of the best things Knowledge of the Lord and Saviour and yet notwithstanding persons may perift and perish the more dreadfully And I add that place in Heb. 10. where the Apostle speaks to this purpose saith he If we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin but a certain fearful looking for of Iudgement and fiery Indignation which shall devour the adversaries There may be a receiving of the knowledge of the truth and yet a wilful sinning and so a fearful expectation and nothing but that remaining for them a fearful expectation of Judgement and fiery Indignation Now all this considered Knowledg I and knowledge of the best things it may be had and yet persons under the power of the Devil persons that after their escape from worldly intanglements may be brought again into sorer bondage their latter end worse than their beginning and they may fall under the deep and more dreadful damnation Now the improvement that we are to make of this is only thus O let us take heed of resting in our Knowledge and bearing upon this that we are knowing men and knowing women able to discourse of the things of God and the mysteries of Religion O take heed of this considering what hath been now spoken to you that you may have a great measure of Knowledge and yet be meer strangers unto saving Grace far be it from me to speak a tittle to the disparagement of Knowledge but rather most vigorously to press your pursuance of it and that you endeavour after it as I shall perform to that purpose afterwards know that it is not good that the mind be without knowledge saith Solomon nay the heart cannot be good without Knowledge you cannot believe without Knowledge you cannot pray without Knowledge you cannot live without Knowledge you must have Knowledge or else you will never be sav'd O Ignorance it is of it self a damning sin only thus rest not in your Knowledge rest not in this that you have a light in your head but look to it that you have Grace in your hearts Look to this that you know and know to love and know so as that you may believe and live if you know these things saith our SAVIOUR happy are ye if you do them If you know the truth and know it in truth of heart as the Apostle speaks Since ye know the Grace of God in truth know it to be the truth and know it in the truth of your hearts O this is that that we should mind Truly that you may know for practice and the truth is you know no more to purpose than you know to practice And it is of sad consideration that which I have now to speak unto you it is of sad consideration that that knowledge which men and women attain to of God and Christ and Gospel-mysteries if so be that it be not reduc'd to practice if there be not a due improvement of it if there be a Science and not Conseience a Science and not a Conscience to make use of the knowledge it is of sad consideration that that I have now to say The day will come when all the Knowledge that you have gotten of Christ and of the mysteries of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God that knowledge will turn upon you and it will be to your everlasting torment O tremble at the thought of it This is the torment and will eternally be the torment of the damned in Hell that they had knowledge great measures of knowledge and yet notwithstanding did not improve their knowledge did not reduce it to practice they had light but did not live up to their light they knew the will of God O but they were not conscientiously careful to perform and do the will of God O this this will be the torment the Conscience of a man will be an eternal fury to him and it will everlastingly torment him when it shall tell him Did'st not thou know that Christ was given to save sinners and to save from sin Did'st not thou know that the Grace of God that brings Salvation it did teach to deny all ungodlyness and worldly lusts thou knowest this thou knowest that it was thy duty to live thus and thus to walk with God to deny thy self to cross thy corruptions it was thy duty to study to approve thy self to God and to keep a clear Conscience It was thy duty to own Christ in an hour of temptation did'st not thou know this to be thy duty Conscience will thus charge upon thee and then you shall know it O! how did this torment Iudas on this side Hell before he came there Oh! I know my Master was an innocent person and yet notwithstanding contrary to my knowledge I went and betrayed him into the hands of sinners O how did this torment Esau on this side Hell he knew that the Birth-right and the Blessing were things to be highly valued the temptation comes upon him he was a little pinch'd with hunger and Iacob takes the advantage there was a mysterie of Providence in it of his exigence and gets away his Birth-right from him But when the time comes that the Blessing was gone then Esau knows O this knowledge torments him that he knew the Birth-right what it was and how it ought to be accounted of and yet notwithstanding he past it away for a trifle O Conscience will torment another day when a man shall come to have his knowledge set a work I know that Christ was a precious Christ that Grace it was better than Gold I had conviction upon my Conscience and yet notwithstanding I chose the World rather than Christ I preferred my lusts and corruptions before the Lord Jesus I knew this to be my duty but I made no conscience of performing my duty Well the Lord set these things home upon every one of us and that we may be wise for our souls and take heed of resting in what we know but look to it that we have such a Knowledge as is accompanied with Grace such a Knowledge as is sanctified to us by Grace And this now I speak upon occasion of this Question SERM. IX 2 Pet. 3. 18. And in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. THree things seem to lye in the Text. First that it is God's will and Saints duty As to grow in Grace so to grow in Knowledge 2. That it is the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ which is the special Knowledge wherein Saints and Beleevers ought to grow 3. They that mind growth in Grace must in order thereunto endeavour a growth in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. First of all it is the good will of God and a Saints duty to grow in Knowledge God would have his people to be a knowing people a well-knowing people God doth take no pleasure in a people that pretend to Him and profess his Name
charge We have no conscience of sin though we make conscience of sinning yet we have no conscience to charge against us O this would be our fruit of the well advanced and improved knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. These things Brethren would be considered of by us and to close up this part of the Discourse I have only this to say That if so be that any of us do think in our consciences that we deserve to come under this lash of reproof and that this Complaint may be justly taken up against us That we have not so minded as we ought the knowledge of Christ and have not set our endeavours as we should that we may come to grow in this knowledge Then to close up all for I would willingly give a dispatch to this part of the Text I would only speak a few words in a way of Exhortation and I would thus perswade in the Name of the Lord That as it is the duty of the Text so it may be the matter of your practice for to grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And here you must consider that this knowledge as also the Grace that God gives so the knowledge that you may have and are to have of Christ it comes not in all at once Shall I express my self thus if it may not be too low for the Argument The Lord in managing of his Trade with his People he doth not deal by whole-sale but rather by retale he doth parcel out and give by parcels dispences by parcels now a little and then a little now a little Grace then a little more now a little light and then a little further improvement The Sun it gives not out its full light at once so Christ and therefore it is that there is a growth in Grace and a growth in Knowledge and in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus So then reckon upon it we are but in the way and so we know but in part and prophesie but in part and we are not comprehensaries we come not to the full of that which is to be known press on and after and increase in the Knowledge of Christ. I need no other Arguments than vvhat have been already presented to you in the Doctrinal part It is the most excellent Knovvledge It is the most beneficial Knovvledge in all respects according to vvhat hath been accounted to you Novv there are but these three things vvhich I shall dispatch in fevv vvords First I vvould have you to consider vvhat knovvledge of the Lord Jesus Christ it is that you are to grovv in not a notional knovvledge not so much in that so as you should rest in a bare notional knovvledge and a form of knovvledge but you must knovv this That the Knovvledge of our Lord Jesus vvhich you are to endeavour a grovvth in it is a spiritual Knowledge an inward spiritual Knowledge a heart Knowledge it is not a knowledge of Christ after the flesh no not in that sense which the Apostle may mean in the second of the Corinthians We have known Christ after the flesh that is they knew him and they knew him so as to see him with their bodily eyes 't is not this Knowledge of Christ though if you have this spiritual Knowledge you will in due time have this knowledge and sight of him but now we know Christ no more so as he saith there Though we have known Christ after the flesh as he was known to the Disciples when he was here in the state of humiliation and conversant in the World We have known Christ after the flesh but henceforth know we him so no more Nor is it any carnal Knowledge but to increase in the Knowledge of Christ according to the Mysterie which is Christ in you the hope of Glory You should labour to increase in the Knowledge of him which answers his Constitution who was made a Priest Prophet and King not after the Law of a carnal Commandment but after the power of an endless life as in Heb. 7. You are to endeavour increase in the Knowledge of Christ which is a confiding knowledge and a conforming Knovvledge such a knovvledge of him as is a fiducial knovvledge such a knovvledge as that by knovving him to come to be more and more inabled to rest and rely upon him that you can say I knovv so much of the Lord Jesus that I can sit dovvn and look no further I have enough I have the desire of my heart here I can boldly trust here I can fix and stay vvithout any misgivings I know this foundation is strong enough to bear up the whole weight of my soul. And then you are to indeavour to grow in that Knowledge which is a conforming knowledge that knowledge by which you come to be molded into a conformity to the Lord Jesus so as what you know of his Wisdom and Meekness and Patience and Humility and Heavenly mindedness you know him in these things so as that you come to grow up into conformity to him This is the Knowledge or else your light will be darkness and your knowledge will be found to be ignorance And then I press upon you that you would endeavour to grow in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now what especially of the Knowledge of Christ would you have us to grow in I 'll only mention two things briefly First That you would labour to grow more and more in the Knowledge of the infinite fulness and sufficiency and power of our Lord Jesus Christ that you may know what a powerful Christ he is what an able Christ he is how able to do exceeding abundantly above all you ask or think I reremember it was the blessing of Judah that his hand should be sufficient for him Deut. 33. Christ is the head of Judah he is the Lord of Judah's Tribe and to be sure this blessing rests upon his head his hand shall be sufficient for him to remove Mountains to break gates of brass to cut in sunder bars of iron he is able to do all that concerns his Church and every Saint that belongs to him and that the Father hath given him he is present to go through his work and he will not leave any part nor parcel of it undone O this is pretious knowledge which we should endeavour to advance in that we may come to be more full in the apprehensions of the fulness of sufficiency of the power of our Lord Jesus that whatsoever work lyes upon his hand to perform he will be found all-sufficient to accomplish and bring to pass he is sufficient to present all that the Father hath given him without spot and blame before the presence of his Glory with exceeding joy and though there be the power of Devils and World and Corruption that may labour for to wrest a soul out of the hands of Christ why saith he None shall be ever able to pluck them out of my hands And then
