The Cause and Cure of Ignorance, Section 64
SECT. 64.
Saving knowledg given to none but good men.2 SEcondly, As none can attaine to this precious grace of saving knowledge, except it be given them from above: so, it is a jewell of such worth, that God gives it to none but his children the godly, and such as hee knows wil improve their knowledge to his glory. The servant (saith Christ, meaning the ungodly man) knoweth not his masters will, Of which many instances.but I have called you friends (speaking to his Apostles, and in them, to all that are converted) for all things that I have heard of my Father, have I made knowne unto you, John 15.15. Surely, saith Solomon, to a man that is good in his sight, God giveth wisdome and knowledge, Eccles. 2.26. Intimating, that he doth not so to the evill man. The Wise, that is, the godly, saith Daniel, shall understand, but none of the wicked shall have understanding, Dan. 12.10. A scorner seeketh wisdome, and findeth it not; but knowledge is easie to him that wil understand. Pro. 14.6. that is, to him that will be bettered by his understanding. Wicked men understand not judgement, but they that seeke the Lord, understand all things, Prov. 28.5. and 3.32. They which observe the Commandments, have a good understanding, saith David, Psal. 111.10. the rest have an ill understanding, and a vain; an understanding, like that of the Scribes and Pharisees, which was enough to condemn them, but not to save them.
Such as are delivered up to councells, and brought before Rulers, and Kings in defence of the Gospell: are straitly charged by our Saviour, Divine assistance in time of tryall.neither to premeditate, or take thought before hand how, or what to answer: because the holy Ghost shall teach them in that very houre; what they ought to say, or rather, the holy Ghost shall speake in them, Mark. 13.9.11. Luk. 12.11, 12. And which of the Martyrs did not finde the same verified? Alice Drivers, being a poore mans daughter; and brought up at the Plow: in defence of Gods truth, and in the cause of Christ at her examination; put all the Doctors to silence; so that they had not a word to say, but one looked upon another. Indeed Bonner thought, hee had non-plust a plaine fellow with his Sophistry about the reall presence: But he answered him to the purpose, My Lord (quoth he) I cannot so well dispute for the truth, as you can against it: but I can burne for the truth, which you will never doe. And did it, a good argument to prove, that he knew truth from falshood, better than the Bishop.
The same further amplified.Thus as no man can see God, and live: so no man can see Christ, who is God, sitting at the right hand of his Father in heaven, so long as hee lives a meer naturall man, 1 Cor. 2.14. God will not powre new wine, but into new vessells, Matth. 9.17. Christ is said to have expounded all things to his Disciples apart, to shew, that if we will have Christ to teach us, wee must goe apart from the world. If any will doe Gods will, saith our Saviour, he shall know the Doctrine, whether it be of God, or no, Iohn 7.17. So that no man can learne this doctrine, but he that doth it: as no man could learn the Virgins song, but they that sang it, Revel. 14.3. Yea, if the feare of the Lord, as Solomon speakes, is the beginning of wisdome, how should they have wisdome, that have not the feare of the Lord? All unrepentant sinners are enemies to God, servants to Satan: now we men, doe not tell our secrets to enemies; neither will an Artificer teach another mans servant his trade: but the righteous are Christs friends, and brethren, and sisters, and father, and mother, between whom there is a kinde of familiarity, so that he makes them of his counsell, His secrets, saith Solomon, are with the righteous, Pro. 3.32. And again, Psal. ….14. The secrets of the Lord are revealed to them that fear him, and his Covenant is to give them understanding.
They that would have this talent must resolve to improve itSee this in Abrahams example, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do? saith God, Gen. 18.17. As if this were an offence in God, if he should tell the righteous no more then he tells the wicked.
Be…ides, What should he doe with a talent, that will not improve it? And let a wicked man know never so much he is resolved to be never the better man. And they that are unwilling to obey, God thinkes unworthy to know: which is but equity.
The way to obtaine true wisdome.Indeed, if they will put off, concerning their former conversation, the old man, with his corruptions, and deceiveable lusts, and be changed, by the renewing of their mindes and by putting on the new man, which after God is treated in righteousnesse and true holinesse, Ephe. 4.20. to 25. Col. 3.10. 2 Cor. 5.17. 1 Joh. 4.7. Then they shall see what the good and acceptable, and perfect will of God is, as Saint Paul, and our Saviour Christ shews, Rom. 12.2. Matth. 5.8. For God in the person of wisdome hath made a generall promise to all that will serve him, Prov. 1. If thou wilt turne, saith God, at my correction, I will powre out my heart unto thee, and make thee understand my words, Verse 23. But else, they shall blindly goe on in persecuting Christ and his members, perhaps to the killing of his Prophets, and thinke also that they doe God good service, Iohn 16.2.3. For as they like not to retaine God in their knowledge, saith the Apostle, so God shall give them over to vile affections, and to a reprobate minde, Rom. 1.28. And because they will not receive the truth in love, that they might be saved, therefore God shall send them strong delusions, that they might beleeve lyes: that all they might bee damned, which beleeve not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse, 2 Thes. 2.10.11.12.
And is it not iust with God, to say, they would none of Christ, let them welcome Sathan and Antichrist?