Isaiah 27:11 When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, and set them on fire… 1. Supposing it were certainly defined, how much knowledge, and the knowledge of what truths, were sufficient to salvation; yet no man, that is in a capacity of getting more knowledge, ought to acquiesce in just so much. 2. Men should in their seeking knowledge first study those truths which are most confessedly necessary to salvation before those which are apparently less necessary. 3. Men should labour after such a knowledge of the truth, as that they may be able to give "a reason of the hope that is in them." 4. Men should especially give themselves to the study, and labour after the knowledge of the present truths (2 Peter 1:12), i.e., those which are the special truths of the times, and ages, and places in which men live. 5. Men should labour for such knowledge as may defend them from the errors of the times and places in which they live. 6. Men should seek especially for such knowledge, and study such truths, as have the greatest influence upon practice. 7. Every man should labour to get as much spiritual knowledge as he can, by the means of the knowledge he hath gotten, and as he can get without the neglect of other necessary duties. (E. Veal, B. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, and set them on fire: for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour. |
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