[Think not that a merely speculative knowledge, how- ever extensive it be, will suffice. To know God aright, you must know him, as reconciled to us in Christ Jesus ; and must so know him, as to renounce every other hope, and to rely altogether on Christ alone. Then only do we know hhn arioht, when we " cleave unto Christ with full purpose of heart."]
2. Your practice — [It is to little purpose that we hear and approve of the word, " unless we be doers of it also*:" nor can we have any satisfactory evidence that we know God, except by obeying his commandments". See, then, that with your profession there be also a holy consistency of conduct: and take care to " shew forth your faith by your works."]
t Jam. i. 22—25. " 1 John ii. 3.
Tit. ii. 6. Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded.
THE first object of a Christian minister is, to pro- claim the Gospel of salvation, in all its freeness and in all its fulness. This is the foundation of a sinner's hope : and unless this foundation be firmly laid, it will be in vain to attempt any superstructure ; since from the Gospel alone, and from Christ as revealed in it, can we obtain that strength which is necessary for the production of any good work whatever. But, when we have made known *' the truth as it is in Jesus," we must go on to inculcate holiness in all its branches ; and not in general terms only, but with a special reference to every particular person whom we may have occasion to address. Titus, though but a youth, was enjoined to officiate with all the authority of a divinely-appointed minister ; and to address with equal fidelity the aged and the young, on the subject of their respective duties : " Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine :" ex- hort alike " the aged men, and aged women," " the young women also, and the young men," giving to each the instruction suited to his own peculiar state