Fellowship with God, Sermon 28
SERMON XXVIII·
1 Joh. 2.3.
And hereby we do know that w… know him, if we keep his commandments.
THis age pretends to much knowledge, beyond former ages, knowledge, I say, not only in other natural Arts and Sciences, but especially in Religion; whether there be any great advancement in other knowledge, and improvement of that which was, …o a further extent and clearnesse▪ I cannot j…dge; but, I believe, there is not much o… it in this Nation, nor do we so much pretend to it. But, we talk of the inlargements of divine knowledge, and the breaking up of a clearer light, in the point o… Religion, in respect of which, we look on former times, a… the times of ignorance and darknesse, which God winked at. If it were so indeed, I should think the time happy, and blesse the days we live into, for as many sowre and sad accidents as they are mixed withal: Indeed, if the variety of Books, and multiplicity of discourses upon Religion, if the multitude of disputes about points of truth, and frequency of Sermons, might be held for a sufficient proof of this pretension, …e should not want store enough of knowledge and light. But, I fear that this is not the touch-stone of the Holy Ghost, according to which we may try the truth o… this assertion; that this is not the rule, by which to measure either the truth, or degrees of our knowledge; but for all that, we may be lying buried in Egyptian-darkness, and while such a light seems to shine about us, our hearts may be a dungeon of darkness, of ignorance of God, and un…elief, and our ways and walk full of stumbling… in the darkness. I am led to intertain these sad thoughts o… the present time…, from the words of the Apostles, which gives us the designation of … true Christian, to be the knowledge of God; and the character o… his knowledge, to be obedience to his commands; if according to this levell, we take the estimat of the proportion of our knowledge …nd light, I am aff…aid lest there be found as much ignorance of God, and da…kness, as we do foolish fancy that we have of light. However, to find … will be some breaking up of light in our hearts, an… to discover how little we know indeed upon a … account, will be the fi…st morning Star o… that Sun … R…ghteousnesse, which will shine more and more to th… perfect day. There…ore we shall labour to bring ou… light, to the l…mp of this word, and our knowledge to this testimony of unquestionable authority, tha… …aving recourse to the Law and the Testimony, w… may find if there be light in us, or so much light as men think they see; if we could but open ou… eyes to the shining light of this Scripture, I doubt not, but we should be able to see that which …ew do see, that is, that much of the pretended light of this age, is darkness and ignorance. I do not speak of errours only, that come …orth in the garments o… new light, but especially, of the vulgar knowledge of the truth of Religion, which is …ar adulterated from the true mettal & stamp of divine knowledge, by the intermixture of the grosse darknesse of our affections and conversation, as that other is from the naked truth; and therefore both of them are found light in the ballance of the Sanctuary, and counter…eit by this touch-stone of obedience.
To make out this examination the better, I shall indeavour to open these three things unto you, which comprehend the words; 1. That the knowledge of God in Iesus Christ, is the most proper designation of a Christian; hereby we know that we know him, which is as much as to say, that we are true Christians. 2. That the proper character of true knowledge, is obedience, or conscionable pr…ctising of what we know; And then lastly, that the only estimat or trial of our estate before God, is made according to the appearance of his work in u…, and not by immediat thrusting our selves into the secrets of Gods hidden decrees; Hereby we know, &c. Here then in a nar…ow circl… we have …ll the work and business of a Ch…istian, his direct …nd principal duty is, to know God, and keep his commands, which are not two distinct duties, as they come in a religious consideration, but make up one compleat wo…k of Christianity, which consists in conformity to God. Then the reflex, and secondary duty of a Christian, which makes much for hi… comfort, is, to know that he knows God: To know God, and keep his commands, i… a thing of indispensible necessity to the beeing o… a Christi…n, to know that we know him, is of great conce…nment, to the com…ort and well-being o… a Christian; without the first, a man is as miserabl… …s he can be, without the sense and feeling of mise…y, because h… wants the spring and fountain of all happiness; without the second, a Christian is unh…ppy indeed for the present, though he may not be called miserable, because he is more happy then he knows of, and only unhappy, because he knows not his happiness.
