'' Many in these days are like the Chinese, who use to say, that they only did see with two eyes, all others but with one. [Chinese is spelled Chineses. — G.]
* Socrates in Plato tliroughout. — G.
* This is the pith and power of heavenly knowledge, to appropriate Christ to a man's self. •> Those that have a blemish in their eye think the sky to be ever cloudy ; and nothing
is more common to weak spirits, than to be criticising and contending, &c.
Rom, VIII. 32-84.] heaven on earth. 443
But lest any precious soul should turn this truth into a sword to cut and wound himself, let me desire him to remember, that every believer that hath such knowledge that accompanies salvation, hath. not this applicatory knowledge, that makes so much for the soul's consolation, and that doth accompany some men's salvation, 1 say not all men's sal- vation. If thou findest thy knowledge to be such a knowledge as is before described in the six former particulars, though thou hast not at- tained to this applicatory knowledge, yet hast thou attained to that knowledge that accompanies salvation, and that will, my soul for thine, give thee a possession of salvation. This applicatory knowledge that accompanies salvation is only to be found in such eminent saints that are high in their communion with God, and that have attained some considerable assurance of their interest in God.' Many men's salvation is accompanied with an applicatory knowledge, but all men's salvation is not accompanied with an applicatory knowledge of man's particular interest in Christ, and those blessed favours and benefits that comes by him. Thy soul may be safe, and thy salvation may be sure, though thou hast not attained unto this appropriating knowledge, but thy life cannot be comfortable without this appropriating knowledge ; there- fore, if thou hast it not, labour for it as for life. It is a pearl of price, and if thou findest it, it will make thy soul amends for all thy digging, seeking, working, sweating, weeping, &c.^
(8.) Tlte eighth property. That knowledge that accompanies salva- tion is accompanied and attended with these things :
[1.] The first attenduTit. That knowledge that accompanies salva- tion is attended with holy endeavours, and with Iieavenly desires, thirstings, and pantings after a further knowledge of Godj, after dearer visions of God. Pro v. xv. 14, ' The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge : but the mouth of fools feedeth on fooUshness.' The Hebrew word that is here rendered 'seeketh' \pp2>\, is in pihil, and signifies an earnest and diligent seeking; to seek as an hungry man seeks for meat, or as a covetous man for gold, the more he hath, the more he desires ; or as a condemned man seeks for his pardon, or as the diseased man seeks for his cure. The word in the text is from a root [K'pn] that signifies to seek studiously, laboriously, indus- triously ; to seek by suing, praying, inquiring, and walking up and down, that we may find what we seek : so in that Prov. xviii. 1 5, * The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge' [c^pnn].^ A man that divinely knows, will set his heart and his ear, his inward and outward man, to know more and more. Divine knowledge is marvellous sweet, pleasing, comforting, satisfying, refreshing, strenghening, and supporting; and souls that have found the sweetness and usefulness of it, cannot but look and long, breathe and pant after more and more of it. The new-born babe doth not more naturally and more earnestly long for the breasts, than a soul that hath tasted that the Lord is gracious doth long for further and further tastes of God, 1 Peter il 2, 3. David, under all his knowledge, cries out, ' I ' It is commonly said of knowledge, non hahetinimieum prceter iffnorantiam, that it hath not a greater enemy than ignorance, &c.
" A man doth not attain to health by reading Galen's or Hippocrates's aphorisms, hut by the practical application of them to remove his diseases. You know how to apply it. ' Seeketh as men do for hid treasure.
^^l HEAVEN ON EARTH. [RoM. VIII. 32-34!.
am a stranger in the land, hide not thy commandments from me. Open mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law,' Ps. cxix. 18, 19. Job, under all his knowledge, which was very great, cries out, ' That which I see not, teach thou me : if I have done iniquity, I will do no more,' Job xxxiv. 32.