Of Growth in Grace, Sermon 18
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 Gospel, that know him not? Observe that Scripture, 1 Ioh. 16. The time will come, when they will excommunicate you, cast you out of their Synagogues, and they that kill you shall think they do God service in so doing.—And why?—because they know neither the Father nor me; they know not me nor my Father, and therefore they will do these things to you, and yet they will think they do God very good service. This is the mischief that follows upon the ignorance of Christ.
6. Consider this, That sad speech of the Apostle, 2 Cor. 14. If our Gospel be hid, and Christ who is held forth in the Gospel, why then the Gospel is hid to them that are lost; in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not.
7. I argue thus, If it be as our Saviour speaks, eternal life to know the true God, and him whom he hath sent, Jesus Christ our Lord, Ioh. 17. why then it follows on the contrary, This is eternal death to be ignorant of the true God, and of Jesus Christ whom he hath sent.
8. And then I add further, That this will be the aggravation of the guilt of such persons as minded not the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, never set their hearts to seek after it; this will be the aggravation, That light did come into the world, and yet they love darkness rather than light; that there was a blessed beaming out of the light of the Knowledge of God in the face of Jesus Christ, and yet no regard at all unto that Knowledge, nor no improvement of those means whereby that knowledge might be attained: This will be the condemnation, and the aggravating of the guilt, and the strengthening of the condemnation.
9. I add yet further, That such persons as are awanting to the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, especially in a day wherein this Knowledge may be had and attained: I say this; such persons, they lye open to a dreadful stroke of judgment in this world; according to that which the Apostle speaks, 1 Cor. 14. If any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. It runs in the same form and frame with that dreadful passage, in Rev. 22. Him that is unjust, let him be unjust still; let him that is filthy, be filthy still. This is spoken, not in an approving way, but in a judicial way; Let them that are filthy, be filthy still: And I have had occasion lately to speak upon this Scripture, that this Judgment is now in execution amain at this very day; That they that have been unjust, and formal, and hypocritical, and would not own the holy wayes of God when they were discovered to them, and clearly made known, but dote upon their own fancies; Judgment is gone out upon them, let them be filthy still, let them be vain, and formal, and superstitious, and what not; and let them so live, and so die. So in this form the Apostle gives out the Judgment, If any man be ignorant; one that lives under the means of light and knowledge of our Lord Jesus, having a price in his hand to get Knowledge, and hath no heart to it, doth not care for the commodity, hath it not in any due esteem; he would rather be acquainted with the mysteries of a Trade, than with the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God; be more acquainted with the politicks of the World, than with the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, and so sets light by this Knowledge; that Judgment, such are in danger to have it go out against them. If any man be ignorant, and have a mind to be ignorant, and his heart is not touched with the sense of the knowledge of Christ, nor his affections doth not move and stir within him after that knowledge, that he may come to be made partaker of it; If any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant, let him go on in his blindness, let the Devil blindfold him, and hood-wink him; he will not see, he shall not see till he come to see in a judicial way.
And then I close up this branch of the Discourse thus: Think but this, and let this be seriously considered of, by all that neglect the good knowledge of Christ, and do not set their hearts upon it, are not carryed out in desire after an advance in it. The day will come, when they that will not know Christ now, care not to be acquainted with him, and with the Mysteries of his Kingdom; the day will come when Christ will know them, I, but so as that he will not know them. Here's a paradox, but yet it is a truth; the day will come when Christ will know them, so as never to know them to all eternity; he will know them with a knowledge of apprehension, in a judicial way; he will know them to have been such as cared not to know him; he will know them to have been such as never set their hearts upon this good knowledge, this excellent beneficial knowledge, that they might be partakers of; he will know them to be such as have neglected all those blessed means which have been afforded to them, that they might come to advance in the Knowledge of Christ,—I, and he will know them so as not to know them, and profess unto them, Depart from me ye workers of iniquity, I never knew you: you would not know me, you would not know the Mysteries of my Kingdom: I do declare here before all the world, I never knew you, nor I never will, I will never know you, not to the days of eternity; I never did know you, I never will know you, depart from me ye workers of iniquity. Let these things be considered which I have thus spoken, with respect unto such as do not mind the Knowledge of Christ.
But now 2ly. And it may be this may more concern the generality of the Auditory.