For the first then, knowledge is a thing so natur…l to the spirit of a man, that the desire of it is restlesse, and unsatiable; there is some appetite of it in all men, though in the generality of people (because of immersednesse in earthly things, and th… predominancy of corrupt lusts and affections, which hinder most mens souls to wait upon th… more noble inquiry alter knowledge, in which on… a man really differs from a beast) there be little … no stirring that way; yet some finer spirits the… …e, that are unquiet this way, and with Solomo… give them…elves, and apply their hearts to sea…c… out wisdom. But, this is the cu…se of mans curio…ty at first, in seeking after unnecessary knowledge when he was happy enough already, and knew a much of God and his works, as might have been … most satis…ying intertainment of his spirit; I say for that wretched aim, we are to this day depriv…ed of that knowledge which man once had, whic… was the ornament of his nature, and the …epast o… his soul; as all other things are subdued under … curse for sin, so especially this which man had, i… lost, in seeking that which he needed not, and the tract of it is so obscured and perplex'd, the footsteps of it are so undiscernable, and the way of it is like a Bird in the Air, or a Ship in the Sea, leaving us few helps to find it out, that most part of men lose themselves in seeking to find it: And therefore, in all the inquiries and searchings of men after the knowledge even of natural things, that come under our view, there is at length nothing found out remarkable, but the increase of sorrow, and the discovery of ignorance, as Solomon saith, E…cles. 1.18. This is all the Jewel that is brought up from the bottom of this Sea, when men div… deepest into it, for the wisest of men could reach no more, though his bucket was as long as any mans… Chap. 7.23. I said, I will he wise, b…t it was far from me; that which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out? Knowledge hath taken a far journey from mans nature, and hath not lest any prints behind it to find it out again, but, as it we…e, hath flown away in an instant, and therefore, we may ask with Iob, 28. ver. 1.12 Surely there is a vein for the silver, &c. But where shall wisdome be found? and where is the place of understanding? What Vtopian Isles hath she t…an…ported unto? that mortal men, the more they seek her, they find more ignorance, the further they pu…sue, they see themselves at the further distance; thus it is in these things that are most obvious to our sense…, but how much more, in spiritual and invisible things is our darkness increased, because of the dulness and earthiness of our spirits, that are clogged with a …ump of flesh; for God himself that should be the …rimum intelligibile of the soul, the fi…st and principal object, whose glorious light should first strike …nto our hearts, Iob testifies how little a portion is …nown of him, when we cannot so much as under…tand the thunder of his power, that makes such a …ensible impression on our ears, and makes all the …orld to stand and hearken to it, then how much …esse shall we conceive the invisible Majesty of God? …n natural things we have one vail of da…knesse in …ur minds to hinder us; but in the apprehension …f God, we have a two…old darkness to break through, …he darknesse of ignorance in us, and the darknesse …f too much light in him. Caliginem nimiae luci…, …hich makes him as inaccessible to us, as the other; …he over-proportion of that glorious Majesty of God, to our low spirits, being as the Sun in i… brightness, to a night-Owl, which is da…k midnigt… to it. Hence is it, that these holy men who know mo… of God, think they know least, because they see mor… to be known, but infinitly surpassing knowledge pride is the daughter of ignorance only, and h… that thinketh he knoweth any thing, knoweth nothin… as he ought to know, saith the Apostle, 1 Cor. 8.2… For he that knoweth not his own ignorance, if h… know never so much, is the greatest ignorant, an… it is a manifest evidence that a man hath but a supe…ficial touch of things, and hath never broken the shell, or drawn by the vail of his own weaknesse and ignorance, that doth not apprehend deeply, the unsearchableness of God, and his mysteries; but thinketh he …ath in some measure compassed them, bec…use he maketh a systeme of divinity, or setteth down so many conclusions of faith, and can debat… them against adversaries, or because he hath a form and model of divinity, as of other sciences, in hi… mind. Nay, my bel…ved, holy Iob attained to the deepest and fullest