to the knowledge of himself, is here spoken of as a great favour of God; and confequently their ftate was very deplorable, while they were without the knowledge of him.-Here two propofitions PROP. I. Some there be that know not Jefus Christ. This is indeed the cafe of multitudes of men, even of moft men in the world. The knowledge of Chrift, is a rare thing in the earth.-This propofition may be illustrated, under a diftribution of men into two forts, viz. fuch as enjoy not the Gospel, and fuch as do enjoy it. 1. Such as enjoy not the gospel, know not Jefus Christ. They have no knowledge of him at all, but are wholly ignorant of him. The light of nature gives not to them the least discoveries of Jefus Chrift. It is indeed fufficient to demonftrate to them the being of God. Their reafon exercised in the contemplation of the works of creation and providence, may clearly convince and fatisfy them, that there is a God. But they cannot, in this way, attain to the knowledge of Jefus Chrift, the faviour. For Jefus Chrift is known only by immediate divine revelation. And this revelation of him, is made only in the gospel. Those therefore to whom the gospel is bid, from them Jefus Chrift is hid. They never heard of him by the gospel, and fo can have no knowledge of him in any ordinary way. What revelations God may make of Chrift, to any of the heathen world, in an extraordinary way of fovereignty, we cannot fay but being deftitute of the gospel revelation, the body of thern, must needs be covered with darkness, and utter ftrangers to Jefus Chrift. Of fuch heathenifh nations as these, the text before us especially fpeaks, as being fuch who knew not Jefus Chrift.-But however, 2. Many that do enjoy the gospel, yet know not Jefus Chrift. Though they have advantages for coming to the knowledge of him, yet they remain ignorant of him. Job. i. 1o. He was in the world, and the world knew him not. Here more particularly, 1. Many 1. Many that do enjoy the gospel, have no true doctrinal knowledge of Jefus Chrift. A true doctrinal knowledge of Chrift, is a right apprehenfion or underftanding of the great doctrines or truths concerning Christ. Now, many of those that live in the chriftian world, and profess themselves to be chriftians, are deftitute of fuch a notional knowledge of Chrift, or fpeculative acquaintance with the truths of the gofpel.-Some remain grofly ignorant of Chrift in this refpect. Though they enjoy the means of knowing Chrift, yet they know little or nothing of him; and contentedly abide in fuch ignorance of him. This proceeds fometimes from curfed floth and negligence they care not to take pains to come to the knowledge of Chrift. Sometimes it proceeds from immoderate pursuit of the world: they are fo taken up with worldly concerns, as that they have no heart, nor leisure, to feek after the knowledge of Chrift, and fo remain fhamefully ignorant of him.-Again, fome there are who fundamentally err in their notions concerning Chrift. Such as deny his fupream eternal Godhead, his real humanity, his glorious offices; thefe do not know Chrift aright. They are ignorant of the true Chrift; and form a Chrift to themselves, out of their own imaginations. 2. Many that do enjoy the gofpel, have no fpiritual knowledge of Chrift. Though there be many that have a right notional knowledge of Chrift, yet there are but few comparatively, that have a Spiritual and faving knowledge of him. Here, 1. Many that do enjoy the gofpel, have not a fiducial knowledge of Chrift.-Jefus Chrift is the only, and the all fufficient faviour. A. iv. 12. Neither is there falvation in any other. For there is no other name under beaven, given among men, whereby we must be faved. And this alone Saviour is able to fave to the uttermoft. Heb. vii. 25. He therefore is to be made the fole object of our trust for salvation; and indeed all that have a fpiritual difcerning of his all fufficiency to fave, will place their whole confidence in him for falvation. Their knowledge of of him in the all-fulness of his faving power, will draw forth the affiance of their fouls in him. Pfal. ix. 10. They that know thy name, will put their trust in thee. Thus it was with the apostle Paul, 2 Tim. i. 12. I know whom I have believed, and I am perfwaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against (or, unto) that day. But now, many there are under the gofpel, who have not fuch a fiducial knowledge of Chrift; or, whofe knowledge of Chrift does not produce faith in Chrift. Though they have a common illumination in the knowledge of Chrift, yet they do not believe in bim to the faving of the foul, but do many times fall away and apoftatize, even unto perdition. See Heb. vi. 4, 6. and x. 38, 39. So, 2 Pet. ii. 20. If after they have efcaped the pollution of the world, through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 2. Many that do enjoy the gospel, have not an affectionate knowledge of Chrift.