Twenty Sermons, Sermon 17
JOHN VII. 17.
If any man will do his will, he ſhall know of the Doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I ſpeak of my ſelf.
NOW I come to the ſecond Doctrine, which is principally and eſpecially held forth in this Text, and it is this: That he that doth the will of God, ſhall know more of it, and ſhall be more aſſured of what he knows.
For the better handling of this weighty Truth, uttered by our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, it will not be amiſs to divide the Doctrine into two Branches, or into two Propoſitions, and to ſpeak diſtinctly to each of them:
The firſt Branch of the Doctrine, is this: He that doth the will of God ſhall know more of his will.
The ſecond, is this: He that doth the will of God ſhall be more aſſured of what he knows.
For the firſt Propoſition, or the firſt Branch of the Doctrine: He that doth the will of God, ſhall know more of his will. God will reveal himſelf more fully, more clearly, to ſuch a Soul as is careful to live up to his light, to walk according to the meaſure of knowledg he hath received; this is that our Saviour promiſeth, in Matth. 13.12, For whoſoever hath, to him ſhall be given, and he ſhall have more abundance; but whoſoever hath not, from him ſhall be taken away, even that which he hath. Whoſoever hath, to him ſhall be given: What is the meaning of this? That is, as learned Pareus well expounds the place, He that hath the beginning of ſaving knowledg, and ſound Converſion, and ſincere Faith and Obedience, To him ſhall be given. What ſhall be given? There ſhall be given an encreaſe of that knowledg, an encreaſe of that faith, an encreaſe of that love, an encreaſe of that obedience: Whoſoever hath, to him ſhall be given. But on the contrary, Whoſoever hath not, from him ſhall be taken away, that he ſeemeth to have: that is, from Hypocrites that make a fair ſhew, as if they had grace, ſaving knowledg, true repentance, and the like: from him ſhall be taken away that he ſeemeth to have. This is an excellent Scripture to prove the perſeverance of the Saints, they ſhall encreaſe in grace; but then on the contrary, it proves the warping, declining, and withering condition of Hypocrites, they ſhall grow worſe and worſe, and loſe thoſe gifts that they have. The Arminians they make a wicked conſtruction and interpretation of this place of Scripture: for they ſay, He that hath, and well improves his natural parts and abilities, he deſerves the gift of ſaving grace. This is their Expoſition, He that well uſeth the gift of Nature, doth deſerve of God the gift of ſaving grace; this is a falſe Expoſition, and a reaſoning againſt Reaſon; for our Saviours words muſt be underſtood thus; To him that hath, ſhall be given. He that well uſeth the gifts of Nature, true indeed, he ſhall have an encreaſe of the gifts of Nature; for example, Ariſtotle and Plato, and the better ſort of Heathen, well uſing the gifts of Nature, had the gifts of Nature encreaſed, and they grew to be excellent men, ſo far as the light of nature would carry them, God gave them an encreaſe of the gifts of Nature; but now, he that well uſeth the gifts of grace, to him ſhall be given, he ſhall have an encreaſe of thoſe gifts of grace. Hitherto tends that excellent paſſage of the Prophet David, Pſalm 25.12, What man is he that fearcth the Lord? him ſhall he teach in the way that he ſhall chuſe. Mark this Scripture well; That man that conſcientiouſly walketh in the fear of the Lord, and in obedience to his Commands, he ſhall have more light, and more direction from the God of his Salvation; God will teach him, and God will direct him, and God will enable him to walk in a way that is well-pleaſing in his ſight; that God whom he fears, will guide and direct him to walk in paths of righteouſneſs. So in verſe 14, of the ſame Pſalm, The ſecret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will ſhew them his Covenant. A marvellous ſweet and comfortable Scripture! The ſecret of the Lord: that is, God will reveal ſome ſecret, ſome myſterie of his, ſome myſteries of grace, and of the power of grace, to thoſe that do fear him, and