of the Text which concerns Growth in Grace The next thing that follows to be considered of is this Grow in Grace And in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Here we have to consider of a further Inquiry a further Command Grow in Grace Grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And truly I am apt to conceive that there is a dependance of one upon the other and that in order unto growth in Grace Christians and Beleevers are required to grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This I conceive is intended in this conjunction and connexion of these two Requiries As if the Apoâ—…le should have said Grow in Grace and that you may so do Grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Now before I come to the second observation there is a question which I think may be very properly moved upon occasion of these two Requiries thus ordered out in the Text. This Question I say I conceive may be very fitly moved When the Apostle requires that there be a growth in Grace then he comes to require a growth in Knowledge It may be questioned from hence Is not Knowledge Grace and doth not the Apostle require a growth in Knowledge when he requires a growth in Grace why should he make this a distinct requiry from the former May not we conceive that Knowledge is a Grace and then requiring growth in Grace he requires growth in Knowledge A little to answer this First I would say thus That it 's not to be questioned but that Knowledge is a Gift and a gift that is very highly to be accounted of But every Gift is not a Grace Indeed every Grace is a Gift but every Gift is not a Grace understanding by Grace as usually it is to be taken that Grace which is a fruit and effect of Election a fruit and effect of special Love understanding by Grace sanctifying and saving Grace so every Gift is not a Grace every Gift may be called a Grace in this sense as it comes from Grace from common Grace it 's a common Grace that God doth bestow meat and drink upon us it 's a common Grace and favour of God that gives us meat to eat cloathing to put on that he gives us the use of Reason that he gives us common Understanding that we may carry our selves like men like rational creatures this is a common Gift a common Grà ce And so for knowledge it is a Gift I and it is a Gift that comes from common Grace and a common Grace it may be reckoned to be But if we speak of special Grace a distinguishing Grace Grace that is to Salvation Truly so every Gift is not a Grace And it 's true concerning Knowledge Knowledge is a Gift and yet speaking of Grace strictly Knowledge is not a Grace But only we must distinguish of Knowledge There is a more common Knowledge there is a notional Knowledge a Knowledge of an inlightned understanding eradiâ—…ated by the common light of the spirit by a common work of the spirit I say that this is not a Grace this as you shall hear may be had and yet persons may perish for all this and damn eternally they may go down well accomplish'd as to their Knowledge to hell But then there is a Knowledge that is not only a brain-Knowledge but a heart-Knowledge I will give them a heart to know me Truly there 's Grace there to be sure if the Knowledge be not Grace yet there 's Grace in the Knowledge and with the Knowledge When God gives a man a heart to know him that 's a Covenant-blessing and of Covenant-conveyance and it 's a conveyance to none but those that have a special favour but otherwise Knowledge in it self considered though it be a Gift yet not a Grace For mark you First of all you have had many knowing persons as I was saying that were never partakers of the Grace of God true saving Grace Balaam prophecies of himself that he was the man whose eyes were opened and he knew the visions of God Balaam speaks it of himself he was a man that had very much insight in the mysteries of God and the things that concern the Church of God and the enemies of the Church and yet a wretch a covetous wretch that perished in his way of covetousness and did discover a madness of spirit the madness of his heart was eager in the pursuit of the waies of unrighteousness Thus Balaam and yet a knowing man his eyes were opened he saw the visions of God he was acquainted with the counsels of God and yet a very wretch and fell at length under damnation What was he the better for his Knowledge Persons may know much I they may have all Knowledge and yet for all that they may be without Charity without Love so the Apostle in 1 Cor. 13. saith he Though I speak with the tongues of Men and Angels and though I have all Knowledge and have not Love I am nothing it profits me nothing Now by this it appears that there is a Knowledge that is another thing than Grace And then consider that Knowledge is that which a man may have and be swelled and puffed up with it so saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 8. We know that we have all Knowledge Knowledge saith he puffeth up Charity edifies now Grace doth not do so Grace doth not puff up And then again persons may have Knowledge and yet notwithstanding all their Knowledge after that they have escaped the pollutions of the World they may come to be intangled again in their former corruptions be brought again into their former woful bondage and the latter end of them may be worse than ever their beginning was so the Apostle in 2 Pet. 2. saith he If after they have escaped the pollutions of the World through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ the best knowledge in the World they had this knowledge and escaped the pollutions of the World and they are intangled again and overcome the latter end is worse with them than the beginning for it had been better with them not to have known the way of righteousness than after they have known it to turn from the holy Commandement delivered unto them Here 's clearly now according to this account the Apostle gives held forth that persons may have the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they may come to have such a Knowledge whereby they escape the pollutions of the World and yet they may come to be intangled and overcome so that it may be worse with them than ever it was before They may know the way of Righteousness and yet for all that turn from the holy Commandement delivered to them and so become like the Dog to his vomit and like the Sow to her wallowing again in the mire By all this I say it appears that there is a Knowledge and knowledge
and are yet under a black vail of ignorance they are not a people for His purpose Beleevers they are said to be light you were sometimes darkness but now are ye light in the Lord. The light of a Beleever it should be a growing light he should be like the Sun that shines out more and more unto the perfect day It is not enough to know but it is our duty to follow on to know you have that expression in Hos. 6. Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord. It 's not enough to begin to know to set foot upon the way of knowledge but we must travel on in that way follow on to know the Lord. This was that which the Apostle Paul doth earnestly pray for in the behalf of the Church of Collos Chap. 1. ver 9. That they might be filled in the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding and that they might be fruitful and walk in all well-pleasing increasing in the knowledge of God This is the will of God and this is the duty of a Saint and Beleever I speak of growth in Knowledge you will understand it to be meant of Divine Knowledge Religious Knowledge There is a knowledge of humane things a knowledge of Arts and Sciences knowledge and skill in mysteries and trades knowledge in civil affairs a knowledge that concerns worldly negotiations and transactions of affairs in Kingdoms and Nations here below But this though it be a useful knowledge in its kind yet this is not the knowledge that we have now under consideration but it is a Divine Knowledge a Scripture Knowledge a Knowledge of the things of God and that concern Religion and in such Knowledge it is our duty to endeavour a growth And it may very well be required of those that do know that they still know more and more that they that have any Knowledge should endeavour a growth in that Knowledge in general this reason may well pass for it We do know but in part when we know at the most when we have the most of Knowledge yet alas how little is it that we know in comparison of what is to be known I remember there is an expression to such a purpose in Iob how little a matter is known of God and of the things of God Ah! Oh little that truly gracious souls have been and will be apt to be much in sad complaining that they know so little as they do I find the holy man in Prov. 30. complaining there O saith he I have not in me the understanding of man I have not saith he attained the knowledge of the holy So foolish was I saith another and ignorant I was even as a beast before thee Such complaints holy men have powred out before the Lord therefore being we know but in part and it is such an inconsiderable part that we have of knowledge that truly it may well be required of us that we endeavour a growth But I shall offer to you and yet but briefly because I drive at the next things most specially some further considerations which if you do but well and seriously ponder you will see strong reason to indear Knowledge and to endeavour a growth in Knowledge First of all besides the general account that I have given you that we know but in part but now thus more particularly The more that we grow in Knowledge the more shall we resemble God for God is a God of Knowledge that 's the title that is given him in 1 Sam. 2. The Lord is a God of Knowledge and he then accounts his people to be in a due resemblance of him when they come to be a knowing people the Image of God it is consistent in Knowledge as well as in Righteousness and Grace The Apostle speaks concerning the renewing of the mind which is renewed after God in Knowledge and we never come to resemble God as we ought unless we come to be a people well furnished with the Knowledge of God and the things of God 2. I add this further it may well be required that there be a growth in Knowledge because it is a part of the rich treasure which is laid up in Christ for the inrichment of the souls of his redeemed ones The Apostle tells us that in Christ are hid all the treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge so that Knowledge is one part of the rich treasure which is hid in Christ and the more we grow in Knowledge the larger share we have in that rich treasure that is in Christ. Reason then there is that there should be an endeavouring of a growth in Knowledge 3. And then add yet further the more we grow in Knowledge the more able shall be to discern of sin and make a judgement upon that How often are those things that are no sins judged to be sins and those things that are sins judged to be none at all And whence is it but through a defectiveness in Knowledge Sometimes and often it comes to pass that tender Consciences for want of due light tender and scrupulous Consciences they are wonderful apt for to make those things to be sins which God and his Law never makes And so sometimes with hypocrites as in our Saviours time O what a matter was it among the Pharises to eat with unwashen hands which was no sin and to drink in unwashen cups and this and that Thus it is sometimes with hypocrites and I might instance in sundry particulars And so in the case of scrupulous Consciences how many are there that are apt to reckon those things to be sins and startle at which indeed are no sins As now many through tenderness of Conscience are fearful to take that liberty in meats and drinks which Christ hath purchased for them How many out of a tenderness and scrupulousness of Conscience though necessity have required it have been afraid to take any bodily refreshing in the day wherein they were to partake of the supper of the Lord before they have eaten at that table afraid lest they should sin against God in taking something for necessary refreshing of the body a sin in their account which is no sin in it self at all So I might instance in sundry particulars So on the contrary How many are there that reckon those to be duties which are very dreadful provocations of the Great Majesty of Heaven Mark what our Saviour speaks in Iob. 16. the begin They shall cast you out of the Synagogues they shall excommunicate you I the time will come when they that kill you will think they do God service so far from looking upon it as a sin to revile reproach excommunicate imprison and kill the Servants of Christ and those that bear and hold forth his name so far from reckoning these things to be sin that they look upon them as good service to God Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan and hast a Devil Why they were so
is not knowledge to regulate the Tongue so as that we may come to understand what is fit Language for us to speak 6. Well may it be required that we indeavour a growth in Knowledge for the more Christians grow in knowledge the more fit will they be for to judge of Gods providential Dispensations Alas how often do we misinterpret God and his dealings and pass very hard and sharp censures upon them we are apt to do so and to deal very dishonourably with God concerning his dealings and Dispensations And why It is for want of Knowledge It is a people that do err in their heart they were ever and anon quarrelling with God according to that passage that you have in Psal. 45. Forty years long was I grieved with this Generation they tempted me proved me and saw my works and they were censuring me for this and that because I brought them out of Egypt and carried them into the Wilderness And saith he It is a people that do err in their heart And the reason is this They have not known my wayes It is through ignorance and for want of a due Information concerning me that they run upon these dangerous wayes And this was Job's case though other wayes a knowing man yet not altogether so compleated in his Knowledge as he should have been But the Lord comes upon him and expestulates the case with him Who is that that darkneth counsel by words without knowledge Words I words hard words censorious passages drop from his mouth I but they are words without knowledge That 's another thing we shall be better able to judge of Providences though they be very mysterious when we come to be well improved in our Knowledge concerning God whose wayes are in the Sea and whose paths are in the great deeps and by knowing aright concerning God we shall be the beâ—… able to make a judgment of his Dispensations 7. Well may it be required of Christians and Believers that they grow in Knowledge because that by growing in knowledge they shall be the better able for to manage all those Places and Conditions and Relations which they are planted under As now Those that are Fathers Mothers Masters Servants Husbands Wives there is very much lyes upon them to do each in their place station and relation that they may beautifie them and have the blessing of God upon them in those Relations under which they are planted There is very much lyes upon us and I beseech you consider well of it I say that much of the power of Godliness it lyes in the well managing of our particular Places and Relations when men are godly as Husbands as Wives as Masters as Servants as Parents as Children much of Godliness doth lye in the well managing of these Relations And when we are conscientiously careful to fill up these Relations truly we then beautifie them and we adorn our holy Profession I but how shall this come to pass unless that we be a People of a well improved Knowledge Alas if we do not know our Duties in our Places what belongs to me as a Husband as a Wife as a Father as a Child as a Master if I have not a well improved Knowledge concerning my Duty in my Relation I shall never be able to perform it Truly thus it is and therefore you shall find that the Apostle in 1 Pet. 3. he requires this on the Husbands part That he should dwell with the Wife as a man of Knowledge that he may know how to go in and out before his Yoke-fellow and before his Family And so a Wife a Woman of Knowledge that she may carry her self towards her Husband in a becoming manner and towards her Family-A Master a man of Knowledge that he may understand wâ—… is his Duty as a Master and carry it accordingly A Servant a man of Knowledge a woman