it. But, we talk of the enlargements of divine knowledge, and
the breaking up of a clearer light in the point of religion, in respect of
which we look on former times, as the times of ignorance and darkness,
which God winked at. If it were so indeed, I should think the time happy,
and bless the days we live in, for as many sour and sad accidents as they
are mixed withal. Indeed, if the variety of books, and multiplicity of
discourses upon religion, if the multitude of disputes about points of
truth, and frequency of sermons, might be held for a sufficient proof of
this pretension, we should not want store enough of knowledge and light.
But, I fear that this is not the touchstone of the Holy Ghost, according
to which we may try the truth of this assertion, that this is not the
rule, by which to measure either the truth, or degrees of our knowledge,
but for all that, we may be lying buried in Egyptian darkness, and while
such a light seems to shine about us our hearts may be a dungeon of
darkness, of ignorance of God and unbelief, and our ways and walk full of
stumblings in the darkness. I am led to entertain these sad thoughts of
the present times from the words of the apostle, which give us the
designation of a true Christian, to be the knowledge of God, and the
character of his knowledge, to be obedience to his commands. If, according
to this level, we take the estimate of the proportion of our knowledge and
light, I am afraid lest there be found as much ignorance of God, and
darkness, as we do foolishly fancy that we have of light. However, to find
it, will be some breaking up of light in our hearts, and to discover how
little we know indeed upon a solid account, will be the first morning star
of that Sun of righteousness, which will shine more and more to the
perfect day. Therefore we should labour to bring our light to the lamp of
this word, and our knowledge to this testimony of unquestionable
authority, that having recourse "to the law and to the testimony," we may
find if there be light in us or so much light as men think they see. If we
could but open our eyes to the shining light of the scripture, I doubt not
but we should be able to see that which few do see, that is, that much of
the pretended light of this age is darkness and ignorance. I do not speak
of errors only that come forth in the garments of new light, but
especially of the vulgar knowledge of the truth of religion, which is far
adulterated from the tr