conſcientiouſly practiſe what they know; God will (as I may ſay) make them of his Privy-Council: they ſhall be acquainted with ſome ſecrets of God, that others are not acquainted with: and the Prophet here inſtances in one ſecret, God will ſhew them his Covenant. O what a ſweet Promiſe is that! God will ſhew them the excellency and ſweetneſs of the Covenant of grace; that Covenant David ſpeaks of, 2 Sam. 23, Although my Houſe be not ſo with God. Alas, I have had many failings, failings in my Political Relations, and failings in my Domeſtical Relations, as a King, as a Maſter, as a Father; though my Houſe be not ſo with God, though it hath not been ordered as it ſhould be, yet he hath made with me a Covenant, ſure and ſtedfast, and ordered in all things aright. Never mortal man was ſaved by a Covenant of works; all that have been, and all that ſhall be ſaved, were and ſhall be ſaved by a Covenant of grace. Now, that man that feareth God, God will ſhew him the Covenant of grace, and God will ſhew that man the unconceivable beauty, and ſweetneſs, and all-ſufficiency that is in Jeſus Chriſt! God will ſhew to ſuch a man the marvellous ſweet, and ſecret contentment that is in the power of Godlineſs! God will ſhew ſuch a man the invaluable comforts of his Spirit, the Sweet-meats of Heaven, thoſe Soul-raviſhing, and Soul-ſatisfying comforts that delight the Soul. Pſalm 94.19, Thy Comforts delight my Soul. God will ſhew ſuch a man the tranſcendent excellencies of thoſe glorious hopes that are laid up in Heaven for the Saints in light. Thus the ſecrets of the Lord are with them that fear him. Some ſecrets and myſteries that are not ſhewn to the World, God will reveal to all thoſe that fear his Name, that do conſcientiouſly walk before him, that live up to their light. And what a ſweet and precious Promiſe is that, which our Saviour made in John 14.21, He that hath my Commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me, ſhall be loved of my Father; and I will love him, and manifeſt my ſelf to him. Mark, that man that loves God, and that walks in a way of obedience, that lives up to his light, that doth the will of God, he ſhall know more of Jeſus Chriſt, Jeſus Chriſt will more fully manifeſt himſelf unto him, I will love him, and I will manifeſt my ſelf unto him, he ſhall have more diſcoveries of my love. To name but one Scripture more: 2 Pet. 3.18, But grow in grace, and in the knowledg of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. Theſe two go together: if you grow in grace, certainly you ſhall grow in knowledg; if you grow in obedience, certainly your obedience ſhall encreaſe your knowledg in the myſteries of God.
For the Explication of the Doctrine, two Queries there are that would be ſatisfied:
Firſt, How, or in what reſpect our obedience ſhall encreaſe our knowledg?
Secondly, How it comes to paſs, or what reaſon can be rendred, why the obedient Chriſtian ſhall know more of Gods will?
For the firſt, How, or in what reſpect our obedience ſhall encreaſe our knowledg? He that obeys the will of God, ſhall know more of his will. How ſhall he know more?
I anſwer, The knowledg of an obedient Chriſtian ſhall be encreaſed in three reſpects:
Firſt, In regard of its Subject.
Secondly, In regard of its Object.
Thirdly, In regard of the Manner of it.
Firſt, The knowledg of an obedient Chriſtian ſhall be encreaſed in the Subject of it, or the Seat of it where it is placed, as I may call it; now the Seat of knowledg is the mind of man, the intellectual part of man: his intellectual faculty ſhall be enlarged by his obedience, it ſhall be made more capable of receiving Heavenly truths than it was before. God will enlarge that mans underſtanding: whereas before he was but a Babe in knowledg and underſtanding, now he ſhall be a grown man; whereas before he could not digeſt Milk, now he ſhall be able to digeſt ſtrong Meat; whereas before he was but faint and feeble in knowledg, now he ſhall be ſtrong like David, Zech. 12.8, In that day ſhall the Lord defend the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, and he that is feeble among them at that day, ſhall be as David.