of Knowledge And so a Father a Child they should labour after the knowledge of their Duties in their Places and Relations that accordingly they may carry themselves So that now lay all these several Particulars that I have propounded to you together and truly you cannot but stand convinc'd surely of this That it is God's will and it is Saints Duty and well may it be required of them as their Duty that they endeavour to indear Knowledge and endeavour a growth in their Knowledge I Brethren that is it which firstly I have been sent to communicate unto you That your Duty is to grow in Knowledge upon all these accounts upon the account that you know but in part and it 's but a little part And then the more you grow in Knowledge the more you have of the Image of God The more you grow in Knowledge the more will you have of that rich Treasure that 's laid up in Jesus Christ. And then the more you grow in Knowledge the more fit will you be to make a Judgment of sins what are sins and what are not sins The more able will you be to make a Judgment of Graces what are such and what are not The more able will you be to judge of Duties what are Duties and when duly managed The more able will you be to manage your passions and affections which for want of Knowledge are many times inordinate and exorbitant The more able will you be to rule your tongues and speeches The more able will you be to make a Judgment of the Providences of God and to carry it becomingly under them The more able will you be to manage those Places and Relations under which you are planted Now do but weigh these things well and you will see reason to seek out for Knowledge that if you know yet you had need to follow on to know more and more But that 's not all I propound 2ly That as it is a Duty incumbent upon a Christian to endeavour a growth in Knowledge so especially in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Oh this is the growth this is the Knowledge which is especially to be endeared and a growth wherein is in special manner to be endeavoured Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ however it be in respect of other knowledge yet that Knowledge you had need look to that you may be Profiâ—…ionts in Why First of all that I may convince you now of this If it be the good will of God that you may come under the power of an effectual convincement as to this That this Knowledge you are to endeavour a growth in I may very fitly make use of that which I gave in the former Doctrine I told you that we know but in part O Brethren we know Christ but in part as we know little of God as touching his infinite glorious Essence and Being O we know but little of Christ O 't is a Mysterie The Knowledge of Christ is a Mysterie Oh 't is a hidden Mysterie it was kept hid from Ages and Generations Oh it
I see I am a most plaguie creature Now if you should know no more this is the way to become stark mad and to fall under most dreadful despair as Iudis did and you know what course hetook But now the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the knnowledg that relieves us concerning the knowledg of sin O I know my plague I but by my knowledge of Christ I come to know my plaister I know my disease but by the knowledge of Christ I come to know my remedy The knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ I will tell you what a knowledge it is It is a heart-breaking knowledge a soul-humbling knowledge it is a sin-killing knowledge it is a Grace-quickening knowledge O it is a love-flaming knowledge and it is such a knowledge as will draw out the heart to Christ such a knowledge as will make men willing to do any thing to suffer any thing for the name and sake of the Lord Jesus Christ. O 't is excellent knowledge precious knowledge useful knowledge the most beneficial knowledge The Apostle professeth as I said before that he accounted all things but loss and dung for the excellency of this knowledge The inlargement of these things I cannot give you nor come to Application but only thus Will you but set your hearts to a due consideration of the things that have been spoken Certainly 〈◊〉 â—…ou have but an ear to hear and a heart to unâ—…tand and consider of these things how rationally you are required to grow in knowledge and especially in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ if you do but weigh these things and the account given why we should endeavour such a growth you will be able to conclude what is for you to do not to slight this knowledge but to endeavour after it and that you may know Christ know him in his Name and Nature and Oâ—…ices and know him not only for that 's the thing that I would close up withal with an historical and notional knowledge Peradventure you may say as the Apostle speaks We have all knowledge I it may be so a great deal of knowledge there may be in the head and yet nothing of true saving knowledge in the heart but it is not a notional knowledge but a heart-knowledge an in-working knowledge such a knowledge as is opperative to such purposes as I have hinted to you This is the knowledge that we should pursue and endeavour a growth in SERM. X. I Would add to that which hath been spoken of this to be further considered The knowledge of Christ it is a most excellent knowledge it is such a knowledge as the Angels the Glorious Angels are exceedingly devoted to the inquiring into they are very much set to this that they may come to understand this knowledge concerning Christ. The Apostle Peter in his 1 Epist. Ch. 1. gives you this account concerning them speaking there of the Revel ver 11 12. The spirit did testifie before-hand the sufferings of Christ and the Glory which should follow unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the Gospel unto you which the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven Which things mark you the Angels desire to look into Do but consider that which things of the Gospel concerning Christ his sufferings and Glory the Angels desire to look into they are very close Students in this knowledge and most strongly set to be acquainted with these mysteries the mysterie of the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ A knowledge therefore that our hearts shoud â—…e very strongly set to increase in and for to get more acquaintance with And this I vvould further say that foâ—…â—…e Apostle Paul vvho vvas a man of excellent parts and of very great knovvledge a man of much learning and vvas as able to make a judgement of knovvledge as any man and for to discern betvveen knovvledge and knovvledge The Apostle Paul he vvas as I hinted before very high in his esteem of this knovvledge and if so be that it had been convenient for him to have boasted truly he vvould have made his boast of his knovvledge in the mysterie of Christ Though I saith he be rude in speech yet not in knovvledge and saith he I vvould have you to knovv my knovvledge in the mysterie of Christ. So in Eph. 3. vvriting that Epistle to them he expresseth himself to this purpose Whereby when you come to read you may understand my knowledge in the mysterie of Christ. Further it is a knovvledge that vve should endeavour to grovv up in it is the most beneficial and profitable knovvledge it is the most beneficial knovvledge in all the World It is a heart-humbling knovvledge It is a sin-killing knovvledge It is a conscience-quieting knovvledge And here I might add sundry other particulars that you might come to knovv hovv to value the knovvledge of Christ and so hovv much it concerns us to endeavour after a grovvth and increase in it It is a svveetning knovvledge it svveetens a mans spirit under all the bitterness that it may meet 〈◊〉 â—…al It svveetens afflictions it svveetens temptations and vvhatsoever may be to the imâ—…ering of a mans spirit O the knovvledge of 〈◊〉 Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ it vvill bring the soul into a condition to relish svveetness in it And then it is a sanctifying knovvledge it 's a knowledge that sanctifies the understanding There is another knowledge which men are apt to be lifted up through the attainment of and lifted up with which is a knowledge that doth rather tend to the corrupting and depraving of the understanding but the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ it doth sanctifie the understanding and perfects the understanding it sanctifies all other knowledge that we may come to attain unto And much might be spoken to that purpose But I add yet further that we may stand the more fully convinced of our duty this way to endeavour a growth in the knowledge of Christ Consider thus Beleevers they are most strongly bound to place their whole trust and confidence in Christ and that in order to their being everlastingly saved Blessed are all they that trust in Christ. It is He I say upon whom a Beleevers trust and confidence is to be placed in the fullest strength of it and other confidences than what are plac'd in any but in Christ God will curse them and confound them Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm but blessed is the man whose trust is in Christ. It is Christ whom we are to trust with our lives with our souls with our consciences with our peace with our comforts with our eternal concernments Thus it is it is Christ that we are to trust upon for Righteousness unto Justification and everlasting life It is Christ upon whom we are to place our
with all the Saints what is the height and depth and breadth and length And saith he That you may know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge There is saith he in the Knowledge of Christ heights and depths and breadths and lengths and particularly in the knowledge of his Love and it is such a Love as passeth Knowledge Now do but argue thus Is there such a Mysterie Are there such depths in this Knowledge Tâ—…n certainly we had need to set to it that we do endeavour for to grow up in this Knowledge that we may be as comprehensive of it as possible we can this is our Duty As now to instance in some Particulars The Apostle speaks concerning this Mysterie in Col. 1. speaking there of the Mysterie Which saith he is Christ in you the hope of Glory O Brethren do you know the meaning of this It may be you think you do but I say I am sufficiently warranted to say If any man think he knoweth any thing he knows nothing as he ought Do you know the interpretation of this Christ in you the hope of Glory This is the Mysterie the Apostle calls it so You may be apt to think you can reach the bottom of this Christ and Christ in you and Christ in you the hope of Glory Alas we are apt to put our selves off with a little sip of the Cup we go as it were with the top of the lip and give a touch upon that which would cover head and shoulders and all we might stand under these waters they are so deep Such a word as this it bespeaks our search and disquisition and inquiry and to set in with God O but Lord What 's the meaning of this Christ in you and Christ in you the hope of Glory This bespeaks our endeavour after the Knowledge of Christ. Here I might fall upon sundry other Particulars as this belongs to the Knowledge of Christ according to the Apostles account in Eph. 3. he speaks there of the Mysterie which was kept secret from Ages and Generations And saith he Was not so made known as it is now to his holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit What 's this Mysterie That the Gentiles should be fellow-Heirs of the same Body partakers of his Promise in Christ by the Gospel That is a Mysterie and this bespeaks our endeavour after a growth in knowledge even the Knowledge of Christ for this belongs to the Knowledge of Christ. Christ will be considered as mystical Christ he will be made up of Jew and Gentile the middle Wall being broken down a Mysterie hidden from Ages and Generations but it 's made known I but how little a thing is known even of this And then I add withal The Mysterie it was the mysterie concerning the Gentiles that they should come in to be fellow-Heirs It 's the Mysterie with respect to the Iews So the Apostle calls it in Rom. 11. This Mysterie I would not have you ignorant of lest you should be wise in your own conceits that blindness in part is happened to the Iews until the fulness of the Gentiles come in and then all Israel shall be saved Here 's a Mysterie Now these Mysteries bespeak our serious endeavour that we may come to grow in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. And then the Mysterie concerning the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus the Administration of it the delivery of it upon the Administration of it to the Father The Apostle holds forth these Mysteries The Mysterie of the Kingdom the new Heavens and the new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness which belongs to the Knowledge of Jesus Christ. And then the delivering up of the Kingdom to the Father that God may be All in all when Christ hath performed the Administration of the Kingdom Now I say these are Mysteries belonging to the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ which do all of them loudly bespeak our most sedulous endeavours after a growth in this blessed Knowledge And to add no more consider that passage of the Apostle in 1 Tim. 3. the latter end Great is the mysterie of godliness What 's that God was manifest in the flesh iustified in the Spirit seen of Angels preached to the Gentiles believed on in the World received up into Glory Have we comprehended have we attained The Apostle Paul was far from thinking so according to that account of him Nâ—… as if I had already attained or were already perfect What have we got to the bottom of these Mysteries Are we able to fathom the depth of them O how little a thing do we know of these things It was a good saying of one of the Ancients Many things because of the customary mentioning of them they are slighted which if they were but seriously weighed would cause admiration to astonishment God manifested in the flesh Why it 's a Mystery that we may bestow a whole Age of a thousand years in studying and never be able to come to the full understanding of Angels desire to look into these things Now upon these accounts upon the account of the subject matter of the Knowledge of Christ it may well be required of Believers that they do their utmost endeavour that they may grow in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I shall close up for the present only with this one Argument further It is the Saints duty to endeavour a Knowledge in the growth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for otherwise truly we do not answer the provision that God hath made to such a purpose we walk unworthy of the Goodness and Grace of God which hath discovered it self this way in order to such a growth For mark you In the beginning of the World upon the fall of Adam the Gospel it was but whispered Whisper there was something darkly secretly and couchantly if I may so speak was hinted out The seed of the Woman shall break the Serpents head here was all the Gospel was given out at first Afterwards there began to be a little more discovery made of it to Abraham Isaac and Iacob Afterwards in Moses time and in Moses days there came to be a little more full explanation afterwards in the times of the Prophets clearer clearer discoveries But in the time of the Gospel when Christ came then the Day star arises nay the Sun of Righteousness breaks out and now we have clearer and clearer discoveries of the Mysterie concerning our Lord Jesus And mark you when Christ goes to Heaven he sends a token of his love to his Church and People a Book of Mysteries of Mysteries concerning the Knowledge of himself and provides this very Book that we might come to be well improved in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Now consider this For as much as the Lord hath in his Wisdom out of his rich bounty hath been pleased thus to provide and to order out that there should be such means and helps for
