VeR. 25.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 121
else but an artificial speculation, a naked model of truth in the brain, which, as the winter sun, shines but warms not. But what is true knowledge ? How shall we discover it ? I answer — 1. It must be a serious prudent knowledge, &c. [See on ver. 8.]
I now come to speak to the illustration of this qualification of saving knowledge. It is illustrated —
1. By its opposite, the affected and obstinate ignorance of the world, ' The world hath not known thee.'
2. By its efficient and exemplary cause, ' But I have known thee.' • The first illustration is from the opposite ignorance and obstinacy
of the world, ' The world hath not known thee.'
Why is this alleged ? I answer — Partly to show the reason why they should be otherwise dealt withal than the blind world. As if he had said. By thy righteous and wise constitution, thou hast appointed different recompenses to men of different states ; but now ' they have known thee,' but ' the world hath not known thee.' Partly to com- mend their acknowledgment of Christ, the world neither knowing nor believing, yea, rather hating and persecuting thee. In the original there is kul, iJiougJi ; so that, neither hindered by fears nor snares, the rulers and great men were against the acknowledging of Christ, the multitude blind and obstinate ; yet the disciples knew him, and owned him as the Messiah, or one sent of God.
Observe, first, that it is exceeding praiseworthy to own Christ when others disown him and reject him, to own him in the midst of the world's blindness and madness against him. Now he is publicly received among the nations, it is no great matter to own him now ; as those that followed Christ in his lifetime for the loaves, John vi. 26, when honours, and conveniences, and interests, look that way. But to own him then, when the powers of the world, the heads and rulers of the church are against him, when the stone is refused by the builders, this is praiseworthy.
Now the reasons are two. It is a sign God hath a great love to them, and it is a sign of their great love to God ; of his choice, and their sincerity. There are two things hinder us from the sight of truth — prejudices and interests. Now it is a sign of the special direc- tion of God's Spirit when we can overlook prejudices; and it is a sign of our unfeigned zeal when we can deny interests.
1. It is an argument of God's love to us. This looketb like elec- tion : Mat. xxiv. 24, ' If it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.' There are some favourites whom God taketh into his special care, that he may show them his counsel, and lead them into all truth. In times when error is so countenanced, and appeareth with a plausible face, it is a matter of great skill to find out the truth. There are some choice ones to whom God manifests himself, when others are left to' perish in their own ways. So it is said, Ps. xxv. 14, ' The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him.' By the secret of the Lord is not meant the counsels of his providence ; they are revealed but to a few, to the prophets ; this is a promise common to all that fear him ; therefore by it is intended the counsels of the word ; those that are his favourites, that lie in his bosom, they shall know his secrets ; as the disciples, when they would know anything of Christ, pointed to
122 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [Ser. XLIII.
the disciple whom Jesus loved: John xiii. 23, 24, 'Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of the disciples whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.'
2. It is an argument of our sincerity, to own God in times of public contest, when it is dangerous to own him. There are some times when God crieth, ' Who is on my side ? ' Exod. xxxii. 26, when he calleth upon us to manifest ourselves, and providence calleth for a public acknowledgment. Errors by God's permission are sent into the world to try us. The Lord trieth you to see if you will be led by every fancy, and swim with the stream. Many times the delusion is very strong, that our trial may be the greater ; so 1 Cor. xi. 19, ' There must be heresies, that, Sokl/jloI, they which are approved may be made manifest among you.' Winds are let loose to try who are chaff, who are solid grain ; especially an error backed with power, as when a tree is shaken, rotten apples fall down; such times discover hypocrites: Prov. xxvi. 26, ' Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be showed before the whole congregation.' But now it is a great argument of sincerity to own the truth, when the error is so plausible, and the in- convenience is great : 1 Kings xix. 10, ' I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts : because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword ; and I, even I only, am left ; and they seek my life to take it away.' When we are left alone to contest, that is a great trial.