speculation of God, when he concluded this, because I see thee, I abhor my self; and as Paul speaks, If any man love God, he is known of God, and so knowes God, 1 Cor. 8.3. From which two testimonies I conclude, that the true knowledge of God, consists not so much in a comprehension of all points of divin…ty, as in such a seriou… apprehension and conception of th… Divine Majesty, as inkindles and inflames these two affections, love and hatred toward… their proper objects; such … knowledge as carries the torch before the affection; such a light as shines into the heart, as Pauls phrase i…, 2 Cor. 4.6. and so transmitts heat …nd warmnesse into it, till it make the heart burn in the love of God, and loathing of himself; as long as a man doth but hear of God in sermons, or read of him in books, though he could determine all the questions and problems in divinity, he keeps a good conceit of himself, and that knowledge pu…seth up, and swell… a man into a vain tumor, the venome of poyson blowes him up full of wind, and self-confidence, and commonly they who doubt least, are not the …reest of errour, and misapprehension; and truly, whoever seriously …eflects upon the difficulty of knowledge, and da…knesse of mens minds, and the general curse of vanity, and vexation that all thing… are under, so that what is wanting cannot be numbred, nor that which is crooked made straight, he cannot but look upon too great confidence, and peremprorienesse in all points, as upon a race at …ull speed, in the dark night, in a way full of pit… …nd snares; o…tentimes our confidence …lowes not …om evidenc… of t…uth, but the ignorance of our …indes, and is not so much built upon the strength … reason, as th… strength of our passions, and weak…esse of our judgments.
But when once … man comes to see God, and know …im in a lively manner, then he sees his own weak…esse, and vilenesse in that light, and cryes out …ith Isaiah, Wo is me, I am a man of polluted lips, …nd he discerns in that light, the amiablenesse and …velinesse of God, that ravisheth his heart after it, … then … Ieremiah saith, He will not glory in riches, or strength, or beauty, or wisdom, but onl… … this, that he hath at length gotten some disco… of the only …ountain of happinesse, then he will … think so much of tongues & languages, of pro…cying…, of all knowledge of controversies, neit… gifts of body nor of mind, nor external append…ces of providence, will much affect him, he coul… content to trample on all these, to go over them to a fuller discovery, and enjoyment of God him…
If we search the Scriptures, we shall find fl… they do not entertain us with many and subtil … courses of Gods nature, and decrees; and proper…l… nor do they insist upon the many perplexed ques…on…, that are mad… concerning Christ and his offi… about which so many volumnes are spun ou…, to … infinit distraction of the Christian world; they … not pretend to satisfie your curiosity, but to … your souls; and th…refore they hold out God … Christ, as cloathed with all his relations to ma…k…nd, in all these plain and easie properties, thi… concerns us everlastingly, his justice, mercy, grace… patience, love, holinesse, and such like. Now, hen… I gather, that the true knowledge of God, consi… not in the comprehension of all the conclusions tha… are deduced, and controversies that ar… discuss… …ent these things, but rather, in the serious an… solid apprehension of God, as he hath relation … us, and consequently in order and reference to th… moving of our hearts, to love, and …dore, and reveren…e him, for he is holden ou… only, in the… garments that are fit to move, and affect our hearts. A man may know all these things, and yet not know God himself, for to know him, cannot be abstracted …rom loving o… him, they that know thy Name will trust in thee, and s… love thee, and so fear thee, for its impossible but that this will be the natural result, if he he but known indeed; because there i… no object more amiable, more dread…ul withall, and more eligible, and worthy o… choice, and therefore, seeing infinit beauty and goodnesse, and infinit power and greatnesse, and infinit sufficiency and fulnesse, are combined together with infinit truth, the soul that apprehends him indeed, cannot but …pprehend him as the most ravishing object, and t…e most reverend too; and if he do not find his h…rt suitably a…ected, it is an evident demonstration, that he doth not indeed apprehend him, but … idol. The infinit light, and the infini… life, are simply one, and he that truly without a dream, sees the one, c…nnot but be warmed …nd moved by the other.
