§ 10. Knowledge of itself is very desirable. As far as the rational soul exceeds the sensitive, so far the delights of a philosopher, in discovering the secrets of nature, and knowing the mystery of sciences, exceed the delights of the glutton, the drunkard, the unclean, and of all the voluptuous sensualists whatsoever. So excellent is all truth. What then is their delight who know the God of truth? How noble a faculty of the soul is the understanding? It can compass the earth; it can measure the sun, moon, stars, and heaven; it can foreknow each eclipse to a minute, many years before. But this is the top of all its excellency, that it can know God, who is infinite, who made all these; a little here, and more, much more hereafter. O the wisdom and goodness of our blessed Lord! He hath created the understanding with a natural bias and inclination to truth; as its object; and to the prime truth, as its prime object. Christian, when, after long gazing heaven-ward, thou hast got a glimpse of Christ, dost thou not sometimes seem to have been with Paul in _the third heaven, whether in the body, or out_, and to have seen what is _unutterable_?[31] Art thou not, with Peter, ready to say, "_Master, it is good to be here_"?[32] Oh that I might dwell in this mount! O that I might ever see what I now see! Didst thou never look so long upon the Sun of Righteousness, till thine eyes were dazzled with his astonishing glory? And did not the splendor of it make all things below seem black and dark to thee? Especially in thy day of suffering for Christ, when he usually appears most manifestly to his people, didst thou never _see_ one _walking in the midst of the fiery furnace_ with thee _like the Son of God_?[33] Believe me, Christians, yea, believe God; you that have known most of God in Christ here, it is as nothing to what you shall know; it scarce, in comparison of that, deserves to be called knowledge. For as these bodies, so that knowledge must cease, that a more perfect may succeed. _Knowledge shall vanish away. For we know in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known._[34] Marvel not therefore, Christians, how it can be _life eternal, to know God and Jesus Christ_.[35] To enjoy God and Christ, is eternal life; and the soul's enjoying is in knowing. They that savor only of earth, and consult only with flesh, think it a poor happiness to know God. But _we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness; and we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true; and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life._[36]
[Footnote 31] 2 Corinthians xii, 2-4.
[Footnote 32] Mark ix, 5.
[Footnote 33] Daniel iii, 25.
[Footnote 34] Corinthians xiii, 8-12.
[Footnote 35] John xvii, 3.
[Footnote 36] 1 John v, 19, 20.