Secondly, The knowledg of an obedient Chriſtian ſhall be encreaſed and enlarged in the Object of it; the Object I call thoſe matters or things that are to be known: ſuch a one ſhall know more truths, more myſteries of Godlineſs, more of Gods ſecrets, he ſhall have more manifeſtations of the Spirit of God revealed to him, more diſcoveries of Truth from day to day: it is that which God hath promiſed, Iſa. 11.9, The Earth ſhall be full of the knowledg of the Lord, as the waters cover the Sea. The Prophet ſpeaks of a larger meaſure of knowledg, and further diſcoveries of truths than was wont to be made.
Thirdly, The knowledg of an obedient Chriſtian ſhall be encreaſed in regard of the Manner of knowledg; he ſhall know the Truths of God in a better manner than he was wont to do: How is that? you will ſay. I anſwer, and ſhall give you an inſtance in five particulars:
Firſt, He ſhall know truths more inwardly.
Secondly, He ſhall know truths more experimentally.
Thirdly, He ſhall know truths more transformingly.
Fourthly, He ſhall know truths more powerfully.
Fifthly, He ſhall know truths more ſatisfyingly.
Firſt, An obedient Chriſtian ſhall know truths more inwardly, more feelingly than he was wont to do; not only have a bare apprehenſion, but ſuch a knowledg as ſhall take an impreſſion upon his heart: and therefore this inward knowledg is compared to ſeeing, and to taſting, and to ſmelling.
Firſt, It is compared to. Seeing, Eph. 3.8, 9, Ʋnto me who am leſs than the leaſt of all Saints, is this grace given, that I ſhould preach among the Gentiles the Ʋnſearchable Riches of Chriſt; and to make all men ſee (not only know, but ſee) what is the fellowſhip of the myſterie which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who Created all things by Jeſus Chuiſt. The Italian Tranſlation renders it, that all men may ſee what was the diſpenſation of the Myſterie which was hid from the beginning of the World, which God was pleaſed to hide in himſelf from the beginning of the World, that all men may ſee. I quote that Scripture to prove, that inward Knowledg is compared to Seeing, and Seeing is more than a bare Report, according to that of Job, Job 42.15, I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye ſeeth thee, I abhor my ſelf in duſt and aſhes.
Secondly, This inward Knowledg is compared to Taſting, 1 Pet. 2.3, If ſo be that ye have taſted that the Lord is gracious. Taſting is more than Knowing, and Taſting is more than Seeing. If all the Orators in the World ſhould deſcribe what the ſweetneſs of Honey is, they could not do it ſo well as a man that taſts it. Now the Soul comes to taſt the ſweetneſs that is in Jeſus Chriſt. Notional knowledg is one thing, and Taſting knowledg is another thing; they have a feeling, experimental knowledg in their own hearts. That is another.
Thirdly, This inward Knowledg is compared, not only to Seeing, and Taſting, but it is compared to Smelling alſo, Iſa. 11.3, And the Spirit of the Lord ſhall make him of quick underſtanding in the fear of the Lord: So the words are read; but the Hebrew phraſe carries it thus, and ſo it is in the Margin of your Bibles, The Spirit of the Lord ſhall make him of quick ſcent, or ſmell, in the fear of the Lord: That is, a man that is once taught by the Spirit of God, that is taught of God, as our Saviour uſeth the Phraſe, ſuch a man ſhall ſcent, and ſmell, and ſavour, and breathe out nothing but holineſs. As our Saviour, it is ſaid of him, All thy garments ſmell of Myrrh, and Aloes, and Caſſia, Pſalm 45.8, And becauſe of the ſavour of thy good Ointments, thy Name is as Ointment poured forth, Cant. 1.3. Look as the Ointment that was poured on our Saviours head, left ſuch a ſcent or ſmell behind it, that the whole houſe was filled with the ſavour of it, John 12.3. So is it in this caſe; a man that hath once received the Spirit of God, and is taught by the Spirit of God, ſuch a man ſhall have ſuch a ſweet ſavour of the knowledg of God, that it ſhall be able to diffuſe it ſelf to others, 2 Cor. 2.14. The Apoſtle Saint Paul bleſſeth God for this, that he cauſed them to triumph in Chriſt, and made manifeſt the ſavour of his knowledg by them in every place. And our Latin word for Wiſdom, Sapientia, it hath its derivation from this, it is a ſavoury Knowledg. So that this inward Knowledg, is more than bare apprehenſion: it is you ſee compared to Seeing, Touching, and to Smelling.