So then by this account of the knowledge of God, we have a clear discovery that many are destitu… of it, who pretend to it. I shall only apply it to …wo sorts of person…, one is, of them who have …t only in their memories, …nother, of them who …ave it only in th…ir mindes or heads. Religion …as once the legittimat daughter o… judgment …nd …ffection, but now, …or the most part, it is only …dopted by mens memories, or …ancies; the great…st part of the people, cannot go beyond the repe…ition of the Catechism or Creed, not that I would …ave you to know more. But you do not under…nd that, only ye repeat words, without the sensible knowledge of the meaning of it, so that if th… same matter be disguised with any other form … words, you cannot know it, which sheweth, tha… you have no …amiliarity with the thing it …elf, bu… only with the letters and syllables that are the gar…ments of it. And for others that are of great… capacity, yet alace, it comes not down to the hear…, to the affecting and moulding and forming of it▪ a little light shines into the mind, but your heart… are shut up still, and no window in them: Corrup… affections keep that Garison against the power of the Gospel; That light hath no heat o… love, o… warmnesse of affection with it, which sheweth▪ that it is not a ray or beam of the Sun of right… ousnesse which is both beautiful for light, and ben… ficial …or influence, on the cold and dead froze… hearts of mankind, and by its approaching, mak… a spring-time in the heart.
But all men pretend to know God, such is th… self-love of mens hearts, that it makes them blind in judging themselves; therefore, the Holy Ghost ▪ as he designs a Christian by the knowledge of G…d, so he characterizeth knowledge by keeping …h… Commandments; hereby we know, &c. So that Religion is not defined by … number of opinions▪ or by such a certain collection of such articles o… …aith, but rather by practice and obedience to th… known will of God. For as I told you, knowled… is a relative duty, that is instrumental to som… thing else, and by any thing I can see in Scripture, is not principally intended for it self, but rather for obedience; There …re som… science… … speculative, that rest and are compleat in the meer knowledge o… such objects, as some natural sciences are. But others are practical, that make a …urther re…erence of all things they cognosce upon, to some practice, and operation. Now, perhaps some may think, that the Scripture or divinity, is much of it mee…ly contemplative, in regard of many mysteries in…olded in it, that seem nothing to concern our practice. I confesse much of that, that is raised out of the Scriptures, is such, and therefore it seems a deviation and departure from the great scope, and plain intent of the simplicity and easinesse of the Scriptures, to draw …orth with much industry, and subtilty many things o… meer speculation and notion, dry and …aplesse to th… affection, and unedifying to our practice, and …o obtrude these upon other men… consciences, as points of Religion. I rather think, that all that … in the S…riptures, either directly hath the practice of Gods will for the object of it, or is finally i…tended for that end; either it is a thing that pre…ribeth our obedience, or else it tends principally to ing…ge our affections, and secure our obedience; and so these …rains of elevate discourses of God, h… nature, and properties, of his works, and all the mysteries infolded in it, are directed toward… this end, f…t…er then meer knowing o… them, to …age the heart of a believer to more love, and …e…ence, and adoration of God, that so he may be brought more easily▪ and steadily to a sweet co…plyance, and harmonious agrement to the will o… God, i… …ll his wayes. Nay, to say a little more, there are sundry Physical, or Natural contemplations of the works of God in Scripture, but all these are divinely considered, in reference to the ravishment of the hea…t o… man, with the wisdom, and power, and goodnesse of God, and this shewes u… the notable art of Religion, to extract affection and obedience to God, out of all natural contemplations; and thus true divinity ingraven on the soul, is a kind of mistresse-science, arthitectonica scientia, that serves it self of all other disciplines, of all other points of knowledge, be they never so remote from practice, in their proper sphear, and never so dry and bar…en, yet a religious and holy heart, can apply them to these divine uses of ingaging it self further to God, and his obedience: as the Lord himself teacheth us; Who would not fear thee, O King of Nations, Jer. 10. And fear ye not me who have placed the sand, &c. Jer. 5.22. So praise is extracted, Psal. 105. And admiration, vers. 1.33. So submission and patience under Gods hand often pressed in Iob, therefore if we only seek to know these things, that we may know them, that we may discourse on them, we disappoint the great end, and scope of the whole Scriptures, and we debase and degrade spiritual things, as far as Religion exalts natural things, in the spiritual use: we transform it into a carnal, empty, and dead letter, as Religion, where it is truly, spiritualizeth earthly and carnal things, into a holy use, &c.
FINIS·
End of the text · Hugh Binning, Fellowship with God (1671)