The Knowledge of Christ, Title page – To the reader
The KNOVVLEDGE OF CHRIST Indispensably required of all men that would be saved; OR Demonstrative proofs from Scripture, that Crucified JESUS is The CHRIST. Wherein The Types, Prophesies, Genealogies, Miracles, Humiliation, Exaltation, and the Mediatorial Office of Christ are Opened and Applyed; In sundry Sermons on Acts 2.36. By John Davenport, B. D. and Pastor to the Church of Christ at New-Haven in New-England.
Matth. 24.23, 24.
If any shall say unto you, lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
For there shall arise false Christs, and false Prophets.
Iohn 1.41. We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
1 Cor. 2.2. I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
London, Printed for L. Chapman, and are to be sold at his shop at the signe of the Crown in Popes-head Alley, 1653.
To the Christian Reader.
CHRISTIAN READER,
THe right knowledge of the TRUE MESSIAS, and of this Truth, that Crucified Jesus is the Christ, is necessary unto all who hope for salvation by him; there being no other in whom salvation is to be had: Acts 4.12.For there is no other name under heaven given amongst men, Heb. 5.9.whereby we must be saved. This our Lord himself,Iohn 17.3. who is the Author of eternal salvation to all that obey him, Iohn 1.11.testifieth in his most heavenly Prayer (as it were appealing unto his Father for the certainty of it) saying, this is eternal life, Iohn 8.24.that they might know thee the only true God, and him whom thou hast sent. That there by him whom the Father hath sent, he meaneth himself; and by knowing him, believing in him, may appear in his weighty admonition to the Jews (who expected Messias to come, but received not him, bLudov. Viv. Erasm. Zwing. Andrad.when he came unto them; saying to them, and to us in them, If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall dy in your sins. Which definitive sentence of the Judge of all the world, may convince some AncientaJustin. Mart: Clem. Alexand. Chrysost. and Later WritersaJustin. Mart. Clem. Alexand. Chrysost. of a dangerous error, when they extend the Title of Christians, to such as never knew Christ; and give hope of eternal salvation unto the Heathen by Phylosophie; and to the Jews, by the Law, if they kept themselves from Idolatry before the coming of Christcforeign &c. Justin in Apol. secundae. foreign. Claem. Alex. Strom. l. 7. Fruentur omnibus vitae aeternae bonis etiam illi, qui Christum, ante ipsius, incarnationem, non norunt sed ab idololatria se abstinuerunt. Chrysost. Hom. 38. in Mat.. Nor is their error less dangerous, who contenting themselves with the empty name of Christians, neither live to the honour of Christ, nor have faith in Christ rightly grounded. To the first, the golden name of Christians is but as an ornament to Swine; as Salvian notethdChristianum nomen quasi aureum decus est, quo si indigne utamur fit ut Sues cum ornamento esse videamur. Salv. l. 4. de Prov. Aug. Tom. 9. Tract. 5. in Ep. Iohan., and then saith Augustine, Quid tibi prodest nomen, ubi res non invenitur? What will the name avail, where the thing is wanting? To the second, the Lord Jesus will profess in that day, when they shall cry Lord, Lord; I never knew you; Depart from me ye that work iniquity. Matth. 7.22.23. This honourable name was at first imposed upon those, who before were called Disciples; such as received Jesus Christ in all his offices, and yielded up themselves accordingly to be governed by him, believing on him, upon God's authority in the Scripture: These were first called Christians at Antioch; Acts 11.26. That the faith of men may be so grounded, was the principal scope of these sermons; which have for their subject an Argument no less seasonable then important; especially in this hour of Temptation: wherein Satan the old Serpent (whom Epiphanius elegantly stileth foreign) as it were rolling himself into a circle, reviveth old heresies under new names and pretexts: which, whereas former ages had them successively one after another, now appear in Troops; as if Satan were mustering up all his forces together for his last assault. Yea, the only wise God himself, by shaking at this time heaven and earth, hath already discovered to the view of all men, the ungroundedness of the faith of many, by the great falls of such lofty buildings in the profession of Christianity, which wanted this foundation; for a warning to others to be exactly careful about two things. 1. About a Well; that is, soundly and substantially laying the principles and grounds of Christian Religion in their minds and hearts. These foreign are of as common and daily use unto Christians, as the Sun, the Ayr, Fire, and Water in Nature: In order they are to be first laid, as the foundation in the Building, 1 Cor. 3.10, 11. Heb. 6.1. and for the manner of laying them, it must be done soundly and substantially; 1. In the mind and understanding; The knowledge of fundamental Truths must be distinct, certain, and judicious; 1 Cor. 14.20. Luke 1.3, 4. 1 Pet. 3.15. 2. In the heart; it must be effectual upon the Will and Affections, causing them to receive the love of the Truth, and to obey, from the heart, 2 Thes. 2.10. Rom. 6.17.the mold of Doctrine, as being put into it; that our knowledge may be experimental, as it was in Paul, Rom. 8.1, 2. 3. In the Life; sinking from the brain into the heart, and from thence breaking forth into action; and setting head, heart, hands, and feet, and all on work; according to the exhortation of James, Who is a wise man, Iames 3.13.and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom: Otherwise you cannot truly say you know God, and Christ, or any fundamental Truth in Religion: For,1 Iohn 2.3, 4. Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his Commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his Commandments, is a lyar, and the Truth is not in him. And therefore though the Lord had made known his ways and Laws unto Israel in the Desart, Psal. 147.19, 20.yet finding their practise contrary to his revealed Will, he said, They do err in their heart, Heb. 3.10.for they have not known my ways. 2. About the Superstructure, that men build on this foundation as they ought. 1. For the matter, gold, silver precious stones; not wood, hay, stubble. 2. For the manner; 1. 1 Cor. 3.12.Sutably to the groundwork, that the building may be uniform. Thus do they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, Luke 8.15.keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. 2. Striving to go on unto perfection, Heb. 6.1.never resting till the building be finished; forgetting those things which are behind, Phil. 3.13, 14.and reaching forth unto those things which are before; pressing towards the mark for the price of the high Calling of God, in Christ Jesus. For the help of God's people herein, hoping that by the blessing of Christ, it may be of use to stablish the faith of some in the present Truth, concerning the Messiah, which Satan, at this time, opposeth: I have yeilded to the perswasions of some Brethren (ayming at the common good) to publish that which some yeers since was preached in my weekly Lecture (among other Principles of Religion) for the setling of the Faith of the Flock committed to my Pastoral watch and care, upon a sure foundation in the Truths, according to godliness; that their faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
My far distance from the Press, and the hazards of so long a voyage by Sea, had almost discouraged me from transmitting this Copie; foreseeing that whatsoever foreign are committed by the Printer, men dis-affected will impute to the Author; and being sensible of my great loss of some Manuscripts, by a wrack at Sea, together with the lives of sundry precious ones, about six yeers since. Yet if the Printer acquit himself well in this, and God be pleased to make it acceptable and profitable to the Reader, I shall be encouraged to publish more, as God shall give liberty and opportunity; Farewell.
Thine in the true Messiah, John Davenport. From my study in New-haven, this 13th of the 9th monethmonth, MDCLII.