Secondly, He ſhall know truths more experimentally than he did before; and this is that you read of, John 4.42: It is the ſpeech of the Samaritans to the woman that had left her Water-pot, and went into the City of Samaria, and declared to them of the City, what ſhe had heard and ſeen concerning Chriſt; Now (ſay they) we believe not for thy ſayings, for we have heard him our ſelves, and know that this indeed is the Chriſt, the Saviour of the world. And thus likewiſe did the Diſciples make a Confeſſion of Chriſt, John 6.69, And we believe, and are ſure that thou art that Chriſt, the Son of the living God.
Thirdly, An obedient Chriſtian ſhall know truths more transformingly: that is, he ſhall be transformed into the very Image of thoſe truths that he knows, 2 Cor. 3. ult. But we all with open face, beholding as in a glaſs the glory of the Lord, are changed into the ſame Image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord; That is, we are changed from one degree of grace unto another, by the Spirit of God. That is an excellent knowledg that is a transforming knowledg, that makes a Chriſtian have a heart framed into the Word of God: that is caſt into the Mould of the Doctrine of the Word of God made like unto it: as Lead that is melted and caſt into a Mould, is of the ſhape of the Mould, Rom. 6.17, But ye have obeyed from the heart, that form of Doctrine which was delivered you, or, into which ye were delivered or caſt.
Fourthly, An obedient Chriſtian ſhall know truths more powerfully than he did before, that thoſe truths which he knows ſhall over-awe his heart, that he dare do nothing againſt the truth, but for the truth, 2 Cor. 13.8, For we can do nothing againſt the truth, but for the truth. Acts 4.20, We cannot but ſpeak the things which we have heard and ſeen. It was an excellent ſpeech of Saint Hierom, I can die for the truth, but I cannot deny the truth, nor be ſilent; whereas another man, it may be he can oppoſe the truth, and the ways of truth, though he knows he ought not to do it; it may be, another man can break his Vows, and Covenants, and Promiſes, and Proteſtations, although he knows the ſin of Covenant-breaking is a grievous ſin, and ſhall be ſeverely puniſhed, as appears by that remarkable Scripture, Ezek. 17.15, 16: Where it is teſtified of Zedekiah, that after he had made a Covenant with Nebuchadnezzar, he rebelled againſt him; and ſaith God, Shall he proſper, he that doth ſuch things as theſe are? ſhall he prolong his days? He hath broken his Covenant, ſaith God, ſhall he be delivered? As I live, ſaith the Lord, he ſhall die in that Land for his Covenantbreaking. So I ſay, a man may have ſo much knowledg, that he knows ſuch and ſuch things are ſin, and he may know the Judgment of God, that they that do ſuch things, are worthy of death: yet they do it, and take pleaſure in them that do it. For example: They know that Whoredom is a ſin, and a damnable ſin, that carries thouſands to Hell: Stollen waters are ſweet, and bread eaten in ſecret is pleaſant; but he knoweth not that the dead are there, and that her Gueſts are in the depths of Hell, Prov. 9.17, 18. Thoſe works of darkneſs are pleaſant for a while; but the Devils banquet, ſhall have the Devils ſhot. Though a wicked man knows that whoredom is a ſin, yet his knowledg is ſo weak, that it hath no powerful influence upon his heart and life; but now an obedient Chriſtian, he ſhall know truths ſo powerfully, that they ſhall have an awe upon his Soul. Thus was it with the Prophet David, Pſalm 119.161, Princes have perſecuted me without a cauſe, but my heart stands in awe of thy Word. That is the fourth: an obedient Chriſtian knows truths more powerfully.
