The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-03-05
5unaay Rtn1il1g.
SEPARATION FROM WORLDLY
KNOWLEDGE

Whea die, must depart not only
from sensual delights, but from the more
manly pleasure Of my studies, knowledge
and converse with many wise and codlv
men, and from all my pleasure IN reading
hearing, public and private exercises OF
religion, &c. ! must leave my library,
and turn. over;thoso pleasant books no
more: | must no more come among the
living, nor see the faces Of my faithful
friends, nor be seen OF man: houses, and
cities, and fields, and countries, gardens,
and walks, will be nothing as TO me.
shal! no more hear OF the affairs of the
world, of man, or wars, or other news.
nor see what becomes of that beloved i'm
terest of wisdom, piety, and peace, Which
desire may prosper, &c.
lanswer, |. Though these delights are
far above those Of sensual sinners, vet.
alas how low and little are they! How
small Is our knowledge in comparison of
our ignorance! And how little doth the
knowledge of learned doctors differ from
the houghts of a silly child! For from
our childhood we take it in but by drops;
and rs triiles are ihc matter of childish
knowledge, so words and notions, and ar
tdicial forms dbl make up more of the learn
ing OF the world, ihan is commonly un-
dcrstood and many such learned men
know little more Of any great and excel
lent things themselvc, than rustics that
are contemcd by them for their ignorance.
What is it but child game that many
logcans, rhetorcians, grammariant, yea,
metaphyscians, and other philosophers in
their eagerest studies and disputes are
exercised in! OF how little use is it to
know WHAT'S contained in many hundreds
OF the volumes that fill our libraries -
Yea, or to know many OF the mcst glori-
ops speculstons in. physics, mathematics,
DC. which have given some tho, title OF
virtuosi and ipgeniosi, in these times, who,
have little the more wit or virtue, to live
TO fod, or overcome temptations from the
flesh and the world, and to secure their
everlasting hopes what pleasure or quiet
doth 1t give TO dying man, to know al
most any of their triiles !
2. Yea, it were well it much of our
reading and learning did us no harm, and
more than good. fear lest books are
to some but a more honorable kind of
temptation than cards and dice lest ma
ny precious hour be lost in them, that
should be employed on much higher mat
ters; and lest many make such knowl.
edge but an unholy, natural, yea, carnal,
pleasure, as worldlings do .hs thoughts
Of their lands and honors; and les. thew
I've the more dangerous by how much the
less suspected, bat the best is, it is
pleasure so fenced from the slotbful with
thorny labor Of hard and long studies,
that lazness saveth more from it tnan
grace and holy wisdom doth. Bpt doubt
less fancy and the natural intellect NAV
with as little sanctity live ~ the pleasure
OF reading, knowing, dispnling, and wr-
tug, rs others spend their time ut a game
Mt chess, or other ingenious sport. =. =,
FOR my own part know that the
knowledge of natural things is valuable
and may be sanctitieJ; much more theo-
logical theory; and when IL II se, il is OF
good use; and h,ve little knowledge
which find not some way useful to nv
highest ends. And # wishing or money
would procure more, would wish and
empty my purse for il; bot yet if many
score or hundred books which | have
read. had been all unread, and had that
time now TO lay out upon hi cher things,
should think myself much richer than
now | am. And | must earnestly pray,
the Lord forgive me the hours that have
spent in reading things less profitable c, for
the pleasing OF mind that would fain
know all, which should have spent for
the increase Of holiness in myself and
Others.
3. But che chief answer is vet behind
No knowledge is lost, but perfected, and |
changed for much nobler, swecter, greater |
Knowledge. Let men be never so uueer. |