' They knew not ; ' that is, they did not make use of it ; for in divinity, things are not known when they are not affected. f God knoweth all things, but when he doth not affect and delight in us, be is said ' not to know us.' So we are said not to know, when wo do not affect and make use of things. ' They know not the judgment of the Lord.' They were not ignorant.' He had told them of vengeance ; be bad told them that they should be carried into captivity ; but they made not that use they should of it. Therefore they
* That is, 'judicial.' — G. f That ia, ' chosen,' = attended to. — G.
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are said not to know it. So the old world. It is said they did not know of the flood. Certainly Noah had told them of it. But when they made Dot a right use of it, but went on brutishly, they knew it not. It is all one not to know it at all, and not to make use of it. Wicked men think they know God, and they know religion well enough ; ay, but what use do they make of it in their particular course ? That which we do not use we do not know in religion. If ill be discovered, and be not avoided by thee, thou art a brutish, senseless creature. Thou dost not know it, and so thou shalt be dealt with. ' They know not the judgment of the Lord ;' that is, they will not know it ; it was afi"ected ignorance. The words being thus unfolded, here, first, we see,
That God confounds the proud dispositions of iricked men by j^oor, silhj creatures — the crane, the turtle, the sicallow, and the like.
What their wisdom is we see by experience. In winter, to fly from hard and cold parts to those where there is a spring. They are here in the moderate season ; and when the summer is gone, they go to a more mode- rate air, where they may live better. For the life is the chief good of such poor creatures, and their happiness being determined in their life, they labour to keep that. They have an instinct put in them by God to pre- serve their being by removing from place to place, and to use that that may keep life.
Now, man is made for a better life ; and there be dangers concerning the soul in another world, yet he is not so wise for his soul and his best being as the poor creatures are to preserve their being- by the instinct of nature. When sharp weather comes they avoid it, and go where a better season is, and a better temper of the air; but man, when God's judgments are threatened and sent on him, and God would have him part with his sinful courses, and is ready to fire him, and to force him out of them, 3'et he is not so careful as the creatures. He will rather perish and die, and rot in his sins, and settle upon his dregs, than alter his course. So he is more sottish than the silly creatures. He will not go into a better estate, to the heat, to the sunljeams to warm him. He will not seek for the favour of God, to be cherished with' the assurance of his love, as the poor creature goeth to the sun to warm it till it be over hot for it. Man should know what is good and what is evil. The new creature doth so. For with the change of nature there is a divine wisdom put into the soul of a Chris- tian, that teacheth him what is good and what is evil; that he may be careful to avoid the evil ; that he may discern, of things that differ ; that he may say, This is good for my soul, and all the world shall not scofl" me out of that that I know to be good. With their profane jesting, they shall not drive me from that is good ; and for courses that are ill, they shall not draw me with all their allurements. I know what belongs to the good of my soul better than so. It should be thus with Christians, to be wise for their spiritual being, as the poor creatures, the stork, and the crane, and the turtle, are to preserve their poor life here with as much comfort as they can.
God takes out of the book of nature things useful, to insert them into his divine book ; because now no man shall be ashamed to learn of the creatures. Now, since the fiill, man must learn of the poor creatures, and such a dunce is man, it is well for him if he can learn of the ant, and crane, and turtle ; and therefore doth God take lessons out of the book of nature, and put them into his book, to teach us to furnish ourselves with divine mysteries and instructions fi'om the creatures. And indeed a gracious heart
222 god's inquisition.
will make use of everything, and have liis thoucjlits raised with them. As the prophet Jeremiah here, he shames them hy the example of the creatures. But of this hy the way.