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fcult is it get any tolerable inſight into the moſt of ſciences! how much time is neceſſarily ſpent in the very rudiments and elements of them! and all this is but an introduction into them. How many years may a man live, and ſtudy hard too, and yet make but a ſmall progreſs in the knowledge of natural philoſophy? He may know much in reſpect of others who are ignorant in theſe matters, and yet know but very little in compariſon of what yet remains to be diſcovered in the vaſt continent of nature.
The honourable Mr Boyle, a great ſearcher into nature, a profound philoſopher, and at the ſame time altogether a Chriſtian, affirms, that the ſhortneſs of man's life makes it impoſſible for him to underſtand thoroughly any one thing in nature. Beſides, it is not the bulk of mankind, nay, it is only a few of them, that have capacity or opportunity for philoſophical enquiries. But Chriſtianity being deſigned for the benefit of mankind at large, it is plain and eaſy, and calculated for the weakeſt capacity: ſo that people of low life, and of little penetration, may make great proficiency therein. It is true, indeed, there are in the ſcriptures; things hard to be underſtood, difficulties that will exerciſe the judgment of the greateſt ſcholars: but then, theſe are remote from the eſſentials of Chriſtianity, and people may remain ignorant of them without endangering their eternal ſalvation: whereas the things abſolutely neceſſary to be know are expreſſed in ſuch plain terms, that he who runs may read them. There are in the ſcriptures ſhallow places where lambs may wade, as well as depths where elephants may ſwim: and while learned men and diſputers of this world contend about chronological difficulties, or critical nicities; the meaneſt and weakeſt of the houſhold of faith may reſt ſatisfied, yea, be full of joy, while they know nothing but Jeſus Chriſt, and him crucified.
3. The knowledge of Chriſt crucified excells all other knowledge in point of ſublimity. Hence, the Chriſtian joins iſſue with the devout Pſalmiſt, crying, "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law (p)[1]." What is the knowledge of languages, of arts and ſciences? what is the knowledge of nature or of mankind. when compared with the knowledge of "God in Chriſt. reconciling the world unto himſelf,
- ↑ (p) Pſalm cxix. 19.