Fifthly, He that doth the will of God for the manner of his Knowledg, ſhall know truths more ſatisfyingly, to overſway all Objections that are made againſt him, and all diſcouragements that he meets with in the way of holineſs. Saint Paul tells us how it was with him in this regard, Gal. 1.15, 16, When it pleaſed God to reveal Jeſus Chriſt in me. That phraſe [in me] is very remarkable. A man may have Jeſus Chriſt revealed to him, and yet not revealed in him; but when God revealed Chriſt in me, immediately I conſulted not with fleſh and blood; but this Knowledg did preponder and out-weigh all Objections that could be made againſt it. Another man that hath but a weak and feeble knowledg, it may be, he takes check at the ways of holineſs: and what ſays he? If I walk in a ſtrict way, and am circumſpect and careful in ordering my converſation, I ſhall be ſcorned, and oppoſed, and contemned; and theſe his Objections prevails with him. A man now, on the other ſide, that is taught of God, is able to anſwer all theſe Objections, and to paſs through good report, and ill report. This is the firſt thing, for Explication.
Secondly, By way of Explication, it may be demanded: But how comes it to paſs that obedient Chriſtians ſhall know more than others?
For anſwer to this, I ſhall give you theſe four Reaſons for it:
Firſt, Becauſe God hath promiſed the Holy Ghoſt to them that obey him, Acts 5.31, 32, Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Iſrael, and forgiveneſs of ſins; and we are his witneſſes of theſe things, and ſo is alſo the Holy Ghoſt, whom God hath given to them that obey him: You muſt underſtand it aright. God doth not promiſe the Holy Ghoſt for our obedience, but in a way of obedience; now if God give his Spirit to them that obey him, then they ſhall have more knowledg, they ſhall know more of his will; for the Spirit of God is a Spirit of light, and opens our underſtanding. The Spirit of God is a teaching Spirit, and they that are taught by the Spirit of God, ſhall certainly come to Jeſus Chriſt, John 6.45, All thy children ſhall be taught of God; every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me, Iſa. 54.13. — And the Spirit of God is a leading Spirit, The Spirit will lead you into all Truth; the Spirit will not only take you by the hand, but lead you in the way that you ſhould walk in. As you lead your children when you teach them to go, ſo the Spirit will lead you into all truth; that man to whom the Spirit of God is given, muſt certainly needs know more of the Myſtery of Salvation.
Secondly, A ſecond Reaſon is this, Becauſe God hath made many Promiſes to the obedient: how many precious Promiſes have you in that one Scripture? Deut. 28, If thou ſhalt hearken diligently unto the voyce of the Lord thy God, to obſerve and to do all his Commandements; then the Lord thy God will ſet thee on high, above all the Nations of the Earth, and all theſe bleſſings ſhall come upon thee; bleſſed ſhalt thou be in the City, and in the Field, and in the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and an the fruit of thy Cattel, and thy Kine, and the Flocks of thy Sheep; and bleſſed ſhall be thy basket, and thy ſtore; bleſſed ſhalt thou be when thou comeſt in, and when thou goeſt out, &c. There are bleſſings of all ſorts promiſed, and among others this is one: for ſaith our Saviour, To him that hath, ſhall be given; and it is twice repeated in one Evangeliſt, in Matth. 13.12, and Matth. 25.29, To him that hath, ſhall be given; he that well uſeth his Talent, ſhall have more Talents given to him.
Thirdly, Becauſe God doth love to reward his Servants. Juſt as a Maſter deals with his Factor beyond the Seas, when he ſees that he deals faithfully with him in ſmaller matters, he intruſts him with more of his Eſtate; ſo when God ſees us faithful in a little, he truſts us with more; when he ſees us to uſe one talent well, he will give us five talents to trade with.
Fourthly, Becauſe the more grace is acted, the more it grows and is encreaſed. Remarkable is that Scripture, Heb. 5. ult. But ſtrong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even thoſe who by reaſon of uſe, have their ſenſes exerciſed to diſcern both good and evil; By reaſon of uſe have their ſpiritual ſenſes exerciſed. Uſe legs, as we ſay, and have legs: the more a man ſets about this Heavenly Employment of acting of grace, the more grace he ſhall have in his heart.