our Improvement in the knowledge of Christ truly we walk unworthy of this provision if we do not put on with all industriousness to such a purpose that we may grow in the Knowledge of God Let me but express my self thus If so be you have a Vessel moving upon the waters if the water be shallow and it be a low water the Vessel is ready to touch upon the ground but if so be the water grow higher and higher and the Tyde comes in and springs up then the Vessel rises higher and higher So should it be with the souls of Believers being that God hath made a stream come in more strongly and the Tyde to rise higher as he hath done in the course of holy Scripture truly the endeavour of a Christian should be sutable to such provision he should endeavour to be upon his Improvements and to grow in the Knowledge of Christ. These things being thus accounted to you in order to your convincement that we should endeavour a growth in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour I should now come to tell you what this Knowledge is for the nature of it I must tell you this That truly there are many have the Knowledge of Christ and are grown up to a great measure of it and yet for all that their Knowledge will be their confutation at last I must tell you this That howsoever we may be apt to lift up our selves in high conceits of our Knowledge yet the very Devils are exceeding much in their Knowledge of Christ We know thee who thou art The holy one of God I tell you There 's never a Devil that 's now under the chains of darkness but they can speak most learnedly concerning the Lord Jesus concerning his Person concerning his Nature concerning his Office And how many learned men are there that are able to discourse concerning Christ concerning his Incarnation and concerning his Death and Resurrection and Ascension and this and that and are able to inlarge themselves this way and yet they do many of them go down with their Knowledge to Hell Therefore it is necessary for us to be well instructed in this Point that we may know what this Knowledge is I would have spoken something to it only thus It is not a notional Knowledge Take heed of a notional historical Knowledge a Knowledge that you attain unto meerly by common report and by a common eradiation of the Understanding but look to it that it be a Heart-knowledge a cordial Knowledge a practical Knowledge such a Knowledge as is a transforming Knowledge For the truth on 't is If any man think he knows any thing of Christ he knows nothing as he ought to know if his Knowledge don't transform him This is the ruine of souls They know much of Christ they are able to discourse of the Doctrine of Justification and Sanctification and of Adoption and other Mysteries of the Gospel and all lies floating in the brain and that 's nothing of its effectual operation upon the heart and conscience of a sinner This is that that I would a little further speak to you about that so we may not mistake our selves and go with a Knowledge that lies dead upon our hands and so come to fall under the deep and most dreadful ruine SERM. XI I Was speaking concerning this Knowledge for the kind of it Now I would strengthen this cause I have in hand concerning the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ I would strengthen the cause what I could and I shall do my best endeavour that you may be as fully convinc'd as may be How much it concerns Believers and Saints to grow in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Besides all that hath been already spoken to the purpose which indeed doth carry very convincing light with it and is beyond all gain-saying There is besides all that hath been already spoken some things further to be held forth unto you whereby you may yet stand more fully convinc'd of it That the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus is a Knowledge that we should vigorously endeavour a growth and Improvement in As now to instance Having spoken the last time of things that concern us in reference to Christ so I shall now further communicate those things to you that concern this matter in reference to our selves If so be we be but that we profess to be if we be such as have the faith of the Gospel and are planted under the hopes of the Gospel truly it doth very much concern us in respect of our selves to endeavour vigorously a growth in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and that in these several respects which I would intreat you seriously to weigh and consider As First Our Duty is to endeavour a growth in th Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. First That we may be men and women of more able Judgments be more Judicious and able to manage our Judgment of things 2. That we may have the more benefit and comfort of our Consciences and with respect to our consciences our duty is to endeavour a growth in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 3. With respect unto Gospel-grace and that there may be an increase in it 4. With respect unto Gospel-priviledges and Benefits and Comforts 5. With respect to Gospel-duties 6. With respect unto a Gospel-conversation In the general these things I now do further offer to your consideration and shall endeavour to give some insight into them and what they do import that so if the Lord will please to prosper my endeavours among you that you may come to set on more strenuously with strength and endeavour after a growth in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Consider first It is required of us such as profess Godliness and the Faith of the Gospel that they be a wise judicious and understanding People Be not saith the Apostle unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is 'T is that which hath been earnestly prayed for So David Thy hands have made me and fashioned me give me understanding How earnest was Solomon in that behalf that he would give him a wise and an understanding heart How earnest was Paul with God on the behalf of the Church of the Ephesians That their understandings might be enlightned God would have his People to be like himself he is a judicious God a God of Judgment and he would have his People to be an understanding and judicious People of discerning spirits able to make a right Judgment of persons and persons of things and things This is the Will of God Now consider There is no Knowledge in all the World that contributes so much to this that we may come to be a wise understanding and judicious People as the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ doth I remember what Moses speaks in Deut. 4. That they should be acknowledged upon the account
of those Laws and Statutes and Testimonies which were given them they should be acknowledged to be a wise and an understanding People Why Truly they were of high accomplishment as touching their wisdom and understanding and judgment and that upon the account of those Revelations that God did make to them O but how much higher will the advance be of a People in wisdom and understanding and judgment that are well instructed in and acquainted with the Mysteries of Christ and the things that are to be known concerning him Consider now What was the teaching of the Old Testament to the teaching that was to be had under the New Testament the Gospel-teaching when the time came that the Mysterie which had been kept secret from Ages and Generations should be broken open and laid out to the full of it Oh what an advantage was there then for a People to come to good judgment and understanding No Knowledge in all the World I say contributes so much to the purpose of making Men and Women wise and judicious as doth the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. By this Knowledge well improved for I speak of that I speak of the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ considered as well improved when there is a considerable growth and increase in it I speak of this Knowledge in the improvement and increase in it as the most pretious Knowledge most beneficial to such a purpose for to accomplish men and women for being a judicious understanding People of discerning spirits Consider First of all By the means of this Knowledge we shall be the better able to make a judgment of ourselves our persons and conditions and states Alas beloved What woful mistakes are we apt to run upon concerning our conditions God-ward How many are there that think themselves to be something when they are nothing at all judge themselves to be of a right Gospel-spirit when they are nothing so at all How many are there that account themselves to be right in point of Religion and Godliness well accomplisht and that they are such as will pass in account with God for good and sound and upright men right in the Mysterie of the Gospel whom God will reject and protest against and profess of them that he hath no pleasure in them Then on the other hand There are many poor souls that pass a very sad judgment upon themselves and are apt to give themselves for stark naught that they are not to be accounted of with God that have deserved rather to be rejected of him when yet for all that they are in his account no other than noble Vines a holy a right seed as the Prophet Jeremiah useth the expression Now the reason of these mistakes in point of Judgment concerning our selves and Estates it must needs arise eâ—…pecially either from the total want or from a great deficiency in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. For mark you You must know that we are never so well able to judge of the Writing as when we are well knowing of the Copy after which the Writing is to be drawn We can never so well make a Judgment of the fashion of a thing unless we know the due pattern after which it is to be cast they that see the Copy will be the better able to judge of the Writing that is to be drawn after the Copy they that understand the state of the Mold will be the better able to judge of the Vessel whether it be right cast and fashioned sutable to the Mold Now consider thus Our Lord Jesus Christ he is the Copy after which a Believer a Christian is to be drawn up He is the Mold into which a Christian is to be fashioned The Apostle tells us in Rom. 8. That those whom God hath predestinated he hath predestinated to be conformed to the Image of his Son that he might be the first-born among many brethren Thus it is it is the great design of God concerning all his People that he will own that they be conformed and fashioned according to Christ And such as is the constitution of Christ such must be the constitution of a Christian Now when we come to know and to know to good purpose the things that concern Christ when we come to be made able to answer the Mysteries of the Gospel concerning Christ what a Christ he is of what a make and constitution Pray consider well The more we know of this Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the better able shall we be to make a Judgment of our selves and to escape those dangerous mistakes concerning our condition and state which we are apt to run upon when we come to know and to know to some good degree what Christ is what he is for his Nature and Disposition and Qualifications and Constitution and that he is not made after the Law of a carnal Commandment but after the power of an endless Life That he is constituted a Priest after such a manner and so a Prophet a King When we come to know this to some purpose the Constitution of Christ what make he is of how God hath ordered him who is the Pattern and the Copy after which a Christian is to be drawn up the more we understand and know of this the better able shall we be to make a Judgment of our selves and states when we come to compare our selves with our Saviour Jesus Christ when we can find that as in the Print there is letter for letter there is Grace for Grace there is stamp for stamp Impression for Impression when we can find this when we come to know the original Copy and then come to compare our selves with the Copy the Writing that is drawn up in our own hearts when we come to understand what Constitution Christ is of and understand that to some purpose and then come to consider how it is vvith our selves then shall vve be the better able to make a Judgment of our condition and state and to say I knovv that my heart is right I knovv that my state is good I am able to avouch it I can give a Judgment of my self upon this account because I find the conformity to Christ my Head I see there is an ansvvering to the Copy and that I am dravvn up according to the Pattern O Brethren consider vvell of this We are said to be made Kings and Priests unto God our Father Why novv Kings and Priests vve are such as Christ vvho vvas a King and a Priest not after the Lavv as I said before of a carnal Commandment but after the power of an endless Life when we come to find the power of an endless Life in us a sutableness unto Christ when it 's otherwise it is but a pretence As it may be said according to that in Rev. 2. They say they are Iews and are not they are of the Synagogue of Satan and so will many be found
