knowledge is excellent and desireable

 I. Hence we learn the excellency of godliness. Knowledge by all men is counted an excellent [thing]; those who are knowing and understanding persons are esteemed more worthy, more excellent and honorable than others. 'Tis what men very much seek after, that they may be accounted to know more than others, and to see further into things. 

Men generally esteem it one of the highest commendations that can be given them, to say they are knowing, understanding, seeing men; they highly value themselves upon this, and look down upon poor ignorant persons as beneath them and unworthy to stand in equality with them. And nothing is esteemed more ignominious and disgraceful through the world in general than to be a fool; nothing men seek more to avoid

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than to be counted fools. 'Tis a note of the highest disdain, to call "Fool!"; and so it be of ancient times. Matthew 5:22, "But whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."

This is agreed upon amongst all nations, that knowledge is excellent and desireable, and folly and ignorance base and unworthy. Wicked, debauched and the most profligate persons agree in this: they will mock and deride those whom they account fools, and such have the highest place amongst them as are accounted most witty and sagacious—although their cunning and wit is the lowest kind of knowledge, and vastly inferior to this excellent divine knowledge.

'Tis the godly that are the wisest, most seeing and understanding of mankind. They have a degree of knowledge that is so high, that it's out of the reach of all natural men. 

Men highly esteem themselves when they have obtained the knowledge which is out of the reach [of others], and that other men cannot find out; but the godly, they have an high and an excellent knowledge that none of the princes of this world can attain to. 'Tis too high for natural men's sight; 'tis too bright for their eyes, too deep for their penetration, too great for their narrow comprehension, too noble for those that are so base.

Wicked men indeed have knowledge, but it's a low and narrow sort of knowledge. They have knowledge of the things of the earth, concerning the appurtenances of this clod of dirt; their knowledge is concerning the objects of their senses, what they see and taste and smell. They know of things that are under their feet. They know things that are present, and will presently vanish. Children know nothing but their toys and play. 

Some ignorant persons' knowledge reaches but a very little way, no further than they have seen with their eyes; others have a more extensive knowledge, who see in[to] the nature and reason of things. 

But the most excellent of all is that which views the great Creator, the first and the last, takes in the highest heavens and looks to the end of eternity. This is the greatest, best, most excellent and noble knowledge. This is far better than that knowledge which other men have knowledge of, gross matter and terrestrial things. 2 Peter 1:9, "He that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see far off." This is called "wisdom," καιξοκην, by way of eminency in Scripture, and is there represented as above all things excellent. Proverbs 3:13–15, "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom; and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain therof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her."