Now for the Application of this Point, and firſt by way of Inſtruction: it ſerves to let you ſee what is the reaſon of that truth which carnal men will hardly helieve, That Godly men are the only wiſe men, and that wicked men though they are never ſo knowing, are errant fools: this is a truth plainly ſet down in this Scripture: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wiſdom, Prov. 9.10. None are wiſe but thoſe that fear the Lord; none are prudent in Gods account, but thoſe that are obedient, thoſe that practiſe what they know: practical Chriſtians, are the only prudent Chriſtians in Gods account. Remarkable is that Scripture, Deut. 4.5, 6, Behold, I have taught you Statutes and Judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye ſhould do ſo in the Land whither ye go to poſſeſs. Keep therefore and do them, for this is your wiſdom and underſtanding in the ſight of the Nations, that ſhall hear theſe Statutes, and ſay, Surely this great Nation is a wiſe and underſtanding People. But now on the contrary, wicked men, let them have never ſo much knowledg, let them have as much knowledg as the wicked Angels, who are knowing Spirits (the Devils are intelligent Spirits) if he do not put his knowledg into practiſe: if he be a wicked man, he is in Gods account an errant fool, he is but a very Sot: He is in darkneſs, and walketh in darkneſs, and knoweth not whither he goeth, becauſe darkneſs hath blinded his eyes, 1 John 2.11.
The ſecond Uſe it is by way of Exhortation: and let it be a powerful perſwaſion to every one here preſent: and Oh that I could leave this Exhortation warm upon your hearts! Oh that I could put you upon the practiſe of what you have heard: I beſeech you, as ever you deſire that Jeſus Chriſt ſhould take you by the hand, and kiſs you with the kiſſes of his mouth, and manifeſt his love to you; as ever you deſire that Jeſus Chriſt ſhould make fuller diſcoveries of himſelf to you, labour to practiſe what you know: live up to your light, do not foſter or favour any known ſin; nor bauk nor decline any known Duty; but live up to your light. Now that I may preſs you to it, conſider,
Firſt, We live in times of Libertiniſm and looſneſs, wherein many hold the truth in unrighteouſneſs: The wrath of God is revealed from Heaven againſt them that impriſon the Truth, that ſin againſt the light of their knowledg and Conſcience, that blow out the Candle, leſt it ſhould diſcover truth to them: Light is come into the world, but men love darkneſs rather than light, becauſe their deeds are evil, John 3.19, And this is the condemnation to them with a witneſs, who ſhut the light out of their Souls: The wrath of God is revealed from Heaven againſt all ungodlineſs and unrighteouſneſs of men, who hold the truth in unrighteouſneſs, Rom. 1.18. Let me ſet on this Conſideration with this Motive.
Firſt, Conſider how little it is that we know of God: The very beſt of Gods Saints and Servants, how little do they know of him! To uſe Jobs phraſe, Job 26. ult. How little a portion is heard of him! What a little knowledg is it, that the moſt knowing men have? There is a thouſand times more excellency, and ſulneſs, and ſweetneſs, and Soul-ſatisfaction, and beauty, and all ſufficiency in God, in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, than ever yet was known or diſcovered; How little a portion do we know of God! The greateſt part of our knowledg, is the leaſt part of our ignorance: we are ignorant of a thouſand times more than we know. There are unſearchable riches in Jeſus Chriſt, as the Apoſtle calls them, Epheſ. 3.8. There is a thouſand times more riches in Chriſt than ever was diſcovered: Mines of Wiſdom and Knowledg, that you were never yet acquainted with: now if you would know more, practiſe what you do know.
Secondly, Conſider, the more you know of God, the nearer do you come to Heaven; for the fulneſs of the Saints happineſs in Heaven will be this, when they ſhall ſee God as he is, and know him as he is, 1 John 3.2, Beloved now are we the Sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we ſhall be: but we know, that when he ſhall appear, we ſhall be like him, for we ſhall ſee him as he is. Heaven conſiſts in the Beatifical Viſion of God; a ſight of God, ſeeing of him as he is in Heaven. David gives you a glimpſe of Heaven in one Verſe, Pſalm 17. ult. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteouſneſs, I ſhall be ſatisfied when I awake with thy likeneſs. Heaven conſiſts in the Viſion of God; in conformity to God, and in ſatisfaction in God: this is Heaven. Viſion of God, I will behold thy face in righteouſneſs; Conformity to God, When I awake with thy likeneſs; Satisfaction in God, I ſhall be ſatisfied; then our Knowledg will be perfected.
