Knott, John W., a Presbyterian minister, was born near BlairsviUe, Westmoreland County, Pa., Oct. 7, 1812. He was educated at Jefferson College, Pa., and studied theology at Western and Princeton theological semina- ries. After graduation he preached at Gilgal, Pa., for about a- year, when he removed to Ohio, and was in- stalled over the churches of Leesville and Ontario ; there he continued three years, and then for four years served as pastor of the churches at HayesviUe and Jerome- ville. He was next called to the churches of Keene and Jefferson, where he officiated for seven years. During the remainder of his life, with intervals of relaxation on account of ill health, he preached at Eden, Caroline, W^aynesburg, Nevada, and Sandusky, Ohio, He died at Shelby, Ohio, Sept. 3, 1864. jMr. Knott made mau}^ sac- rifices of personal advancement and comfort to further the cause of religion. He was a man of unbounded faith in the Bible, from which he drew all his theology and philosopliy. The burden of his preaching Avas Je- sus Christ and him crucitied. He believed, " when he had proven his position from the Bible, he had estab- lished it immovably." See AVilson, I'resb. Historical Almanac, 18()5.
Know (properly "'l'^, ytvioaKuj) is a term used in a variety of senses in the Scriptures, It signifies partic- idarly to understand (Ruth iii, 11), to approve of and delight in (Psa. i, 6 ; Rom. \dii, 29), to chcrisli (John x, 27), to experience (Eph. iii, 19). In Job vii, 10 it is used of an inanimate object : '• He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know liim any more." By a euphemism it frequently denotes sexual connection ((ien. iv, 1 ; Matt, i, 25). The other scriptural applica- tions of the word are mostly obvious, as follows: (1,) It. imports to have acquired information respecting a sub- ject. (2.) It implies discernment, judgment, discretion; the power of discrimination. It may be partial ; we see but in part, we know but in part (1 Cor. xiii, 9). (3.)
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It frequently signifies to liave ascertained by experi- ment ((Jen. xxii, 12). (4.) It implies discovery, detec- tion ; by the law is the knowledge of sin (Rom. iii, 20).
Natural knowledge is acquired by the senses, by sight, hearing, feeling, etc. ; by reflection ; by the prop- er use of our reasoning powers ; by natural genius ; dex- terity improved by assiduity and cultivation into great skiU. .So of luisbandry (Isa. xxviii, 30), of art and ele- gance (Exod. XXXV, 31), in the instance of Bczaleel. Spiritual knowledge is the gift of God, but may be im- proved by stud}', consideration, etc. See Knowledge.
Particuku- Phrases. — The priests' lips should keep knowledge (IMal. ii, 7) ; not keep it to themselves, but keep it in store for others; to communicate knowledge is the way to preserve it. Knowledge is spoken of as an emblematical person, as riches, and treasures, as ex- cellency, and as the gift of God (Prov. i, 29; viii, 10, etc.). See Wisdoji. " Knowledge puffeth up, but char- ity editieth" (1 Cor. viii, 1) ; i. e. the knowledge of spec- idative and useless things, which tend only to gratify curiosity and vauitj', which contribute neither to our own salvation nor to our neighbor's, neither to the pub- lic good nor to God's glory ; such knowledge is much more dangerous than profitable. The true science is that of salvation; the best employment of our knowl- edge is in sanctifying ourselves, in glorifying God, and in edifying our neighbor : this is the only sound knowl- edge (Prov. i, 7).
God is the source and fountain of knowledge (1 Sam. ii, 3 ; 2 Chron. i, 10 ; James i, 5). He knows aU things, at all times, and in all places. See Omniscience. Je- sus Christ is possessed of universal knowledge ; knows the heart of man, and whatever appertains to his medi- atorial kingdom (John ii, 2-1, 25; xvi, 30; Col. ii, 3). Men know progressively, and ought to follow on to kno^v the Lord (Hos. vi, 3) ; what we know not now we may know hereafter (John xiii, 7). Holy angels know in a manner much superior to man, and occasionally re- veal part of their knowledge to him. Unholy angels kno^v many things of which man is ignorant. The great discretion of life and of godliness is to discern what is desirable to be known, and what is best un- known ; lest the knowledge of " good lost and evil got," as in the case of our first parents, shoidd prove the lam- entable source of innumerable evils (Gen. ii, 9 ; iii, 7).
Knowledge of God is indispensable, self-knowledge is important, knowledge of others is desirable ; to be too knowing in worldly matters is often accessory to sinful knowledge ; the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ is a mean of escaping the pollutions which are in the world (John xvii, 3). Workers of iniquity have no knowledge, no proper conviction of the divine presence (Psa. xiv, 4). Some men are brutish in their knowl- edge (Jer. Ii, 17); e. g. he who knows that a wooden image is but a shapely-formed stump of a tree, yet wor- ships it ; he boasts of his deity, which, in fact, is an in- stance of his want of discernment, degrading even to brutality (Isa. xlv, 20). Some are wicked in their knowledge, "knowing the depths of Satan, as they speak" (llev. ii, 20). — Calmet. See Gnosticisji.