows him in Chriſt, he knows there is an entrance to be had into that tower. God out of Chriſt is a conſuming fire. And who will Run into the fire for ſafety; But hee that knowes God in Chriſt, he knowes that by Chriſt, we have acceſſe and entrance with boldneſſe unto God, Epheſ. 3. 12. In whom we have boldneſſe, and acceſſe with confidence. And there is a great deale of ſafety in the knowledge of God in the knowledg of God, in his Attributes, & in his Chriſt. A mans ſafety wee ſee lies in his Running to the Tower. He Runnes and is ſafe. And it is the knowledge of this Tower that ſets a man a Running to it. Hence wee ſhall finde ſafety attributed to the knowledge of the Lord, Pſal. 91. 14. I will ſet him on high, I will exalt him, and ſo he ſhall be ſafe. Why ſo? Becauſe hee hath known my Name, for the knowing of God a right was that which made him Run, and ſo hee is exalted, and ſet on high. Then a man is ſafe when he hath gotten this tower to be his tower, when he hath gotten God to be his God. Now when we know God, wee get him to bee our God, and make this Tower our tower. Ier. 24. 7. I will give them an Heart to know me, and I will be their God. But on the contrary, an Ignorant perſon in a time or caſe of danger cannot be in expectation of ſafety, and protection: for he knowes not this Tower, he knowes not the way to this Tower. The King of Moab made a great pudder in his feare, and did miſerably weary himſelfe betweene his high place and his ſanctuary, Iſa. 16. 12. And why ſo? The labour of the fooliſh, of the ignorant man, wearies every one of them, becauſe hee knowes not how to goe to the city, Eccleſ. 10. 15. to the city of refuge, to the ſtrong Tower. Suppoſe a blinde man had ſlaine a man at unawares, what a caſe had hee beene in? There was no remedy, but the avenger of bloud muſt needs have diſpatcht him, becauſe hee being blinde hee knew not the way to the city of Refuge. Every Ignorant man is blinde. How can a blinde man Runne to a Tower for ſafety, when by reaſon of his blindeneſſe, he knowes not one foot of the way. And an ignorant man not knowing God in his attributes conceives him not ſo ſufficient a Tower as may be truſted to. He not knowing him in Chriſt, conceives the entrance impoſſible, and the gate ſhut againſt him, and therefore Runnes not to this Tower. As therefore wee would be able to Runne to this Tower, ſo it concernes us to know God, to know him in the attributes of his wiſdome, power, mercy, providence, that ſo wee may Runne to him as to a Tower that wee know to bee a ſtrong Tower; And to know him in Chriſt, that wee may Runne to him as to a Tower, wee know we may have entrance into it, Ioh. 10. I am the Dore, even Chriſt is the Dore of this Tower by whom wee muſt have entrance into it. As we would Runne, ſo know God. Knowledge is that which muſt informe us of the Tower, which muſt guide us unto the Tower, which muſt encourage and hearten us to betake our ſelves to this Tower. A man that will Runne muſt not onelyonly have feet, but hee muſt have eyes. Knowledge is the eyes of the ſoule by which wee muſt ſee both the Tower, and the way to it.