the hearing of Faith by hearing the Doctrine of Faith the Doctrine of the Gospel the Doctrine concerning the Lord Jesus Christ made known unto you in that way the Spirit came and the Spirit with the Grace of it It is therefore the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ that is the blessed instrumental means whereby there comes to be the first plantation of Grace in the Soul I this that brings men to believe it 's the Gospel men will never believe to the saving of their souls till they come to know Jesus Christ. They will never repent with a Repentance to salvation till they come to know Jesus Christ All the knowledge in the World will never bring over a soul to Faith and Repentance to the Love of God but the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. When men come once to know the Mysterie of the Gospel to know the Grace of God in Christ to know the Mysteries concerning the Salvation and Redemption of the World by the Lord Jesus this will bring them to Faith if any thing will this will bring them to Repentance this is the instrumental means whereby they come to have their hearts warmed with the Love of God The preaching of the Law as a Covenant of Works moral Duties and pressing of them without the line of the Gospel and the Covenant of Grace without reference to that this will but rather provoke and stir up the corruption of a man The Law worketh wrath against a man works wrath in a man it raises up wrath it irritates those cursed corrupt Principles that are in him O this is a Mysterie that we should be well acquainted withal O it is the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospel This is that that breaks the heart and makes the heart to work out after God Never shall we begin to love God nor to love Christ till such time as we come to know the Doctrines of the Gospel concerning our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I would with all my heart that every one of you were but well studied in this Mysterie that now I am speaking to That it is the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ held forth in the Gospel that is the means and instrument to plant Grace to make the first Plantation of it in the Soul As 2ly Know That as it is the means of its first Plantation so it is the means and instrument of its Augmentation I am speaking according to the Doctrine of the Text concerning a growth in Grace and in the Knowledge of Christ. This growth in Grace is brought about by a growth in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus the more we know the more we shall believe the more we shall repent the more we shall love the more holy shall we be as I shall shew you God assisting I think this Point will take up a little more time than other Particulars will but it will be time well spent Now yet further to clear up this That it is the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and the increase in that which doth promote an increase in Grace You shall find in Scripture and truly it is worthy your consideration to my apprehension that the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ it is put for all Grace 'T is a considerable thing that when God will make a promise of all grace he doth epitomise that promise thus I will give them an heart to know me When God comes to make a promise to his People concerning Grace he puts it into this Form I give them an heart to know me O how much is there complicated in that expression I will give them an heart to know me He doth not say an Head to know me Indeed that 's a Gift but Knowledge in the heart is a Grace It is the beginning of Grace and that which contributes to all the Graces an heart to know me To know me with what a kind of Knowledge with a fidelial Knowledge a Knowledge of Trust and an affectionate Knowledge a Knowledge of Love and with a Knowledge of Desire and a Knowledge of Submission I will give them an heart to know me And you shall find likewise to this purpose our Saviour speaks Joh. 17. 3. This is life eternal Why This is life eternal To know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Mark it This is eternal life in the Causes of it this is eternal life in the way and means of it To know thee and to know him whom thou hast sent To know God in Christ this is eternal life Then surely it imports Faith and it imports Love and it imports Holiness for eternal Life doth not come over to a soul but in the way of Believing and in the way of Holiness and in the way of Love and in the way of all the Graces So that I say The Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ it is such a Knowledge as under which is comprehended the Graces of the Spirit And truly this is a consideration of weight in order to this purpose that we may come to be more in our indearings of it and more in our endeavourings after it But now I shall endeavour to make this yet more fully to appear by an induction of Particulars so as that you may stand convinc'd of this that the way to grow in Grace is to grow in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Consider first of all That by growth in this Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ we are most happily advantaged for a growth in Faith and Believing it is very considerable and I will commend it to you to be seriously weighed That as Knowledge is put for Faith for justifying Faith according to that remarkableScripture that you have in Isa. 53. where the Lord speaks to this purpose by the Prophet By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justifie many Now do but weigh that passage and observe this expression This is spoken concerning Christ our Lord and Saviour And saith the Prophet By the knowledge of him shall my righteous servant justifie many Why doth the Knowledge of Christ justifie Why the Devils know him and yet they are not justified Carnal Professors they have a Knowledge of him and yet they are not justified I but that is such a kind of Knowledge as that they that have it shall be justified And Christ by the Knowledge of him shall justifie many Now what Knowledge is this Iâ—… must needs be understood of a fiducial Knowledg a Knowledge of Faith such a Knowledge as is a Knowledge of Dependance a Knowledge of Recumbency and Relyance upon the Lord Jesus Christ. There 's no other Knowledge whereby Christ can justifie souls but by such a Knowledge as this And so I say The Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ it is put for Faith and is used to be set forth unto us The faith whereby souls are justified and so
way soever it turns Truly so is this gift of Knowledge wâ—…re it 's given of special Grace when it is not a notional Knowledge but a heart-Knowledge for such a Knowledge I speak of such a Knowledge as the Covenant of God's Grace makes a conveyance of For alas I and others may preach a great deal of light into your heads and you may come to have the notions of these things and be never the nearer but we speak of a heart-Knowledge of God in Christ Jesus according to what the Covenant makes conveyance of as I said And I say thus That where there is heart knowledge given it is such a gift as prospers which way soever it turns O the blessed benefit that comes over by the heart-knowledge of our Lord Jesus especially when there comes to be a due improvement of it as in the other respects so in respect of meekness humility of spirit Alas meekness and humility it 's a lovely Grace but where doth it appear we are lofty and are far from a disposition that way which should discover it self What 's the reason Because of a defect in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For thus Had we but more of the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus there would not be that frowardness and perversness and unto wardness and swelling of heart that commonly discovers it self if we had but a well improved and a well digested Knowledge of our Lord Jesus For consider What is there to â—…e known of Christ Why he is another manner of Christ than we take him to be than we know him to be or have a mind to know we do not know what a Christ he is he is another manner of Christ than you think he was He was not a proud Christ he was not a lofty spirited Christ he was meek and gentle and lovely and of a most humble frame of a most graciously condescending spirit Learn of me saith he Mat 11. I am meek and lowly And he gave most convincing proof and demonstration of it all along in his course and conversation in the World Did we but know this and had but a more through knowledge of what a kind of Christ he is it would conduce to the meeking and humbling of our hearts and spirits and make us to argue thus What a meek and humble Christ and I a proud swelling-hearted Wretch why how will this consist with my Profession I profess the Name of the Lord Jesus and discover little or nothing of the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Surely Brethren this would conduce much to the meekning and humbling of our hearts And so for Patience That 's another Grace which we should not only have but have it in the increases and the improvements of it and yet how littlâ—… discovers it self how proud and passionate and waspish and froward are we What 's the reason of this Because we know no more of Christ we have not this heart-knowledge of Christ to such a degree as we should press after Did we but know what a patient Christ he is O! when he was reviled he reviled not again and when he was reproached he bore it patiently and he was led as a Lamb before the Shearer dumb and opened not his mouth Why did we but advance more in the hearty knowledge of our Lord Jesus it would conduce very much to the working of our hearts to patience and to a good degree of Patience This Knowledge of our Lord Jesus it would influence the Grace of Patience that we should be more conformable to Christ. And the Apostle in Heb. 12. he propounds this very consideration in order thereunto saith he Let us â—…n with patience the race that is set before us And that we may do so Let us look unto Iesus the Author and finisher of our Faith who for the joy that was set before him indured the Cross despised the shame He indured the contradiction of sinners against him Lest saith he you be wearied and faint in your minds Look to this Jesus know the temper of his Spirit and what a patient Christ he was and what a heavenly Spirit he discovered And so I say That the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus would contribute most strongly to such a purpose 7. And so for Heavenly-mindedness What 's the reason that we are so apt to dote upon the World and upon these lying and vexing vanities here below Why because we know no more of Christ If we were but more advanced in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ we should be â—…ch helped against earthly-mindedness and improve more in a heavenly frame of heart and live above the World Why do not you know what a Christ he was what a heavenly Spirit he had how he lived in the World as a stranger He set not his heart upon this and that pleasure and profit but minded his business and he had an eye to the glory that was to be revealed and so he made it his great design that he might improve his time and honour his Father And he was at length able to give this account Ioh. 17. Father I have glorified thee on the earth I have finished the work thou gavest me to do And now further Glorifie me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was Father I have liv'd in the World not so much by choice as upon the account of Duty and my heart is with thee and my longing's after Heaven Father glorifie me with thy self and bring me to thy Glory and thus Christ's heart was carried out Now had we but a well improved Knowledge of this it would contribute much to the promoting of a heavenly mind in us and make us to think with our selves Do I know this to have been the gracious frame and spirit of my Lord Jesus whom I make a Profession of And doth it not concern me to endeavour conformity to him that I may express the like heavenly-mindedness that Jesus Christ did I might yet speak of other Graces As 8. Fear and Reverence of God It 's a precious Grace which receives much increase by a well improved Knowledge of Jesus Christ. Let me but give an instance of that in Psal. 2. where there is an account given of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ That God the Father hath set his Son upon his holy hill of Sion That he hath given the Heathen for his inheritance the utmost parts of the earth for his possession That he hath given him a rod of iron with which he will break in pieces his rebellious enemies like a Potters vessel This is the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This Knowledge when persons come to be well advanced in and there comes to be a due improvement of it will contribute very largely to the promoting of a holy Fear and Reverence of God according to that which follows Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be instructed ye Iudges
