1. How do Christians obtain this knowledge? [The text informs us : It is not from human teaching, or
the power of reason, that this light springs up in the soul : it is Christ who " gives us an understanding to know him :" He, who opened the heart of Lydia*^, and the understandings of his own Apostles", enlightens the minds of Believers at this day, and " reveals unto babes and sucklings the things that are hid from the wise and prudent ''." If then iie would obtain this knowledge, let us not lean to our own understand- ing, but pray to him to open our eyes, and to " guide us into all truth " ]
2. What benefit do they derive from it ?
[A merely speculative knowledge of Christianity expands the mind, and leads it to high and heavenly contemplations. But no tongue can utter the benefits arising from an experi- mental acquaintance with Christ: What just views does it
give
" Rom. iii.25, 20. 1 John. i. p. * Col.ii. 1().
y John XV. 1. » lb. ver. 5. " Gal. ii. 20.
*• Col. iii. 4. "^ 1 Cor. vi, 17. ** 1 John v. 10.
• 1 John iii. 21 . ' Acts xvi. 14. » Luke x.\iv. 45.
'' Matt. xi. 25.
1195.'] A minister's chief joy. • 293
give us of every tiling in the w^orld ! What peace does it bring into the conscience ! How does it disarm death of its sting ! And what bright prospects does it open to us in the eternal world ! O let a desire after the full blessings of sal- vation animate us in our inquiries after truth ! Let us seek to have more enlarged views of Christ, and of our interest in him ; and thus shall we be prepared for that complete vision of his glory, in compai'ison of which our present knowledge is but as a taper before the sun.]