The Incomparableness of God, Treatise · Chapter 24
CHAP. XXIV. The Means of acquaintance with God. A ſenſe of our Ignorance. Attendance on the word. Fervent Prayer.
THe means which I ſhall offer, as helpful to the attainment of his knowledge of God, are theſe.
1. Be ſenſible of thine ignorance of him. A conceited Scholar is no good learner. He that thinks he knoweth enough already, will never be beholden to a Maſter to teach him more. Seeſt thou a man wife in his own conceit, there is more hope of a fool than of him, Prov. 26.12. This was that which lock'd up the Phariſees in the dark dungeon of Ignorance: they were blind; Truth it ſelf called them blind, Mat. 23.16, 17. But they conceited their eyes were good, and ſo neglected the means of curing them. Ye ſay ye ſee (I do not ſay ye ſee, but ye conceit ſo) therefore your ſin remaineth, Joh. 9.40, 41. therefore your ignorance continueth. When Ignorance and Confidence (which are often Twins) go together, the condition of a man is helpleſs; partly, becauſe ſuch a perſon will not take that pains in reading, and praying, and conference, and meditation, without which the knowledge of God cannot be had, Dan. 12.4. Many ſhall run to and fro, and knowledge ſhall be encreaſed. It's an alluſion to Merchants that run to this and that Port, to ſell out and take in commodities; or to a Tradeſman, that runs to this and that Mart or place to buy and ſell, whereby their ſtocks are increaſed. But a conceited man will never labour thus for that which he thinks he hath already. If thou diggeſt as for ſilver, and ſearcheſt as for hid treaſure, then thou ſhalt underſtand the fear of the Lord, and attain the knowledg of God, Prov. 2.4, 5. Men count digging hard work, and will ſweat at it when they dig for ſilver: ſuch diligence muſt they uſe who will get the knowledge of God. But though poor men, who are ſenſible of their want of the knowledge of God, and of their woful condition thereby, will work to preſerve themſelves from periſhing; yet rich men, who think they can do well enough without it, will ſpare their pains, partly, becauſe all knowledge muſt be obtained from God by fervent prayer; and a conceited man will neither be inſtant with God for it, nor will God give it to him. God is the God of knowledg, 1 Sam. 2.2. And from him all true ſaving knowledg cometh, Prov. 2.6. The Lord giveth wiſdom, out of his mouth cometh knowledge and underſtanding. As none can ſee the Sun (by candle light) but by its own light; ſo none can know God ſavingly (by the light of nature) but by light derived from himſelf. Now a conceited perſon will not go to God for knowledge: What need I (thinks he) I have enough already. Poverty is a friend to prayer, the poor uſeth intreaties, Prov. 18.23. But pride or conceitedneſs is an enemy to prayer, The wicked through the Pride of his countenance will not ſeek after God, Pſal. 10.4. Who will beg that of his neighbour, which he is confident he hath at home? Neither will God undertake the inſtruction of proud Scholars: The humble he will teach, the meek he will guide in judgment, Pſal. 25.9. Such as are willing to be taught, will be thankful for their learning, and are fitted for guidance and direction; but conceited perſons are quite contrary. Therefore Reader beware of this miſt in which many miſcarry. He that thinketh he knoweth any thing, knoweth nothing as he ought to know, 1 Cor. 8.2. But labour to get thine heart affected with thine ignorance, and the woful conſequents of it, Pſal. 95.10, 11. This will be a good ſtep to knowledg. The Apoſtle gives thee the ſame direction, 1 Cor. 3.18. If any man ſeem to be wiſe, let him become a fool that he may be wiſe. If thou ſeemeſt to be knowing, be ignorant (in thy own ſenſe and feeling and apprehenſion) that thou mayſt be knowing. Our Lord Jeſus gives the ſame counſel to the ſick and dying Lacdiceans, Rev. 3.17, 18. and acquaints her that her ignorance of her ignorance, and conceitedneſs of her knowledge, was the great hinderance of her recovery.
2. Study much the works, and eſpecially the word of God. The works of God are a Book wherein you may read of him, and by which you may hear of him. The heavens declare his glory, Pſal. 19.1. The earth is full of his goodneſs, Pſal. 33.5. As the ſhadow hath ſome proportion to the body to which it relates, ſo the works of God are ſome repreſentation of the wiſe powerful gracious God, to whom they belong, Rom. 1.19, 21. The inviſible things of God are ſeen by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead. Therefore conſider the works of the Lord, and the operations of his hands.