-Jefus Chrift is the most amiable object, in all heaven or earth. He is altogether lovely. (Cant. v. 16.) Above all perfons or things, moft worthy to be loved. And all those that have a spiritual difcerning of his incomparable beauty, glory and excellency, do find their hearts going out to him in deareft love. When the spouse had taken a view of Chrift in his most lovely perfections, the breaks forth into a kind of tranfport, and fays, This is my beloved, Cant. v. 16.— But now, many that live under the gofpel, do not fo know Chrift, as to love him: the people of the Jews, that were favoured with the perfonal prefence and preaching of Jefus Chrift, and that faw his mighty and miraculous works, yet, for the most part, did not fo know him, as to love him; but on the contrary, they bated him. Job. xv. 22, 24. If I had not come, and spoken to them; if I had not done among them the works which no other man did, they had not bad fin: but now have they both feen, and hated, both me and my Father. And thus it is unte unto this day, moft of those that hear of Chrift, that are inftructed in the literal knowledge of him, yet fee no beauty in him, for which they should defire him above all things. Their knowledge of him does not beget fuperlative affection for him; but leaves them under the power of enmity against Christ, and estrangement from him; not caring for communion with him, in prayer, and other ordinances, not delighting in the truth as it is in Jesus ; not delighting in the law of Chrift after the inward man. 3. They have not a practical knowledge of Chrift.They do not fo know him, as to be obedient to him. Jefus Chrift is the fupream Lord, and fo moft worthy to be ferved and obeyed: and all that have a spiritual discerning of his infinite excellency and fovereign authority, do fubject themselves to his dominion. Their knowledge of him, does powerfully influence them unto univerfal obedience to his commandments. 1 Job. ii, 3, 4. Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that faith, I know him, and keepeth not bis commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. Saving knowledge of Chrift makes a man to abstain from evil, and exercise himfelf in that which is good. But now, that knowledge which many perfons have of Christ, is an idle and ineffectual 'knowledge, not working in a way of obedience to him. Though they profefs to know him, yet in works they deny him, being abominable, difobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. Though they know, and acknowledge, the Lordship of Jefus Chrift, yet they do not conform to his will. Luk. vi. 46. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Notwithstanding that form of knowledge which they have attained, there is a fecret and predominant enmity against Chrift, remaining in their hearts; fo as that they will not have him to reign over them. How little is it the care and study of chriftians, to please Chrift by doing his holy will? Though they know his will, yet they do it not. Nay, they walk in a contrariety thereunto, croffing his holy will in the courfe of their converfation in this world, by by unrighteousness, intemperance, and ungodliness. In a practical sense, it may be faid of fuch, They know not God, and obey not the gospel of Chrift.-2 Theff. i. 8. So much for the first propofition, fhewing that fome there be who know not Jefus Chrift. PROP. 2. Their condition is very miferable, who know not Jefus Chrift. Their cafe will appear very deplorable, if we confider them under the foregoing divifion of them into heathens and chriftians. : 1. The condition of Heathens and Infidels, that know not Christ, is very miferable. The miserable state they are in, is very fully fet forth by the apostle Paul, in Eph. iii. 12. At that time ye were without Chrift-in thẻ world, i. e. without intereft in Chrift or knowledge of Christ and then it follows,--ye were without the covenants of promife, having no bope. In their ftate of beathenifm, when they were ignorant of Chrift, they were without the covenant of grace, and without hope. The covenant of grace was not revealed to them, and fo they had no offers of grace made to them, nor means of grace vouchfafed to them: and they were, while fo abiding, without hope; in an hopeless condition. They had no hope of reconciliation to God for they had no knowledge of the only peace maker, Jesus Christ, nor had they ány knowledge of the way of peace. Rom. iii. 17.-Again, they had no hope of falvation: for they knew not the only faviour Jefus Chrift, nor the way to obtain falvation by him. They fat in darkness and in the fhadow of death. Luk. i. 79. Such then as live in the darkness of heathenism, deftitute of all knowledge of Jefus Chrift, are in a perishing, and fo very miferable, condition. Prov. xxix. 18. Where there is no vifion, the people perish. 2 Cor. iv. 3. If our gofpel be bid, it is bid to them that are loft. The apostle feems here to speak of those to whom the gospel was preached, yet hid from them as to the faving knowledge and efficacy of it and if it be thus finally hid from them, they are finally loft. How much more muft they |