For while we are in the way to Heaven these means are neceffary, and unlefs we make use of and steer our courfe by the Light which they hold forth to us, we must never look to come thither, and to arrive at that perfection of Knowledge which we fhall there attain to. A Learned Man looks back upon fome of the things that were taught him when he was a Boy, and which then he was much taken with, as low and inconfiderable matters, but yet they were neceffary for those his tender Years, and without them he had never attained what now he is Honoured for. Now to go on with the Text, the Apostle in the two Verses following gives a double Illuftration of what he had spoken touching the imperfection of our Knowledge here in comparison of that which we fhall attain hereafter. The former of thefe Illuftrations we have in the 11th Verse, the latter in the 12th. In the 11th Verfe he Illuftrates it by resembling our Knowledge here to the Knowledge of a Child, and our Knowledge hereafter to that of a Man. When I was a Child, I Spake as a Child, I understood as a Child, I thought as a Child but when I became a Man I put away Childish things. His meaning is, that there is as much difference between our Knowledge here and hereafter, as there is between the Knowledge of a Child and a Man. Our Knowledge in this Life is like that of Children in divers refpects. 1. They are but few things that Children know. Their Knowledge for the most part runs within the narrow compafs of what relates to their Meat and Drink and Recreations, and the things which they every Day converfe with. Such is our Knowledge here; it reacheth but a little way, the things we know not being many more than the things that we know. 2.The things that Children understand, are known to them mostly by comparifons and fimilitudes fhadowing them, but to them rudely and imperfectly as they are capable of them. And fuch is much of our Knowledge of Heavenly things. God is pleased to condescend to our weakness, representing Heavenly things to us by Earthly things; and fuch things as we never faw nor can fee while we are here,by those things which we fee daily. 3. To make Children understand and retain things, you must take a great deal of pains in opening them and explaining them to them feveral ways over and over, and in whetting and inculcating them on them. So for Heavenly things, we must hear them over and over, there must be precept upon precept, and line upon line, here a little, and there a little, we are narrow-mouthed Veffels that cannot take in much at once. 4. Children quickly lose what they have gotten, unless they be often reminded of it, and means be frequently used for preventing it. So it is with us in Spiritual things; what we have gained, flips away from us again, unlefs means be often used for recalling and recollecting what we know, and for re newing those Impreffions which Truths have formerly made upon our Minds. Ufe. Now feeing our condition here as to our Knowledge, is like that of Children, it were well if we could in fome things imitate them. Our Saviour fometime propounded the example of little Children to his Difciples for their Imitation. He called a little Child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, them, and faid, verily I fay unto you, except ye be Converted, and become as little Children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whofoever, therefore fhall humble himself as a little Child, the fame is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, Matth. 18. 2, 3, 4. As to the thing that I have been speaking of. I. Let us imitate Children in being inquifitive as they are, ever inquiring after this and that, (I mean Ingenious Children are) and putting fo many Questions that you are weary of answering them. If we could do fo in Spiri tual thiugs, if we had that esteem of Heavenly things, and that earnest thirsting after the Knowledge of them that did make us as inquifitive after them, we should foon come to be better acquainted with them than we are. But inany of us are well pleafed with our Ignorance, never inquiring after these matters, nor concerning our felves with them. 2. Children are of a teachable. difpofition; they are ready and willing to receive what is made known to them they do not wrangle, or perverfly contradict and oppose themselves against what is imparted to them. And the fame Y difpo difpofition should there be in us in re ference to Heavenly things. Whatsoever the Word of God clearly holds forth unto us, that we must receive with all readiness of Mind, as did the Bereans, Acts 17. 11. We must not Cavil, or contentiously dispute against plain Truths which are clearly revealed in Scripture, because we cannot fully comprehend them, or by our Reafon fathom the depth of them, and refolve all knots and difficulties about them. 3. Children are easily reduced when they err, eafily rectified when they are miftaken, and willing to be fet right when they are wrong. They are ready to acknowledge their mistakes, and to yield to any one that will give them better Information. In this alfo we fhould labour to be like them, especially in reference to Spiritual things. We fhould not be unwilling or afhamed to acknowledge our mistakes, but readily fee and own our errors, and gladly embrace better Information from any by whom God fhall be pleased to offer it us. 4. Children out of a Natural thirst after Knowledge, are still reaching forward, and longing after higher attainments. When shall they come to Read fuch |