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ledge of the most differing Subjects agree in this one common Excellence, viz. the right Reprefentation of the thing, as it is, unto the Understanding; or the Conformity of the Image created in the Understanding, unto the thing objectly united to it, which is Truth in the Understanding: Yet it muft needs be, that according to the various values and degrees of the things to be known, there arifeth a diverfity of the value or worth of that Knowledge; that which is of a thing more noble, ufeful, precious, muft needs be a more noble, ufeful, precious Knowledge, and accordingly, more to be defired.

There have been doubtless many excellent Underftandings that have been converfant about an exact difquifition of fome particular Truth, which though as Truths they agree in a common value with all others, yet in refpect of their nature, use, and value, are of no great moment, whether known or not; as concerning the precife time of this or that paffage in fuch a prophane Hiftory; the Criticism of this or that Latin word or the like; which though by accident, and by way of concomitance, they may be of confiderable ufe, when mixed with, or relating to fome other matter of moment; yet in themselves have little Value, because little Ufe. Others have spent their Thoughts in acquiring of Knowledge in fome fpecial piece of Nature, the fabrick of the Eye; the progreffion of generation in an Egg; the relation and proportion of Numbers, Weights, Lines; the generation of Metals: And thefe, as they have a relative confideration to dif scover and fet forth the Wisdom of the great Creator, or to publick Ufe, have great worth in them; but in themfelves, though they have this Excellence of Truth in them, and confequently in their kind feed and give light to the Understanding, which is a power that is naturally ordained unto, and greedy of, and delighted in Truth, though of a low and inferiour Conftitution; yet they are not of that eminence and worth, as Truths of fome other, either higher, or more ufeful, or durable Nature.

As once our Saviour, in relation of things to be done, pronounced One thing only neceffary, Luke 10. 42. So

the

the Apostle, among the many things that are to be known. fixeth in the fame One thing neceffary to be, known Chrift Jefus, and him Crucified.

There are three Steps;

I. Not to know any thing. Not as if all other Knowledge were condemned: Mofes's Learning was not charged upon him as a fin; Paul's fecular Learning was not condemned, but useful to him; tobe knowing in our calling, in the qualities and difpofitions of Perfons, in the Laws under which we live, in the modeft and fober inquiries of Nature and Arts, are not only not condemned, but commended and useful, and fuch as tend to the fetting forth the Glory of the God of Wifdom. Even the difcretion of the Husbandmen God owns as his, Ifa. 28. 26. Far his God doth inftruct him to difcretion, and doth teach him. we must determine to know nothing in comparison of that other knowledge of Chrift Jefus, as the Apoftie counted what things were gain, yet to be lofs for Chrift, Phil. 4. 7. fo we are to esteem that knowledge of other things, other wife excellent, useful, admirable, yet to be but folly, and vile in comparison of the knowledge of Chrift. And

this requires,

But

1. A true and right Eftimate of the Value of the knowledge of Chrift Fefus above other knowledge; and confequently an infinite preferring thereof before all other knowledge in our judgments, defire, and delight: And the preponderation of the knowledge of Chrift above other knowledges excells moft knowledge in all the enfuing particulars, but excells ail knowledge in fome, and thofe of most

concernment.

1. In the certainty of it. Moft other knowledges are ei ther fuch as we take in by our Senfe and Experience; and therein, though it is true that the grofs part of our knowledge, that is nearest to our fenfe, hath fomewhat of certainty in it, yet when we come to fublimate and collect, and infer that Knowledge into univerfal or general Conclufions, or to make deductions, ratiocinations, and determinations from them, then we fail, and hence grew the difference between many Philofophers. Again, the knowledge

knowledge that we elicit from fenfe, is but very narrow, if it ftand there; for the forms of things, the matter or. fubftance, which is the fubject of Nature, are not easily perceptible by fenfe; we fee the colour and the figure, and the variations of that, but we do from thence only make conjectures concerning the forms, fubftances, and matter: Or they are fuch as we receive by Tradition, whether bistorical or doctrinal; and the former depends upon the credit of the Relator, which moft an end depends upon anothers credit, and fo vanifheth into much uncertainty, unlefs the Authors be very authentick and eye-witneffes: And as to matters doctrinal, ftill that depends upon the Opinion of a Man, it may be, deduced upon weak convictions, croffed by perfons of as great Judgment, and fo breeds uncertainty, diftration, and diffatisfaction in the knowledge. But in the knowledge of Chrift, we have greater certainty than can be found in any of all these other Knowledges. 1. A conftant tradition and Reception by millions, before he came, that the Meffias was to come; and fince he came, that in truth he is come. 2. The Apoftles, Evangelifts, and Difciples, that were purposely chofen to be Witneffes of Chrift's Miracles, Doctirne, Suffering, and Resurrection. 3. The Miracles he did, that are witneffed to us, by a greater confent of Teftimony than any one part of any Hiftory of that Antiquity. 4. The Purity, Sanctity, and Juftnefs of his Doctrine, which was never attained unto in the teaching of the Philofophers, nor ever any could, in the leaft measure, impeach or blame 5. The Prophecies ftiled moft juftly by the Apoftle a more certain evidence than the very Vifion of his Transfiguration, and a Voice from Heaven, 2 Pet. 1. 19. And fo in truth is a more undeniable Argument than any is; for it is not capable of any fraud or impofture. 6. The wonderful prevailing that the knowledge of Chrift had upon the World, and this not only de facto, but backed with a Prophecy that it fhould be fo. 7. The admirable concordance and fymmetry, that this Myftery of Chrift makes in the whole method of the proceeding of God in the World, as will be eafily obfervable upon the collation

