5. Our capacity suited to our state and concerns.
For though the comprehension of our understandings comes
exceeding short of the vast extent of things, yet we shall have cause enough to magnify the bountiful Author of
our being, for that proportion and degree of knowledge he has bestowed on us, so far above all the rest of the
inhabitants of this our mansion. Men have reason to be well satisfied with what God hath thought fit for them,
since he hath given them (as St. Peter says) πὲντα πρόσ ζωὴν καὶ εὐσέβειαν, whatsoever is necessary for the
conveniences of life and information of virtue; and has put within the reach of their discovery, the comfortable
provision for this life, and the way that leads to a better. How short soever their knowledge may come of an
universal or perfect comprehension of whatsoever is, it yet 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.
