Use 1. Is to show us the sad estate —
1. Of men without knowledge : Prov. xix. 2, ' Also that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good.' Fruit that hath but little sun can never be ripe. Men will say we are ignorant, but we hope we have a good heart. You can as well be without the sun in the world, as without knowledge and light in the heart. In all the communications of grace, God beginneth with the understanding ; as strength to bear afflictions: Jer. xxxi. 19, 'After I was instructed, I smote on my thigh, and was ashamed, yea even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth ;' James i. 5, ' If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask it of God.' It is the perfection of the present life, and the foundation of the next. It is the perfection of the present life, the excellency of a man above the beasts ; the more knowledge, the more a man ; and the more ignorant, the more brutish : Ps. xlix. 20, ' Man that is in honour and understandeth not is like the beasts that perish ;' Job XXV. 11, ' Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven.' If a man would glory in anything, it should be in the knowledge of God : Jer. ix. 24, ' Let him that giorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me.'
2. Of those that have only a washy weak knowledge, not a living light and knowledge, that is rooted in their own hearts ; they talk like parrots : like the moon, they are dark themselves, though from others they shine to others ; like vintners that keep wine, not for use, but for sale : the cellar may be better stored, but it is for others : 2 Peter i. 8, ' For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.' It is a disparagement to know Christ and never be the better for him. These are like the nobleman of Samaria, that saw the plenty of Samaria, but could not taste of it. Surely there are not greater atheists in the world than carnal scholars that have a great deal of light, but no grace. It is sad to hear of such a Christ and feel no- thing : John xvii. 17, ' Sanctify them through thy truth ; thy word is
144 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. II T.
truth.' They who are able to iniderstaud the word, hut to no pur- pose, must needs doubt of the truth of it.
Use. 2. To press christians to grow in knowledj]^e, that they may enter upon eternal lil'e by degrees : Hos. vi. 3, ' Follow on to know the Lord.' There is a growth in knowledge as well as grace. It is not so sensible in the very increase and progress as that of grace is ; be- cause growth in grace is always cum bictu, with some strife, but the work upon the understanding is more still and silent. Draw away the curtain, and the light cometh in, and our ignorance vanisheth silently, and without such strife as goeth to the taming of lusts and vile alfections ; yet afterwards it is sensible that we have grown : ' Ye were darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord,' Eph. v. 8 ; as a plant increaseth in length and stature, though we do not see the progress. We read of Jesus Christ that he grew in knowledge ; we do not read that he grew in grace : he received the Spirit without measure, and nothing could be added to the perfection of his innocence. Yet it is said, Luke ii. 40, ' The child grew ; ' and ver. 52, ' Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favour with God and man.' The Godhead made out itself to hira by degrees. Oh ! let us increase. It is notable that Moses his first request to God was ' Tell me thy name ; ' and afterward, ' Show me thy glory,' a more full manifestation of God. We should not always keep to our milk, our infant notions and apprehensions, but go on to a greater increase ; it much advanceth your spiritual life, and will be an advantage to your eternal life. They have the highest visions of God hereafter, that know most of him here upon earth. They are vessels of a larger capacity ; and though all be perfect, yet with a difference.
Now for means and directions, take these : —
1. Wait upon the preaching of the word. God appointed it, and liatli given gifts to the church for this end and purpose. We should quicken one another : Isa. ii. 3, ' Come and let us go up to the house of the Lord, and he will teach us his ways.' God's grace is given in liis own way. When men neglect and despise God's solemn institu- tions, they either grow brutish or fanatical, as we see by daily experi- ence. Light as well as flame is kept in by the breath of preaching. By long attention you grow skilful in the word of righteousness. Men that despise the word may be more full of crotchets and curiosities, but that light is darkness. It is disputed which is the sense of learning, hearing or seeing. By the eye we see things, but must, by reason of innate ignorance, be taught how to judge of them.