Seventhly. There should be a guarding against every thing that may obstruct this work, and grieve him in it; and therefore we would beware,

1.  To undervalue and have a little esteem of knowledge; for this will grieve him; and (to speak so) put him from work.

2.  To misimprove any measure of knowledge he giveth.

3.  To weary of the means and ordinances whereby he useth to convey knowledge into the soul.

4.  To limit the holy One of Israel to this or that mean, to this or that time, or to this or that measure, who should have a latitude as to all these.

5.  To despise the day of small things, because we get not more.

6.  To be too curious in seeking after the knowledge of hidden mysteries, the knowledge whereof is not so necessary.

7.  To lean too much unto, and to depend too much upon the ordinances, or instruments, as if all, or any thing, could come from them.

Eighthly. There should be a right improving of any measure of knowledge we get to his glory, and to the edification of others, with humility and thankfulness, and so a putting of that talent in use, to gain more to his glory.  Whatever measure of knowledge we get, we should in all haste, put it into practice, and set it to work; so shall it increase, and engage him to give more.

Ninthly. There should be a lying open to Christ’s instructions, and to the shinings of the Spirit of light and of truth, and a ready receiving of what measure he is pleased to grant or infuse.  Which includeth those duties, 1.  A serious and earnest hungering and thirsting after more spiritual knowledge.

2.  A diligent use of every approven mean for this end.

3.  A going about the means with much self-denial, spirituality, singleness of heart, and sincerity, looking to and depending upon him, who must breathe upon the means, and make them useful.

4.  A greedy receiving, drinking in, and treasuring up in the soul what is gotten.

5.  A guarding against selfish and bye-ends, with a single eyeing of his glory.

6.  A guarding against pride in the heart, and a studying of humility and meekness; for the “meek will he guide in judgment, and the meek will he teach his way,” Psal. xxv. 9.

7.  A putting of the heart or understanding in his hand, together with the truth, that is heard and received, that he may write the truth, and cause the heart receive the impression of the truth.

Tenthly. There should be a rolling of the whole matter by faith on him, as the only teacher, a putting of the ignorant, blockish, averse, and perverse heart, into his hand, that he may frame it to his own mind, and a leaving of it there, till he by the Spirit, write in it what he thinketh meet, to his own glory and our good.

And sure, were this way followed, growth in knowledge would not be so rare a thing as it is.