of the earth serve the Lord with fear rejoyce ye with trembling Kiss the Son Kings and Princes and great Men are very apt to forget themselves as if so be that there were none above them as if so be there were none to check and controul them You know how Pharaoh carryed himself Who is the Lord Ah! but there is a Lord above all Lords there is a King above all Kings even the Lord Jesus Christ whom God hath set to be King upon his holy hill of Sion And the right Knowledge of Christ the well improved and advanced Knowledge of Christ it will promote a holy fear and awe and reverence of him and of the great God who hath constituted and appointed him Lord and King I might speak largely to this Particular but I 'll pass it by Thus I have endeavoured to make it appear to you in these Particulars How the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus well improved how it doth contribute to a growth in Grace I would now tell you this further That the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ it is such a Knowledge as is most beneficial to us in respect of Gospel-Duties and Services and doth contribute very much to the lively management of them And therefore it may well be required of Christians and Believers that they grow in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and that upon this very account Because I say that the more we know of our Lord Jesus Christ the more shall we advance in the lively performance of Gospel-worships and Duties and Services which the Lord requires of us Alas Brethren it is that which may well be matter of shame and mourning to think how low we are as in Graces so in gracious Performances and in holy Services What 's the account that is to be given of our daily Services that we perform Sabbath-worships and Duties Alas what kind of Sabbaths do we keep and what kind of Prayers do we perform and offer up to God what kind of Worships are they that we present before the Lord O! if we would but take an account of our selves we might see cause enough to fall a weeping over every Dâ—… we perform When we come to attend the Ministry of the Word and to do our Service to God it appears by mens carriages what a loosness of spirit there is an unfixedness of spirit on God and there is not the breathing after the enjoyments of God in the way of his Ordinances And so for Prayer and other Services What may be the reason of this We may well reckon upon this It is because we are not more advanc'd in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ we have not heart-Knowledge so duly improved as it should be concerning our Lord Jesus For Brethren this is 〈◊〉 that we should know concerning Christ That his heart was upon his Work and business and when he prayed he prayed as one that was in Heaven And O what wrestlings of spirit was there on his part with God! He prayed most earnestly and O how intent upon the Duty of Prayer when he had to do that and when he was to Preach O with what intention of soul was that Service performed And when he had the last 〈◊〉 to keep O with desire have I desired to keep this Passâ—… O Father it is meat and drink to 〈◊〉 to do thy Wâ—… Thus it was with Christ Now if we had but a well-digested Knowledge of this it would make us ashamed of our selves and make us put on with more activity and vigour of spirit thinking with our selves what a pattern we have in Christ. And then if we did but consider That Christ is the great High-priest of our holy 〈◊〉 and that he hath ingaged himself on the behalf of his People both to procure their acceptance and to vouâ—…hsafe them assistance Now consider but this And these things we ought to know concerning Jesus our Lord That it is his undertaking to procure acceptance and to give assistance for now he hath all power in his hands The power of the Spirit to give strength to his People to inable them to make their prayers and supplications and to perform their Worships and Services I will strengthen thee I will help thee I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness my Grace is sufficient for thee Thus Christ hath signified concerning himself for the comfort and incouragement of his People And then withal this is to be known concerning our Lord Jesus That he appears in Heaven before his Father to promote their acceptance and to plead their Cause and as the High-priest to present their Services and to sprinkle them with his own blood and to desire the Fathers acceptance of them Now if this were but duly known concerning Christ and we had but a well improved and digested Knowledge concerning this that now I give you an account of O how much would it conduce to the quickning up our hearts to a lively performance of our Services when we shall consider what an example we have in Christ of Duty and Service to God And then that he hath undertaken to afford assistance and to procure acceptance this would make us go on with more life and vigour in the wayes of Godliness And then I would have told you farther That there is all the reason in the world Christians should endeavour a growth in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ Because as this Knowledge well improved conduces to a judiciousness and to a well ordering of the Conscience and to the increase of all the Graces and to the promoting of our Duty so by a well improved Knowledge of our Lord Jesus we shall come to have the more kindly relish of Gospel-priviledges and suck the sweet of them and come to know what there is of comfort and soul-rejoycing to be found in these Priviledges And then this Knowledge well improved O how will it conduce to bear afflictions to the incountering temptations and inable the Soul to the well ordering of a Gospel-conversation to the glory of God SERM. XIV I Shall pass by what was the last Day hinted to you only now suggest some few Particulars more which if we were but acquainted with the Knowledge of we should quit our selves better than we do in this Gospel-worship and service of Prayer As now Did we but know and seriously ponder upon this That Christ himself was very much in this Service that he was a constant practiser to his very Death of this Duty of Prayer If this were but well considered that Christ was very much given to prayer and if he could not have opportunities in the day time he would fetch it out in the night and be in the night season pouring out his soul before his Father Thus it was with Christ he was given to Prayer and his last breathings were breathings in a way of prayer into his Father's bosom And then consider this this is that that
is to be known concerning our Lord Jesus That he hath had a deep experience of prayer and of the difficulties of it and temptations which the soul is subject to meet withal in the management of prayer all this is known to Christ So far as a holy nature could have personal experience of such difficulties and such temptations so far hath our Lord Jesus in his own person experimented this matter concerning prayer Now the knowledge of this the well digested knowledge of this That Christ was a man of prayer and that he hath had experience of prayer and knows what there is of difficulty in prayer and what sore temptations hang upon prayer and what a desperate enemy the Devil is to prayer he knows all this and he hath a sense upon his heart and a knowledge of all the strugling and wrestling in the hearts and spirits of his praying People here upon earth This is that that is to be known concerning our Lord Jesus Christ he hath a deep sense of all the strugglings and wrestlings of the spirits of his People here on earth and is perfectly knowing of all the opposition which they meet withal in the way of prayer and supplication and how the Devil doth set himself against his Saints and what incounters they meet withal from unbelief and the corruptions that are within how apt to fall under deep discouragement and despondency of spirit He knows all this and to this purpose that he might pity and compassionate his People O this is that which is to be known concerning Jesus Christ in Heaven and even now he is in glory that he hath a sense of all this upon his spirit and is privy to every prayer that his poor humble broken-hearted conflicting people do make up to God and is at Gods right hand ingaged to stand their prayers in stead and to promote the success of them and to take them from their hands as the blessed high-priest of their profession and to perfume them in his golden Sencer with his odours the odours of his intercession This is that that is to be known concerning our Lord Jesus Christ and O how doth this knowledge well digested a soul being well advanced in it how will it find this Knowledge largely contributing to the promoting of this Duty Do but weigh these things in your Consciences whether this 〈◊〉 not be a very great conducement to the more lively managing of our prayers and that we would not trifle with God when we are exercised in such a Service And then again for that noble Gospel-Service and Duty of Praise and Blessing of God The more the soul doth improve and grow in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the more vvill there be of loveliness and activity and inlargedness for the management of that Truly Brethren it is that vvhich vve have all cause to be deeply humbled for That God blessed for ever hath not more large returns for his People of praise and thanks and blessing for all that Grace that he hath made to appear unto them O hovv little is it that is done to purpose in such a service And vvhat 's the reason that vve are not more lively to such a purpose that our hearts are not more inlarged to God in a vvay of blessing and praising and thanksgiving to him We may vvell reckon it to this That vve are not more in the Knovvledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for this Knowledge of Christ our Lord and of the Mysteries concerning him this is the Knowledge that will make the soul to be upon the wing mounting up with all inlargements of thankfulness and praise unto God The more the soul is taken up with the apprehensions of the Mysteries of the Gospel concerning the Lord Jesus the more will it be in admirings of Grace the more will it be in magnifyings of the God of all Grace Consider This Knowledge it is such Wine as will make the lips of them that are asleep to speak 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that expression which we have in Cant. 7. he spâ—…ks there concerning our Saviour that is soâ—… and 〈◊〉 that it would make the lips of them that are asleep to speak Oh! The Doctrine concerning our Lord Jesus if it were better known it would spirit the soul and make it to be most active to such a purpose You here have an account concerning the Angels There was upon the birth of Christ an heavenly Hoste and they were singing praises unto God Glory be to God on high Upon what account upon the account of Jesus Christ and the knowledge they had of Jesus Christ and of that glorious Mysterie concerning Jesus Christ the Angels were not able to contain themselves The Virgin Mary in Luk. 2. when she comes to have an account of the Mysterie concerning her Lord Jesus Christ and the Grace of God through him How doth she break out with all inlargement My soul doth magnifie the Lord my spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour and so all along O what blessing and praising of God was there on the part of a People that were well instructed in the first establishing Apostolical constitutions O what inlargements were there in praising God and magnifying him And why Upon the account of the Knowledge that they had of the glorious Mysterie concerning our Lord Jesus Christ and the account that was given in the primitive Persecutions concerning the Christians That they would be in their early singings and praisings of God This was the account of the Christians under dreadful persecution in the dayes of Trajan the Emperor That they would be early in the morning singing and praising and blessing God And upon what account Upon the account of this great and glorious Mysterie concerning our Lord Jesus Christ. O! this is that that would fill the mouth with Arguments and it would wisely contribâ—…te to the promoting of ability sutable to such Arguments wherein to inlarge in blessing and praising God our hearts would not lye so dead upon us we would be more lively than we are in exalting God magnifying his Name did we but know more of our Lord Jesus of the Mysterie which hath been kept secret from Ages and Generations but because we do but sip of the Cup have a little smattering Knowledge and no well digested Knowledge and not duly improved we come off so poorly as we do O consider the spirit of the Apostle Paul how excellently it discovers it self as in the beginning of his Epistle to the Ephesians Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ blessed be God that hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ In Christ So the Apostle Peter O blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ that hath begotten us unto a lively hope of an inheritance incorruptible undefiled and that fadeth not away and all by the resurrection of our Lord Iesus Christ. Thus the Knowledge of our Lord and
subject to suffer and it 's your duty to suffer as Christians and to bear up with courage and confidence but how shall that be but by the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ For mark you This belongs to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus that the sufferings of his people for his Name and Truth and Gospel those sufferings are by Jesus Christ made their great priviledges When a man suffers as an evil doer as a murtherer or a thief or as a busy-body in other mens matters these kind of sufferings of persons as evil doers when they are indeed deservedly inflicted these sufferings they reflect shame and dishonour upon those that undergo them The two Theeves upon the Cross that were crucified together with Christ and He in the midst of them you have the acknowledgement that one of them makes This man is upon the Cross with us He suffers as we suffer as to the matter of suffering He is hanged and so are we we are here nail'd upon the Cross and so is He I but for all that here 's the difference we indeed are justly here for we suffer the reward of our own evil deeds so that it 's our dishonour to be hanged up upon the Cross but this man is hanged indeed as a malefactor but he hath done nothing worthy of such a death so it 's no dishonour to a Christian it 's a dishonour to an evil doer to suffer when he suffers for his evil deeds but it 's no dishonour to a Christian when he suffers as a Christian and there 's no just cause for his sufferings it 's no dishonour but it 's rather an honour to him saith the Apostle If any man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed Ashamed he hath no cause in the World why he should be ashamed let men deal how they will with him if he suffer as a Christian though others seek to put him to shame he may despise the shame as our Saviour did He indur'd the Cross but He despised the shame Men would cast shame upon Him I but Christ shames the shame He despiseth the shame He puts the shame to shame Thus did Christ so a Christian he suffering as a Christian for the sake of Christ he hath reason so to do to shame the shame to despise the shame to scorn the shame and the scorns that are cast upon him saith he If any man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him glorifie God in that behalf for the spirit of God and of Glory rests upon him And so did the Disciples in Acts 5. it 's said They went away from the Counsel where they had been beaten and reproached They went away rejoycing that they were accounted worthy to suffer shame for the Name of the Lord Jesus so that by Jesus Christ it becomes a matter of priviledge and honour to suffer This Comfort flowes out of the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. And take notice of that remarkable passage in 1 Phil. To you it is given given as a gift To you it is given what is given Not only to believe on his Name but to suffer for his sake To you it is given I one would say a goodly gift indeed to have suffering given us A goodly gift O that 's a wretched spirit to undervalue this gift To you it is given not only to believe is it a priviledge to have it given us to believe to beleeve unto eternal life and salvation I but saith