Use 2. To press you to grow in knowledge. None have such con- fidence and rejoicing in God as those that have a clear sight and understanding of his will revealed in his word. Let your knowledge — (1.) Be more comprehensive. At first our thoughts run in a narrow channel. There are certain general truths absolutely necessary to salvation, as concerning our misery by sin, and the sufficiency of Christ to help us ; but if Ave might rest in these, why hath God given us so copious a rule ? The general sort of Christians content themselves to bce Avith others' eyes, get the knowledge of a few truths, and look no further. Why, then, hath God giA'en so large a rule ? Fundamentals are fcAv ; believe them, live Avell, and you shall be saved. This is the reli"'ion of most. This is as if a man in building should only be careful to lay a good foundation, no matter for roof, windows, Avails. If a
2G0 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [Ser. XXYIII.
man should nntile your house, and tell you the foundation standeth, the main buttresses are safe, j'ou would not like of it. A man is bound, according to his capacity and opportunity, to know all scripture, the consequences of every truth. God may and doth accept of our imper- fect knowledf::e, but not when men are negligent and do not use the means. To be willingly ignorant of the lesser ways of God is a sin. We should labour to know all that God hath revealed. (2.) More distinct. Why? Truths are best known in their frame and depend- ence ; as God's works of creation, when viewed singly and apart, every day's work was good, but when viewed altogether in their correspond- ence and mutual proportion to each other, were very good, Gen. i. 31. So all truths of God, take them singly, are good ; but when you have them in their frame, and see how one suits with the other, and what a sweet harmony there is between all the parts of religion, then they are very good. (3.) More experimental, that you may taste the sweetness and power of the truths that you know : Phil, iii. 10, ' That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.' When we feel what we know, that is a mighty confirmation. The senses give the best demonstration. It is a disparagement to know Christ and be never the better for him ; to have a knowledge of all the excellency of Christ, and how suitable he is to the soul ; yet to feel nothing of comfort and quickening in our consciences. (4.) More practical : 1 John ii. 8, 4, ' And 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 liar, and the truth is not in him.' Otherwise it is but a talking by rote, a man savingly knoweth no more than he practiseth. He that doth but speak after others, it is a rehearsal rather than a knowledge. AVhat is practical light ? It is directive and per- suasive. (1st.) It is directive. A man grows more prudent, and more able to guide his course according to the rules of religion ; faith is op- posed not only to ignorance but to folly : ' 0 ye fools, and slow of heart to believe.' A man may be a knowing man, yet a very fool in spirituals, if he hath not a knowledge how to guide him to trust in God, fear God, love God, and serve God, Hosea xiv, 7. (2d.) That is practical knowledge when it is jiersuasive, when it hath a lively force and efficacy upon the heart.
Second point. Those whom God maketh to understand the way of his precepts see wondrous things therein.
Ps. cxix. 18. ' Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.' Wonders are such things as do transcend our capacity ; so all things about God are above the sphere of men, as the things of men are above the capacity of beasts. Now, the more under- standing and insight we have in these things the more we wonder. Wonder usually is the fruit of ignorance ; how then can knowledge breed wonder ? The word discovers the 6ti, that it is so ; but the manner how it is, and the wisdom of the contrivance, is that which begets reverence and admiration in a gracious soul ; as Nazianzen saith of the eternal generation of Christ, Let the eternal generation of God be adored in silence. It is a marvellous thing to know that there are three in one, the Son from eternity, begotten before all the world,
VeR. 27.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 261
&c. So wlien we look into these things, our knowledge doth only show that they are ; but what they are, and how great they are, that exceeds our capacity, and therefore we wonder.
1. The doctrines of the scripture are wonderful concerning God and his works. The nature of God is a depth which we cannot fathom, no more than a nutshell can empty the ocean : Ps. cxxxix. 6, ' Such knowledge is too wonderful for me : it is high, I cannot attain unto it.' It is above our capacity ; for a finite thing cannot comprehend an infinite.