But before I come to that, some may be apt to say; O, but I hope we are without the reach of this lash, for we do know, we know Christ, and we can give an account of Christ; many are apt to think thus, and to fancy thus with themselves, that they are good Proficients in this Knowledge: But I say, take heed that the light that is in us be not darkness, and the knowledge that is in us be not found to be ignorance.—What knowledge is it?—It may be a formal, notional knowledge (as I spake before) many they can clatter over a form of words concerning Christ, they can say their Belief from one end to the other, and not miss a word; and this is all their Religion, they understand nothing of what they say; they have gotten a form of words setled upon their memories, but alas, they understand nothing of what they say. But I shall speak more to that.
But the second way that this reproof goes, and this complaint, it looks upon the faces of persons concerning whom there is better hope, that they may know, and know to some good 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 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, vvhichwhich 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, vvhichwhich 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; 'tis 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,
2ly. That you would know the singular eminency of the love of Christ, which is a love that passes knowledge. And the Apostle presses this upon us, in Eph. 3. saith he, I bow my knees, &c. that you may be able to comprehend with all Saints, the heights, and depths, and breadths, and lengths.—And what do these dimensions refer to?—Why, saith he, That you may know the love of Christ that passeth knowledge; that you may know it in the height of it, in the depths, in the breadths, in the lengths of it. O, saith he, this is the Knowledge that I would have you increase and grow in, that so you may come to be filled with all the fulness of God. O this love is such a love as we can never know enough of, That Christ hath such love to his Father, as to comply with his designs concerning a sinful World;—and that he should bear such love to a company of vile wretches, ugly, defiled, loathsom creatures, that he would not stick at the laying down of his Life, and shedding his Blood to save them from eternal vengeance. O, saith the Apostle, study this, that you may comprehend the height, and depth, and length, and breadth of the love of Christ, which passes Knowledge, and then shall you come to be filled with all the fulness of God.
I have only this one thing further:—But what shall we do to grow in the Knowledge of Christ?
First, When you have improved well; To him that hath shall be given.
Labour to be more humble: If you be of meek and humble frames of heart, and do not swell with notions, truly Christ will delight to communicate more of his Knowledge to you.
And then love him more: If you would love him more, you should know him more; as knowledge will help to increase love, so love to Christ upon what we do know, will contribute to the promoting of our Knowledge.
And then, what you do know, make use of it, practice it, and labour to keep in an obediential frame: If any man will do his will, he shall know, &c.
And then you must pray for this Knowledge, that the Lord would open the eyes of your understanding: I am a stranger in the earth, O hide not thy Commandments from me.
And then, the whole Scriptures, they testifie of Christ; and if you would know much of Christ, be much in the study of the Scriptures. There are two Scriptures, which I would (not in the least to take you off from the searching into others) have persons to be well studied in, to desire to advance in the Knowledge of Christ:—There is first, the Song of Solomon,—and the Book of the Revelations. The Song of Solomon: The studying of that Book, will much promote your knowledge in the love of Christ, when you shall come to see what a spirit breaths in that blessed Book, that Song of Songs, what a spirit of love doth breath there; you will come to know the love of Christ, how dear he is over his Spouse, over his Children, over all that are given to him: O how he delights in them, and to hold converse with them, and how he can over-look their spots and blemishes, and look upon them as fair, and having no spot in them. It is admirable to consider what endeavours there are on the part of Christ over his beloved Spouse: that Book well studied, will promote your Knowledge in the love of Christ.—And then, the Book of the Revelations, it is a Scripture that is given us for pretious purposes; and being well studied, it will contribute much to the advancing in the knowledge of Christ, of his Glory, and Power, and Greatness. There we come to have discoveries made to us, of what Enemies he hath,—and what Victories he shall get,—and what triumphs he shall maintain,—and what glory shall be setled upon him,—and what injoyments there shall be between him and the Bride in due time; and we shall come to understand more fully what blessed days, Sun-shine days, days of light and liberty, of joy and comfort, when tears shall be wiped away from the eyes of his poor mourners here on earth, and they shall come to Zion with everlasting joy, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
And so I have done with this Knowledge. Now, the Lord make you wise to consider, and give us hearts to set to it, that we may answer our duty according to the charge in the Text.