Thirdly, Conſider, that this experimental Knowledg that ſprings from Obedience, will make you ſound and ſolid Chriſtians, that you ſhall not take up Religion upon truſt: but you ſhall know upon what grounds you believe, upon what grounds you have the hope of eternal happineſs: you ſhall not have your Religion upon truſt or Tradition: you ſhall have a certain evidence of your intereſt in Jeſus Chriſt, and your hope of Eternal happineſs; you ſhall be able to read your names written in Heaven. On the contrary, take away that experimental Knowledg that ſprings from Obedience: and a man may be a Turk upon the ſame ground that he is a Chriſtian, becauſe he takes his Religion upon truſt. Take away this experimental Knowledg, a man may be of any Religion, as well as a Chriſtian. O get this Knowledg that ſprings from Obedience, then you will know upon what grounds you take up Religion; and your hopes of Heaven and happineſs will be upon good grounds.
Fourthly, Conſider, God looks upon all your Knowledg as nothing worth, unleſs you practiſe what you know, and live up to your light; God looks upon all your Praying, and Reading, and Hearing, and Communicating, as nothing, if ſo be you do not live up to what you know, Jer. 32.23, And they came in and poſſeſſed it, but they obeyed not thy voyce, neither walked in thy Law: they have done nothing of all that thou commandedſt them to do. What, had they done nothing that God commanded them to do? they had circumciſed their Children in obedience to Gods Command; they offered Sacrifices, they came to the Temple, they did many ſpecious outward Duties: but ſaith the Prophet, They did nothing of all that God commanded them: Why? becauſe they did not practiſe what they knew, their lives were not anſwerable to the profeſſion they made; therefore God eſteemed their profeſſion, no profeſſion; God eſteemed their Sacrifices, no Sacrifices: take your Sacrifices to your ſelves, Ezek. 20, Your new Moons, and your Sabbaths, and ſolemn Aſſemblies, I am weary of them, ſaith God; they are an abomination unto me. All their outward profeſſions were nothing, becauſe they did not practiſe what they knew. It is ſaid of the Sons of Eli, that they were ſons of Belial, they knew not the Lord, 1 Sam. 2.12. It may be thou mayſt have a great deal of notional knowledg: thy tongue may be ſo tip'd with Religion, that thoumayſt be able to diſcourſe upon Points of Religion very judiciouſly: thou mayſt be able to give an account of thy Faith, thou mayſt to able to anſwer an Argument, thou mayſt be able to defend the Truth; yet, if ſo be thou doſt not live according to thy knowledg, in Gods account ſtill thou knoweſt nothing at all; God notwithſtanding all thy Knowledg, looks upon thee but as an ignorant Sot: as it is ſaid of Iſrael, Jer. 4.22, For my People are fooliſh, they have not known me; they are ſottiſh children, and have no underſtanding.
Again, Though thou mayſt hear a thouſand Sermons, if thou doſt not frame thy life according to the Rule and Preſcript of the Word of God, in Gods eſteem thou art as one that never heard a Sermon in all thy life: and is not this a pitiful thing, that a man for want of practiſe ſhall loſe all that he hath done: all his Prayers, and all his Hearing, and all his Communicating at the Lords Table? for an unpractical Chriſtian in Gods account, hath done nothing at all; methinks this ſhould work upon your hearts. If ever therefore you deſire that God ſhould look upon you, as upon his Children, that God ſhould own you in a day when you would give a whole World for a ſmile of his face; If ever you deſire that Jeſus Chriſt ſhould give this teſtimony of you, Father, here are they that have kept thy Word; if ever you would have God to ſay to you, as he ſaith of ſome, Theſe are my Children: then reſt not in a bare notional profeſſion of the Truth; but let Profeſſion and Practice, Science and Conſcience go together. This is the firſt Branch of the Doctrine, or the firſt Propoſition, They that obey the will of God, ſhall know more of his Will.