The word of God is a glaſs, wherein thou mayeſt ſee his beauty and grace and glory, and ſo ſee him as to be transformed into his likeneſs, 2 Cor. 3.18. In the works of God you may ſee his ſteps, the prints of his feet, they are therefore called his paths and his goings, Pſal. 77.19. But in his word we may ſee his face, the comlineſs of his countenance, how lovely and amiable he is; therefore it is called a glaſs, 2 Cor. 3.18. So that as the ſight of a mans face helpeth and conduceth more to our knowledge of him, than the ſight of his ſteps; ſo the word of God is a far greater means of our acquaintance with him, than the Works of Creation and Providence. Therefore I ſay, ſtudy eſpecially the word of God. The Scripture is the key of knowledg, Luk. 11.52. and unlocks the myſteries which were kept hid from Ages and Generations, and opens the ſecrets of heaven to thy ſoul. It's therefore called light, Pſal. 119.105. and a Lamp, Prov. 6.23. Becauſe it diſcovers hidden things, helps thee to ſee what thou canſt not without it, and directs thee in thy motions and actions. David had more knowledge than his enemies, (and they were ſubtil) than his Teachers (and they were no dwarfes in knowledge, ſuch as Gad and Nathan) than the Ancient (and with the ancient is wiſdom, and in length of days is underſtanding, Job 12.12, 13.) and what was the means of it, For thy teſtimonies are my meditation, Pſal. 119.97, 98, 99. The Goſpel is the eye-ſalve by which the blind come to ſee, Pſal. 19.7. The fragrancy and attractiveneſs of the incomparable God, increaſeth up and down in the world as the Goſpel is propagated. Thanks be to God who maketh manifest the Savour of his knowledge, (The knowledge of God, like a rich perfume, cauſeth and leaveth a fragrant odoriferous ſcent whereever it comes) by us (the miniſters of the Goſpel as the inſtruments hereof) in every place, 2 Cor. 2.14. The miniſtry of the word is the Chariot of the Sun of Righteouſneſs, whereby he conveyeth the light of the knowledge of God to the world. Therefore attend on Preaching, and give diligence to reading. Search the Scriptures, for they are they that teſtifie of me, Joh. 5.39.
3. Be frequent and fervent with God to give thee the knowledge of himſelf. There is a twofold light requiſite to bodily viſion; a light in the eye, (A blind man cannot ſee at noon day) and a light in the air, (the beſt eye cannot ſee in the dark) So there is a twofold light requiſite to the effectual ſight of God, viz. The light of the word, and the light of the Spirit; the word cannot do it without the Spirit; and the Spirit will not do it without the word, where the word is afforded: both are needful. There is a ſpirit in man (a paſſive receptiveneſs, as a capable ſubject) But the inſpiration of the Almighty giveth underſtanding, Job 32.8.
All natural abilities, all acquired endowments, all the reading and learning, all the Teachers and Tutors in the world, cannot help one poor ſoul to the ſaving knowledge of God. It is God that teacheth man knowledge, Pſal. 94.10. He who made light in the firſt Creation, only can cauſe light in the new Creation, 2 Cor. 4.6. But God who cauſed light to ſhine out of darkneſs, hath ſhined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jeſus Chriſt. He that at firſt ſaid, Let there be light (when darkneſs cover'd the face of the world) and there was light, a corporeal light, can command ſpiritual light, and the knowledge of his glory in the face of Chriſt, who is the expreſs Image of his perſon. Therefore the Apoſtle betakes himſelf to God for the gift, Praying that the God of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt would give unto you the Spirit of wiſdom and revelation, in the knowledge of him, &c. 1 Eph. 17, 18. So David often, Pſal. 119.18, 34, 35, 125, 143, 144. Rev. 3.18. Reader, art thou blind? take the Counſel of thy Saviour; Go to him for eye ſalve that thou mayeſt ſee; and be confident he that bids thee come to him for that, will bid thee welcome when thou comeſt, Rev. 3.18. None knoweth the Father, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him, Math. 11.27. Therefore, whoever thou art that ſitteſt in darkneſs, and in the ſhadow of death, go to the Sun for light, go to the Sun of Righteouſneſs, in whom are all the treaſures of wiſdom and knowledge, Col. 2.9. for the light of the knowledge of God. Doſt thou not know the ſinfulneſs and miſery of a blind dark ſtate, that vengeance is the fruit of this ignorance, Pſal. 79.6. that God will pour out his wrath upon them that know him not. Go therefore, as the blind man to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Cry, ſigh, mourn, pray, Jeſus thou Son of David have mercy on me; though he hear not preſently, hold on, continue inſtant in Prayer; though the Devil and fleſh rebuke thee (as the multitude him) yet hold on, call louder, Jeſus thou Son of David,Mat. 32. to 37. Have mercy on me, Lord, that I might receive my ſight. And doubt not but he will have pity on thee, as he had on him, and touch thine eye, and give thee to ſee the things of thy peace; for thine encouragement thou haſt his promiſe, Jer. 24.7. I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord, Jer. 31.34. They ſhall all know me from the leaſt to the greateſt: So James 1.6. Hoſeah 2.20. Heb. 8.8, 9. O with what hope may'ſt thou ſue theſe Bonds, and plead theſe promiſes, when he that made them is a God that cannot lye (1 Tit. 2.) and therefore cannot but perform them. Again, obſerve how kindly he took it of Solomon, (when he bid Solomon ask what he would) that he asked wiſdom, 2 Chron. 1.10. Give me wiſdom and knowledge, ſaith Solomon: And the thing which Solomon asked pleaſed the Lord, 1 Kings 3.10. And the Lord ſaid unto Solomon, Becauſe this was in thine heart, becauſe thou haſt not asked riches, nor honour, nor the life of thine enemies, nor long life; Wiſdom, and knowledge is granted to thee, and I will give thee wealth and honour, v. 11. When a poor creature, ſenſible of its blindneſs and darkneſs, lyeth at the feet of God, begging ſpiritual light and ſight, the heart of the Redeemer is taken with ſuch a requeſt, and ſubſcribes the petition with, Wiſdom and Knowledge is granted to thee. Be but diligent Reader in the uſe of theſe means, and thou mayeſt be confident of ſucceſs: If thou cryeſt after knowledge, and lifteſt up thy voice for underſtanding; if thou ſeekeſt her as Silver, and ſearcheſt for her as for hidden treaſure; then ſhalt thou underſtand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God: For the Lord giveth wiſdome, out of his mouth cometh knowledge and underſtanding, Prov. 2.3, 4, 5, 6.