What know they of his truth ? They read many threaten- ings in his word ; but they do not believe that he will execute them11.]
3. Of Christ—
[They confess perhaps his Godhead, and acknowledge him as a Saviour. But what know they of him as he is in himself? Do they discern his beauty, his excellency, his glory ? Is He in their eyes " chiefest among ten thousand, and altogether lovely ' ? "
What know they of him as he is to us? Do they comprehend any thing of the breadth and length, the depth and height of his unsearchable love k ? Have they any adequate idea of his tender sympathy and compassion ! ? Have they been filled with an admiration of his fulness, his suitableness, his sufficiency m ?
If more were necessary to confirm this melancholy truth, we would appeal to God's own assertion respecting us, that our stupidity and ignorance are more than brutish".]
Lest such ignorance should be thought venial, we proceed to notice,
II. The fatal consequences of it —
Doubtless the degrees of criminality attached to ignorance must vary according to the opportunities which men have enjoyed of obtaining knowledge. But in all men who have the light of the Gospel set before them, a lack of spiritual knowledge,
1. Tends to their destruction —
[Every sin is destructive, but more especially impenitence and unbelief. And what is the occasion of these ? Must they not be traced to ignorance as their true and proper source ? If men knew what ignorant, guilty, depraved, and helpless creatures they are, could they refrain from sorrow and contri- tion ? If they knew what a holy, just, and immutable
God they have to do with, could they do otherwise than trem- ble before him I If they knew what a merciful, loving,
and adorable Saviour there is, whose bowels are yearning over them, who is ever following them with invitations and en- treaties, and who longs for nothing so much as to save their souls, could they turn their backs upon him? Could they help crying to him for mercy, and desiring an interest in his
h Lukexvi. 17. i Cant. v. 10, 16. k Eph. iii. 18, 19.
i Heb. ii. 18. and iv. 15. m 1 Cor. i. 30.
n Isai. i. 2, 3.