he To you it is given not only to beleeve but also to suffer This is the gift of God which he hath granted unto you as a priviledge that you should be sufferers for Christ and ingaged to appear in his Cause and for his Name in opposition to an evil and an adulterous Generation Again by a well-improved knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ we shall come to understand to the comforting and the imboldening of the hearts that Christ is knowing of all the sufferings that his servants undergo Knowing of them is that all Nay so knowing of them as that he is sensible of them and reckons them his own sufferings He hath a deep sense There is a sympathizing with his people in all their sufferings if the foot on Earth be trod upon the Head in Heaven complains Saul Saul why persecutest thou me who art thou Lord I am Jesus True it is thou canst not reach my person me as the head but thou reachest me in my members Saul Saul why dost thou persecute me And then consider this withal That by a well-improved knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ we shall come to understand that the sufferings of Christ they make way for Glory having conformity to him in suffering we may assure our selves there shall be conformity to him in Glory If we suffer with him we shall also reign with him as the Apostle speaks And the sufferings of this present time is not worthy to be compared with the Glory that shall follow So that now all this being laid together we may well conclude upon it that the knowledge of Jesus Christ is worthy to be endeavoured after and that there may be a growth in it because it doth conduce so much to a comfortable confident couragious and bold suffering on the behalf of Jesus Christ. SERM. XVII EVen as I was reading this Text this Morning I had this Meditation I was thinking how often this Text hath been read in your hearing and sounded in your ears and is it not good for us you and me to consider to what purpose it hath been so often sounded and whether we have made any Improvement in the grace of the Gospel and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Shall the Scriptures speak to us in vain shall we be as if so be we were hearing of sounding brass and a tinkling symbal But however thus it is and this is our duty to grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I am speaking yet concerning the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and that there ought to be a growth therein and you have heard very largely what convincing Arguments there are why you should labour after a well improved Knowledge of him considering how beneficial this Knowledge is and will be to those that have it I shall now 〈◊〉 to something further that remains and so 〈◊〉 on to the Application of this Point There is very great reason why Christians should endeavour to advance in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and that in order to the promoting of a Gospel Conversation that it may be managed with beauty and with boldness to the credit of the Gospel and the holy Profession which is made of it By a well improved Knowledg of our Lord Jesus Christ great advantage comes over to us for such a purpose First here you are to consider this That a Christian is not to live at
the day he would be sure to take time for it in the night O how much was he in intimate conversings with the Father in the way of prayer 9. The life of Christ it was a self-denying life O most eminent was Christ for this that he was of a self-denying spirit and his life in the whole of it a self-denying life denying himself Father not what I will but what thou wilt 10. The Life of Christ it was a world-despising life when they would come by sorce and make him a King he declines it and withdraws himself and turns his back upon all worldly preferments and injoyments 11. The Life of Christ was a God-pleasing and honouring life He pleased not himself he studied to please his Father and to profit the souls of his people He was for God-pleasing and manprofiting and this was the whole tenor of the Life of Christ. He devoted himself thus that he might be pleasing to God that he might be profitable to man 12. And to add no more though other particulars might be brought in The Life of Christ it was a persevering life He began well he continued well he ended well Paul could say of himself I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the Faith Christ could say it more than any man I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the truth I have kept my way without divertion he held on to the last having honoured God he honoured him to the death having loved God and his people he loved them to the end having ingaged to glorifie God he glorified him to the last His last breath was a holy breathing into the bosome of God This is the account that is to be given of the Lord Jesus Now consider O how profitable and beneficial will this knowledge well improved be unto Beleevers profitable to shame them profitable to provoke their imitation profitable to promote their comfort Profitable to shame them Now when we come to know what a life Christ liv'd what an exemplary life what an even thred he spun what a webb he wove and when we come to consider what our life is what a difference between Christ's life and our life whose life should be set before us as a copy to write after O how will this cause shame of face sorrow of heart I remember the Lord gives a charge to the Prophet Ezek. That he shew the pattern to the house of Israel and wherefore that they may be ashamed why I shew'd you the pattern this morning of the Life of Christ and truly it may well make us ashamed to think Christ lived in the World a Scripture-life but alas how far are we from keeping conformity unto Scriptures in our lives He lived an in-offensive life how offensive are many of us in our conversations and carriages laying stumbling blocks in the way The Life of Christ was a conflicting life what is there in us of conflicting with lusts and corruptions and a sinful World The Life of Christ a convincing life a condemning life convincing of sin condemning of sin such should our conversations be But alas how little is there of conformity to Christ The Life of Christ a praying life a laborious life a fruitful life a God-pleasing life a self-denying life Alas we may look upon the pattern and be ashamed to behold it because of our incongruity to it He that saith he abides in Christ ought himself so to walk even as he walked How many profess to have an abiding in Christ and yet do not comport with his example and conform to the pattern that he hath given us for imitation and so far as we are awanting to this copy so far we dishonour the Name of God and are awanting to the crediting of our holy profession O thus would a well improved knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ be beneficial to us to the humbling and shaming of us to think such was Christ but how unanswerable are we A humble Christ a holy Christ a heavenly Christ a self-denying Christ a sin-hating Christ a world-despising Christ and we express nothing of it And how would this promote to duty and provoke to imitation O so would the knowledge of our Lord Jesus and of his life well-improved provoke our imitation of him and make us set to it with diligence and care Did Christ live thus then surely it concerns me to look better to my life and conversation that I may be able to give a better account of it than otherwise I am like to do And then to promote the comfort of a Christian and make him bear up with boldness in the mid'st of an evil Generation when he is able to plead thus I am and I am tuter'd to it by the walking of Jesus Christ. Now to draw to a close The last thing that I will insist upon as to this Doctrinal part there is an account to be given of the life of Christ in Heaven You have heard of his Life on earth but there is belonging to the knowledge of Christ to consider what his Life in Heaven is For this we are to know and sad were it with Saints and Beleevers if this were not accounted of That he that was in a state of death and he that did rise again He lives and is alive for evermore Now if it were not for this Christians were of all men in the World the most miserable but this our Saviour speaks of himself Rev. 1. 18. I am he that was dead but I am alive and behold I live for evermore Amen I am alive for evermore Amen And this he held forth for the comfort of his people and to let them know he is alive for evermore to this purpose To see to the accomplishing and fulfilling of all that in the Revelation is made known for the benefit and comfort of the Church of God while it is here in its Militant state untill the day come that it shall be together with him ingaged in everlasting Triumphs over Death and Devils and Anti-Christ and World and Sin and all This belongs unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus to know that he lives And what 's his Life in Heaven briefly thus First it is a Life of Glory for he is now entered into Glory and he lives in the fullest possession of all the Glory that the Father and Angels and Glorified Saints can conferr upon him and give unto him He hath all the Glory that Heaven can bestow upon him The Lord Jesus he lives now in Glory and he prayed for this Father I have glorified thee on the Earth now Father glorifie thou me with the Glory which I had with thee from the beginning Jesus Christ is entered into his Glory and he is clothed with it now He is clothed all over with Majesty and Glory He lives in Heaven now a life of Glory and so hath done ever since He was received up into Heaven 2. His
right hand in the possession of all that honour and glory which heaven it self can confer upon him And thus now I have travelled with you and I confess it hath been somewhat a long journey that I have travelled in the handling of this Point in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus and how much it concerns Beleevers to endeavour a growth and increase in it considering how every way the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus will be beneficial to them to the promoting of grace inabling to suffer fitting for Duty and for the promoting of a holy Conversation and the like Now all that hath been spoken doth issue in this That the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ is a Knowledge that our hearts should be exceedingly set upon Now for the Improvement of this by way of Use I shall make short work of that but O that you would but weigh and consider what hath been spoken in so many Sermons that I have preached to you upon this Doctrine and for the Application I shall be brief in that Now I would beseech you consider with your selves you with whom I have to deal will you but consider with your selves whether I have been in this matter that I have performed performing a proper Service or whether I have not in your account been imployed in a needless work whether your hearts will not suggest such a thing to you You have been preaching to us concerning the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ what have you told us that we knew not before and you press upon us that we should endeavour a growth in in this Knowledge and be upon our improvements but alas what are we the further advanced in this Knowledge So that now if so be that I should come to act and perform the part of a reprover possibly there may be such a spirit found that you will think what have you told us we knew that Christ took upon him the nature of man and he came into the world and liv'd and died here and was crucified and buried and rose again and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God every common nominal Christian can chatter over these things and think with themselves what needs all this ado about a growth and increase in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. O but Brethren I would say to you as the Apostle speaks in a like case 1 Cor. 8. I know well enough that you have all knowledge I and your knowledge makes you conceited it puffs you up But if any man think he knows any thing he knows nothing as he ought to know It were good for you and me to look well to it that our light be not found to be darkness that our knowledge be not found to be ignorance This I would have said that there are clear demonstrations and convincing Arguments that some know nothing as they ought to know others that do know they are not so improved in their knowledge as they ought to be I tell you this look to it for of a truth your being so defective in the faith of the Gospel your being so apt to fluctuate and be turmoyl'd in your consciences your being so uneven in your walking your being so low spirited as you are your small measures of faith and love and hope and confidence and boldness towards God and your aptness to be startled at every providence and to be foyled by every temptation these and such like â—…s do loudly speak it out that of a truth you â—…t know Christ as you ought to know him I speak to one and other of us we shall find and be able to evidence it the conscience will be convinc'd of it That we know not as we ought to know we have not made that advance in the Knowledge of Christ as we should have done because it is thus and thus with us we have no more love to Christ did you know Christ as you ought you would never dote upon the world as you do nor be so inslav'd to your corruptions as you are did you know Christ as you ought to know you would live more honourably and more to the credit of the Gospel than you do There are many many things that will evidence it to us that we do not know Christ as vve ought to knovv SERM. XVIII HOw Righteous yea how Gracious this Requirie is That believing souls should grow in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ hath been abundantly demonstrated and made to appear unto you Wisdom is justified of her children if we be Wisdom's children it will appear and so it must by our justification of Wisdoms sayings and giving in our justification we come under the strongest obligation for to carry it in a sutableness unto what we profess to be Now taking it for granted that we do acknowledge this to be a truth that it is our duty to grow in the Knowledge of Christ as that which is the most excellent and the most beneficial Knowledge this Knowledge which as you heard the last day will conduce very much to the well regulating of a Christians conversation when it comes to be known to purpose what a life Christ himself did live while he was in the World what a life Christ lives now he is in Heaven which two things were accounted to you at large in several particulars That which now remains to be done is to make application of all that hath been said and so to press on after the improving of this Doctrine Something in the very close of the last Exercise was spoken to you May I now without any check from within appear among you this Morning as a reprover for God and in the behalf of God and in the behalf of Christ and not be accounted needlesly and causlesly to pick a quarrel I remember what David said to his quarrelsom Brother upon occasion of his coming unto the Camp when he was inquiring what would be done to the man that should slay the Philistine He replies to his quarrelling Brother What have I done is there not a cause So if so be there should be any inward secret quarrel at what shall be spoken in way of reproof and blame I would speak as David did and say Is there not a cause The Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is unquestionably and undeniably pretious Knowledge excellent Knowledge profitable and beneficial Knowledge but is it prized is it pursued will our Consciences bear us witness that we are upon our endeavours after it that we may advance and improve in it and that we may answer the duty of this Text which makes this charge upon us that we grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus If our hearts condemn us God is greater than our hearts and he knows all things Is there not a Conscience within us that can witness against us that this pretious Knowledge it was never very pretious unto us This Knowledge did