of

of these things together: The Creation; The Fall; Th Law; The State of the Jews; The Immortality of the Soul; The Neceffity of a Satisfaction for Sin if pardoned The Types and Sacrifices; The Prophecies; The Rejection of the Jews; The Calling of the Gentiles; The Progrefs of the Gofpel to the new difcovered parts of the World fucceffively as difcovered; that a due collection being made of all these and other Confiderations, it will appear that the Doctrine of Chrift Jefus, and him crucified, is that which makes the difpenfation of God towards the Children of Men to be all of a piece, and one thing in order to another, Chrift the Mediator, in whom God hath gathered together all things in one, Ephef. 1. 10. made it as one Syftem, Body, Fabrick. 8. Belides the undeniable Prophecies, there bears Witnefs to this Truth, the fecret powerful Witness of the Spirit of God convincing the Soul of the Truth of Chrift, beyond all the Moral perfwasions in the World, beyond the conviction of demonftration, to believe, to reft upon, to affert it, even unto the lofs of life and all things.

2. As in the certainty, fo in the Plainnefs and Eafinefs of the Truth. The most excellent Subjects of other knowledge have long windings, before a man can come at them, and are of that difficulty and abftrufeness, that as every brain is not fit to undertake the acquiring of it, so much pains, labour, induftry, advertency, affiduity is required in the best of judgments, to attain but a competent meafure of it: Witnefs the ftudies of Arithmetick, Geometry Natural Philofophy, Metaphyficks, &c. wherein great labour hath been taken to our hands, to make the paffage more eafie, and yet ftill are full of difficulty. But in this knowledge it is otherwife as it is a knowledge fitted for an univerfal use, the bringing of Mankind to God, so it is fitted with an univerfal Fitness and Convenience for that ufe, eafie, plain and familiar. The poor receive the Gospel, Matth. 11. 5. And indeed the plainnefs of the Doctrine was that which made the wife World ftumble at it, and thence it was, that it was hid from the wife and prudent, Matth. 11. 25. Who like Naaman with the Prophet could

not

not be contented to be healed without fome great Oftentation; nor were contented to think any thing could be the Wisdom of God, and the Power of God, unless it were somewhat that were abftrufe, and at least conformable to that Wisdom they had, and were troubled to think that that Wisdom or Doctrine, that must be of fo great Ufe and End, fhould fall under the capacity of a Fisherman, a maker of Tents, a Carpenter. But thus it pleafed God to chufe a Doctrine of an easie acquifition; 1. That no flesh fhould glory in his fight, 1 Cor. 1. 29. 2. That the way to Salvation being a common thing propounded to all Mankind, might be difficult to none. Believe and thy fins be forgiven. Believe, and thou shalt be faved. Believe, and thou shalt be raised up to Glory, John 6.40. This is the Will of him that fent me, that every one that feeth the Son and believeth on him, may have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

3. As in the Certainty and Plainnels, fo in the Sublimity and Loftinels of the Subject. And hence it is that Metaphyficks is reckoned the most noble knowledge, becaufe converfant with and about the nobleft Subject, Substance confidered in abstracto from Corporeity, and particular adherents falling under other Sciences. But the Subject of this knowledge is of the higheft confideration, Almighty God; The difpenfation of his Counsel touching Man in reference to the everlafting condition of Mankind; The true measure of Just and Unjuft; The pure Will of God; the Son of God and his miraculous Incarnation, Death, Refurrection and Afcenfion; The great covenant between the Eternal God and fallen Man made, fealed and confirmed in Chrift his great tranfaction with the Father in their Eternal Counfel; and fince his Afcenfion, in his continual Interceffion for Man; The means of the discharge and fatisfaction of the breach of the Law of God; The ftate of the Soul after death in bleffednefs or mifery: Thefe and many of these are the fubject of that knowledge that is revealed in the knowledge of Chrift, fuch as their very matter fpeaks them to be of a moft high Nature: The great tranfactions of the counfel and adminiftration of the mighty King of Heaven

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