secures their great concernments, that they have light enough to lead
them to the knowledge of their Maker, and the sight of their own duties.
Men may find matter sufficient to busy their heads, and employ their
hands with variety, delight, and satisfaction, if they will not boldly
quarrel with their own constitution, and throw away the blessings
their hands are filled with, because they are not big enough to grasp
everything. We shall not have much reason to complain of the narrowness
of our minds, if we will but employ them about what may be of use to us;
for of that they are very capable. And it will be an unpardonable, as
well as childish peevishness, if we undervalue the advantages of our
knowledge, and neglect to improve it to the ends for which it was given
us, because there are some things that are set out of the reach of it.
It will be no excuse to an idle and untoward servant, who would not
attend his business by candle light, to plead that he had not broad
sunshine. The Candle that is set up in us shines bright enough for all
our purposes. The discoveries we can make with this ought to satisfy us;
and we shall then use our understandings right, when we entertain
all objects in that way and proportion that they are suited to our
faculties, and upon those grounds they are capable of being proposed to
us; and not peremptorily or intemperately require demonstration, and
demand certainty, where probability only is to be had, and which is
sufficient to govern all our concernments. If we will disbelieve
everything, because we cannot certainly know all things, we shall do
much what as wisely as he who would not use his legs, but sit still and
perish, because he had no wings to fly.


6. Knowledge of our Capacity a Cure of Scepticism and Idleness.

When we know our own strength, we shall the better know what to