never come to be pleasant to our souls so pleasant as that we could say with the Apostle We account all things but loss and dung for the excellency of the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. May it not without breaking the bounds of charity be thought and judged that there are many yea very many that profess the Name of Christ and would be in account for Godliness that know little or nothing and nothing at all to any purpose concerning the Lord Jesus and are not at all troubled at it that they should be so unacquainted with this Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ And are there not such as are apt to think that they know as much concerning Christ and the Mysteries of his Kingdom as much as need to be known and so there is no cause why they should much trouble themselves with such a busisiness as this for to be solicitous about the knowing of our Lord Jesus Christ. I would speak this Morning in this part of the Discourse to two sorts of persons First of all to such if such there be among us possibly there may be some such though I hope not altogether so many that are strangers unto any true saving Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ peradventure they have some common notions of Christ and can as I said patter over a form of words and say I believe in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord which was conceived by the holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary and suffered under Pontius Pilate and was crucified dead and buried and rose again the third day and ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God they can patter over such a form of words but to little or no purpose in the world and upon the matter are as blind as Beetles as Batts see nothing understand nothing to purpose concerning the Mysterie Which is Christ in his People the hope of Glory O that there were not such to be found as setting aside the Name of Christ they have heard of such a name in the World by common fame and report but know no more of Christ than the very Heathens and Pagans and those that never were within the line of Gospel Communication I am verily perswaded that there are such to be found within the territories of this Nation that can give no more account of Christ and of the Mysteries that concern him than the grossest Heathens that ever were in the World excepting common fame of him and report that 's taken up which they can give no good account of in all the world and so truly such persons may be sent to School to the Devil but that he doth not keep a School for Christ and to teach the Knowledge of Christ but is a desperate enemy to it but otherwise as touching the ability of the Devil and of the damned Spirits truly there are many I many might be sent to School to the Devil to learn of him understand me aright I say as touching his ability for he is notionally and apprehensively and indeed by a necessity he is very much knowing of our Lord Jesus Christ the Devils are We know thee who thou art even the holy one of God This was the profession that the Devils made they did know him when he was in the World and they do know now what he is and what account is to be given of him and that he will appear to their everlasting confusion and condemnation Thus it is these persons are in no condition to grow in the Knowledge of Christ for they have not so much as the first grounds and principles of that Knowledge but rude and raw and altogether unseen in those Mysteries that concern the Lord Jesus Christ It is somewhat strange that persons living in a Land of light and of Gospel-discovery that there should be any found under such gross darkness but it is too true that there are too many in that condition I have read and you have heard it accounted to you it hath been both by my self and by other hands by a learned Divine of an antient man that lived for forty years under a powerful constant Ministry and yet when he came to lye upon his death-bed and was examined concerning his Knowledge truly it would make ones heart to tremble to give the account of God and of Christ and of his Soul and of his final estate I forbear to give you the answers which were made If so be that we should deal with some and it may be some of long standing in the world and take a course to catechize and examine what they know of Jesus Christ of his Person of his Natures of his Offices and Administrations and of his Sufferings and of his present state of Glory it may be we should find an utter inability to give any tollerable account of these things Now will you but consider a little what follows upon this what the Judgment is that is to be made concerning such how sad their condition is that are unacquainted with this Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. First Suppose they have any Knowledge of God either by nature or by common illumination by what way soever if there be not the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ truly whatever they know of God will never turn to their comfort and benefit and advantage but rather prove their torment He that sinneth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God whatsoever Knowledge he may have of him God he hath not and that Knowledge will prove his torment whatsoever a man may know of the infinite Being the glorious Majesty of his infinite Wisdom and Power and God-head whatsoever Knowledge he hath it will be the torment of the Soul at last if so be that there be not a Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2. I offer this to be considered of How can such believe How shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard and whom they have not known And if there be no believing there can be no salvation for he that believeth not shall be damned 3. How can they love him How can they love Christ that know not Christ And what a dreadful sentence is gone out against them that love not the Lord Jesus 1 Cor. 16. Them that love not our Lord Iesus Christ let them be Anathema Maranatha accursed The Lord will come 4. How can they repent that know not Christ There can be no true right repentance where there is not the Knowledge of Christ it is the Knowledge of Christ and of God in Christ that brings the heart over to repentance The Soul will never come to repent with a repentance unto life if so be there be not an apprehension of the Grace of God in our Lord Jesus Christ And then consider the danger except we repent we shall be sure to perish 5. How apt are such to rise up in opposition to God to Christ and the wayes of the
purpose and yet not know to such a degree as they ought to do and so are culpable as not answering the duty of the Text which requires a growth in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. You may be able to make a Judgment by the things that have been so largely handled in the Doctrinal part of this Text Much hath been spoken according to what my line would reach to concerning the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. And here now is this to consider of whether we be not deserving blame upon this account that though we know something and it may be something to good purpose in the saving knowledge of Christ yet we have not set our hearts to make the advance in this knowledge and that progress and to come to such a measure and degree in knowledge as we ought and might have done according to time and means and truly I think that there is none of us but we may find this cause to complain Ah sweet Saviour how little do I know of thee I remember how that holy Agur doth bemoan himself even upon such a like account Prov. 30. Surely I am more bruitish than any man I have not the understanding of a man I neither learned wisdom nor have the knowledge of the holy Thus he bemoans himself O surely surely we may most complain and say O sweet Saviour how little a matter do I know of thee Some little smatterings there are but alas it 's nothing to what might be known and apprehended concerning thee And what 's the fruit of this That Believers holy Persons such as have the grace of God in truth have not more advance in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Mysteries of his Kingdom what are the consequences and truly the consequences are the evidences that there is not that advance and that growth in this holy Knowledge How sad are the consequences that Christians know no more of God are not more insighted in the Mysteries concerning Christ. 1. Whence it comes to pass That we advance no more in faith for undoubtedly if we grow more in Knowledge we should grow more in Faith Did we but more clearly apprehend and understand the Mysteries of the Gospel concerning our Lord Jesus what a curious cast there is in the business of salvation by Jesus Christ did we but more clearly understand and apprehend and know the continuance of that Mysterie it would most largely contribute to the promoting of a Beleevers faith and the unbelief would fall flat down on its face before this Knowledge if so be it were but duly improved 2. Again This is the consequence We love the Lord Jesus with a poor inconsiderable degree of love Why Because we know but little little of his excellencies little of that pretiousness that is inhim and as our knowledge is so will our love be much knowledge much love little knowledge little love Surely if we had but more through acquaintance with Christ we should come to have our hearts more fired with the love of Christ our hearts would burn within us if so be that we had but more intimate acquaintance with him and had but a more clear understanding of the Mysteries of the Gospel 3. And so for Desire O if so be there were but that advance in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus our desires would sparkle and flame out most strongly after this desirable Christ. When the Spouse had informed the Daughters of Ierusalem what a choice one what an incomparable one he was then they cry out O thou fairest among Women tell us whither thy Beloved is gone that we may seek him with thee 4. Whence is it that there is so much straightheartedness to the pretious priviledges of the Gospel that we do not prize them more that we do not set our hearts more upon them That great priviledge of Justification of Adoption of access to God of acceptance with God and that God should not be ashamed to be called our God to which I spake the last day Whence is it that we be not taken more with holy admirings of these great and glorious priviledges but because we are not more insighted in the Mysterie of the Gospel concerning Christ. Whence is it that we do not make more account of Justification forgiveness of sins which is a most pretious mercy We do not know Christ as we should and what it cost him to bring over to us the forgiveness of our sins 5. Whence is it that we are so apt to be tampering with that accursed thing with sin that we are so apt to be upon complyance with it and upon gratifications of it and of the lusts of it We know not Christ did we know Christ what he suffered that he might satisfie the Justice of God for the sins of his People what soul-conflicts he had and how he was pressed under the burden of the wrath of God that he might deliver his People from the everlasting Curse and Condemnation it would make us fear and tremble and take heed how ever we deal with that accursed thing and throw away that bloody knife that cut the very throat and stabb'd the very heart of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 6. Whence is it that we are so apt to be meddling with the World and apt to have our hearts set upon these beggerly vanities here below Whence is it but because we know not our Lord Jesus Christ as we ought to know Did we but know what a pretious Christ he was we would set light by the World and account nothing of it in comparison of the Lord Jesus 7. Whence is it that poor souls are so apt to be tossed with every wind of Temptation and to be unsetled upon every occasion as touching their peace and inward comfort but because they are very short in the knowledge of the Mysterie concerning our Lord Jesus Christ and the riches of Grace that discovers it self in him As let the guile be what it can be that may be represented to the Conscience the Conscience may yet upon the true knowledge and apprehension of the Grace of God in our Lord Jesus bear up with boldness and make a challenge unto men and devils and say Who shall lay any thing unto our charge when we know that concerning Christ concerning his Death concerning the merit of his Sacrifice concerning his Acceptance with the Father concerning his pleading in the behalf of his People at his Father's right hand We have that knowledge of the Lord Jesus that we bear up with glorious confidence and with blessed boldness and we are not afraid to look men and devils in the face we know who it is that is once for all entred into the holy place that is not made with hands and appears before God in heaven representing the merit of his Sacrifice and for our parts we now can triumph with a holy boldness and say Who shall lay any thing to our