Last of all. Let us take heed of extenuating sin. The papists tell us of divers sins that are venial. Such are sun-eptitious thoughts, taking of pins, stealing of points, f and the like ; these they call venial. But we must
* That is, = argue, quarrel. — G.
t That is, = laces or latchets, small things. — G.
86 EXPOSITION OF
know (to admit that sin, as a sin, to be venial, is a contradiction, though God do pardon it ; for that is out of his free mercy), these surreptitious stealing motions, that unawares do creep into us, though the Papists do make them of small account, God may punish with his fierce indignation. Moses his anger kept him out of Canaan. Adam his apple cast him out of paradise. Every sin is a breach of the law. The least sin soils us. We must give account of idle words. And the wages of any sin, though never 60 small, is death, llom. vi. 23.
For the excclloicy of the knowiedrje of Christ Jesus.
That is, either all things are loss to me, that hinder me from the know- ledge of Christ Jesus ; or, all things are loss in comparison of Christ Jesus. Wherefore, before ive can know Christ as we ought, ue must know all other things to he loss ; for when we learn to know Christ aright, we then cast those things out of our affections, which would else keep Christ out of our heart. Wherefore it is no wonder that great scholars should be erroneous in many points of religion ; for look to their lives, and we shall see them envious and ambitious ; they maintain idols in their hearts, they account not those things loss which must be loss, or else they must account Christ loss. Secondly, This kiwvledrfe of Christ is an excellent knowledge, better than the Jews', who had all their knowledge sJiadoired out in ceremonies ; but this is unvailed, and therefore Christ said, ' Blessed are the eyes that see those things that you see,' Luke x. 23. And as the estate of the church grows more excellent now than before Christ's coming, and shall be most excellent hereafter in heaven, even so our knowledge doth, and shall grow in its excellent perfection. It is better also than human arts and sciences ; not in regard of the author, for all knowledge is from God ; but,
First, la regard, of the manner of revealing thereof ; for whereas we come to the other by the light of nature and reason, this is inspired into us by the Spirit.
Secondly, In regard of the matter of this knouiedge, which is far beyond the other, for this teaches the natures and person of Christ, God and man in one person, which may swallow up the thoughts of man. ' Great is the mystery of godliness,' 1 Tim. iii. 16. In the next place, it teaches us his offices, that he is a king to rule over us and deliver us ; a priest to make us acceptable to God ; a prophet to teach and instruct us. And thirdly, it teaches us the benefit of his offices ; exercising them in his state of humiliation and exaltation. Fourthl}-, it teaches us to know our duties, to entertain him, rest on him, glory in him only, and that all other things are loss in comparison of him.
Thirdly, This knowledge is better than other knowledge, in the effects it hath, it being a transforming knowledge, 2 Cor iii. 18. It makes glorious, happy, full of comfort, carrying the Spirit with it, which changes us into his similitude, and therefore it is called the ' word of the Spirit.'
Fourthly, In the fourth place, it is better than other knowledge, in regard of the depth of the hnoivledge ; and therefore called ' The manifold wisdom of God,' Eph. iii. 10. That a virgin is a mother ; God is become man : this is far above natural reach ; and therefore Christ may well be called ' Wonderful,' Isa. ix. 6, who being God should be also man, die, rise, and ascend far above all jDower.
Fifthly, This knowledge is a sweet hnoivledge, and therefore excellent. It tells us who were miserable and lost ; it tells us also of redemption, of a kingdom, of a Saviour. ' How sweet are thy testimonies to my mouth,
nilLirPIANS CHAP. Ill, \^R. 8. 87
Ps. cxix. lOB. And if the promises here be so sweet to us, what shall then the accomplishment of them be to us hereafter !
Sixthly, This knowledge, furthermore, is excellent in regard of the con- tinuance thereof. The knowledge of other things dies with the things ; the world must perish, and what use is there then of our skill in the nature thereof? Only this knowledge abideth for ever, working grace, love, heavenly- mindcdncss, and brings us to glory.
In the seventh place, This knowledge of Christ teacheth us to know God aright ; his justice in punishing sin, his wisdom and mercy in reconciling us to him, and in willing that Christ should become man and die for us. Neither could we know these things, but by knowing Christ, who is the engraved image of his father.
Eighth, Furthermore, it teaches us to knoio ourselves, our filthiness, our ignorance, in esteeming triflingly of sins, counting them venial. But great surely must the sore be, that necessarily requires such a salve and such a physician as Christ, and his blood to be shed for the curing thereof.