Ninth, In the next place, this knoioledge is altogether sufficient in itself without all other knowledge ; and none without this to make a man wise to salvation, both of soul and body ; and all men without this are but fools.
Use 1. For use hereof. Tliis improies tlie shallmo conceit men have of divinity ; that the knowledge is but shallow ; that every man may know it, and that any man may soon have enough thereof. But, alas ! St Paul had a large heart, and had more insight into the deep mysteries of this know- ledge than such, however they boast ; and yet he desires more, and could not pierce the depth thereof ; for none ever could do it but Christ Jesus only. Nay, the very angels they desire to pry and look into, and to know more of these deep mysteries, 1 Peter i. 12. It is therefore no shallow knowledge.
Use 2. In the second place, This ought to 'put us in mind to ptit apart times, to meditate of tlic excellency of this knoivledge ; and to this end we are to empty ourselves of whatsoever fills us. Especially, we are to empty us of sin, and of care for the world and the vanities thereof, and the knowledge of them ; because both it and they shall all perish ; make no excuses of ven- turing displeasure, or suffering discommodity; true love pretends no delays, nor will endure them. ' Behold, Lord, half of my goods I do give to the poor, and I do restore to every man his own,' said Zaccheus, Luke xix. 8.
Use 3. In the next place. We must call upon God to open our eyes, that we may see and know his nature, his offices, his benefits, and our duties ; to know more distinctly, eliectually, and settledly ; to see the wonders of his law ; that we may be even ravished, when we behold his fulness.
Use 4. "VVe, in the fourth place, are to fretpient -places where we shall have a fuller knowledge of Christ ; such places where the commerce is between Christ and the church. In Cant. v. 1, Christ had more love to his church, and wooed her by his gracious promises. She, in the second to the eighth verse, being drowsy, pretends excuses. Hereupon Christ goes away, but leaves a gracious scent of his quickening Spirit, enough to stir her up to seek after her well-beloved that was gone, who, asking after her well-beloved, those whom she inquired of, inquired of her who he was ? and upon her descrip- tion of him, are enamoured with him, and stirred up to seek him also (where by the way mark the benefit of conference). Cant. vi. 1, and are told that he is gone into his garden to the beds of spices ; that is, into the congregation and assembly of his saints. If we will know Christ therefore, we must go into these gardens, where he is ever present, and there will he teach us.'* * Cf. on the passage in Vol. II., in ' Bowels Opened.' — G.
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Use 6. And then shall we be stirred up to vtafpilfi/ God's r/ooduess and mercy, tli at hath reserved us to these times of knoidedijc, and this marvellous light, wherein we are more blessed than John, who was the greatest of those born of women. Wc see more than he saw, Christ our Saviour, already ascended to be our eternal high priest.
My Lord. ' This is the end of all our knowledge, to know Christ to be our Lord, for else the devils knew Christ. ' Paul I know, and Christ I know,' said he to those conjurors, but he could not know Christ to be his Lord. ' My Lord.' Not only for his''title that he hath in me, but ' my Lord,' for the title I have in him. ' My beloved is mine, and I am his,' Cant. ii. 16. Mine he is, for he made himself mine, by redeeming me and paying the price for me. My head, from whom I receive force and vigour ; my husband, my head of eminency, Brie%, ' my Lord,' making me his and stirring up in me a love and desire to make him mine, and to rest upon him by faith. /?i the covenant of grace therefore, there is a midual consent between God and us. He is ours ; we are his by faith to trust on him, and by love to embrace him, which stirs up the whole man to obedience. We may not think that this proceeded from a spiritual pride in the apostle, as though he thought himself the only darling of Christ. No. They are the words of a parti- cular faith and love in the apostle ; not excluding others from the like ; for every Christian must labour for this faith, that we may know Christ to be our Jesus, our Saviour, which we shall be assured of; for if he makes us his, he will make us to love him, and to say from our hearts, ' my Lord,' and my head. His love of us is the cause of our love to him. We love him because he loved us first. His knowledge is the cause of ours ; he chose us, and therefore we choose him ; and if he loved me when I hated him, surel}^ now I love him, he must needs love me. Again, we shall know that we are Christ's ; for then there will be a likeness of Christ wrought in our hearts. For that Spirit that stirs us up to own Christ, doth ever work the image of Christ in our souls ; as a seal it imprints on our soul the image of Christ, in all graces, of love, meekness, heavenly-mindedness, and good- ness. If we be the spouse of Christ, we shall represent and shew forth his glory, ' for the woman is the glory of the man,' 1 Cor. xi. 7. Else M'hat- e'er we boast, we are therein but hypocrites. We must forsake all in regard of Christ.