I know this doctrine of our _original sin_, or fall in _Adam_, is esteemed foolishness by the wise disputer of this world, who will reply, How does it suit the goodness of GOD, to impute one man’s sin to an innocent posterity? But has it not been proved to a demonstration, that it is so? And therefore, supposing we cannot reconcile it to our shallow comprehensions, that is no argument at all: for if it appears that GOD has done a thing, we may be sure it is right, whether we can see the reasons for it or not.
But this is entirely cleared up by what was said before, that no sooner was the sin imputed, but a CHRIST was revealed; and this CHRIST, this GOD incarnate, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, that he might be freed from the guilt of our original sin; who was born of the Virgin _Mary_, that he might be the seed of the woman only; who suffered under _Pontius Pilate_, a _Gentile_ governor, to fulfil these prophecies, which signified what death he should die: This same JESUS, who was crucified in weakness, but raised in power, is that divine person, that _Emmanuel_, that GOD with us, whom we preach, in whom ye believe, and whom alone the Apostle, in the text, was determined to know.
By which word _know_, we are not to understand a bare historical knowledge; for to know that CHRIST was crucified by his enemies at _Jerusalem_, in this manner only, will do us no more service, than to know that _Cæsar_ was butchered by his friends at _Rome_; but the word _know_, means to know, so as to approve of him; as when CHRIST says, “Verily, I know you not;” I know you not, so as to approve of you. It signifies to know him, so as to embrace him in all his offices; to take him to be our prophet, priest, and king; so as to give up ourselves wholly to be instructed, saved, and governed by him. It implies an experimental knowledge of his crucifixion, so as to feel the power of it, and to be crucified unto the world, as the Apostle explains himself in the epistle to the _Philippians_, where he says, “I count all things but dung and dross, that I might know him, and the power of his resurrection.”
This knowledge the Apostle was so swallowed up in, that he was determined not to know any thing else; he was resolved to make that his only study, the governing principle of his life, the point and end in which all his thoughts, words, and actions, should center.
_Secondly_, I pass on to give some reasons why every christian should, with the Apostle, determine “not to know any thing, save JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified.”
_First_, Without this, our persons will not be accepted in the sight of GOD. “This (and consequently this only) is life eternal, to know thee, the only true GOD, and JESUS CHRIST, whom thou hast sent.” As also St. _Peter_ says, “There is now no other name given under heaven, whereby we can be saved, but that of JESUS CHRIST.”
Some, indeed, may please themselves in knowing the world, others boast themselves in the knowledge of a multitude of languages; but could we speak with the tongue of men and angels, or did we know the number of the stars, and could call them all by their names, yet, without this experimental knowledge of JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified, it would profit us nothing.
The former, indeed, may procure us a little honour, which cometh of man; but the latter only can render us acceptable in the sight of GOD: for, if we are ignorant of CHRIST, GOD will be to us a consuming fire.
CHRIST is the way, the truth, and the life; “No one cometh to the Father, but through him;” “He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world;” and none ever were, or ever will be received up into glory, but by an experimental application of his merits to their hearts.
We might as well think to rebuild the tower of _Babel_, or reach heaven with our hands, as to imagine we could enter therein by any other door, than that of the knowledge of JESUS CHRIST. Other knowledge may make you wise in your own eyes, and puff you up; but this alone edifieth, and maketh wise unto salvation.
As the meanest christian, if he knows but this, though he know nothing else, will be accepted; so the greatest master in _Israel_, the most letter-learned teacher, without this, will be rejected. His philosophy is mere nonsense, his wisdom mere foolishness in the sight of GOD.