not give us mature spiritual blessings, but rather supplies us with the means of acquir- ing them. When we can do anything to secure the answer to onr prayers, God gives the answer by blessing our own efforts, and, apart from the effort, the answer does not come. He will not give spiritual enrichment to spiritual inaction. In answer to our prayers for grace and peace to be multiplied, God shows us how we may have it. 1. The means of spiritual increase is the knowledge of himself. Scripture invariably makes spiritual good to rest on the knowledge of God. For instance: Security-" 'l'bey have escaped the corruptions of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." Peace-" Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace." Strenath 0 -"The people that do know their God shall be strong." Obedience-" Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." Love-" He that loveth not k.noweth not God, for God is Love.n Our Lord Jesus Christ sums it up in one sentence, "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." But there is a difference between knowing about God, and knowing God, and the difference is vital; the one knowledge is fruitful, the other barren. There is a natural connection between the increase of knowledge and the increase of grace. 2. Knowledge quickens desire. We cannot know God with- out longing to possess more of him and of what he bas to give; and that lon2;ing means prayer for more, which will be answered, and effort for more, which will be successful. 3. Knowledge increases faith. Faith being the hand by which we appropriate and so possess. Why do we not take God as our own, with a confidence nothing can shake? To a great extent because we do not know him-how real he is, how vast his love, how in6nitely trustworthy his nature. If we only knew more of him, we should hold him in the embrace of a strong, restful assurance. 4. Knowledge tends to participation. Personal acquaintance with God must have incalculable results. Vie should have a new power constraining us to righteousness. The grace and peace of his own nature would reflect themselves in us. III. THIS INCREASE OF KNOWLEDGE SHOULD DE THE BELIEVER'S AIM. The dif- ference in spiritual stature comes from different degrees of spiritual knowledge: then how can we know God better? 1. Greater knowledge is granted as the result of obedience. Unless God reveal himself, we cannot know him; and he reveals himself to him who lives in his fear. Sin blinds and deafens us; to do wrong is to put our- selves further from the knowledge of God; to do right is to thin the veil that hides him from us. If you would know him, obey him. 2. Greater knowledge is granted as the fruit of study and fellowship. It is only in face-to-face communion wit!:i God, such as is possible through the teaching of his Word, that we can really know him; therein he speaks to us, and in prayer we speak to him. 3. Greater knowledge is granted as the end of Divine discipline. 'l'hat we may know him is the object of many of our sorrows. Sickness is often God shutting the busy soul up to himself. Trouble is often God showing us how tender a. Father he is. Darkness is often God compelling us to lookup- ,. Darkness revealing worlds of light We never saw by day." Presently the need of discipline will be ended, and from knowing God in part, we shall enter into his presence.-C. N.
Ver. 4.-The sanctifying power of the promisea. The text is II continuation of the two previous verses; indeed, from the second verse to the eleventh is one paragraph. God has given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, whereby grace and peace may be multiplied to us, and we may be made partakers of the Divine nature, and have an abundant entrance ministered unto us into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord antl, Saviour Jesus Christ. I. THE GREATNESS AND PRECIOUSNESS OF THE WoRD OF PROMISE. Three facts, determine the worth of promises-the value of the thing promised; the character of the promiser; and the conditions attached to it. And when we apply these to Scripture, aud find that its assurances are of wonderful blessing, given by One who cannot fail, and that they require on our pa.rt only what the feeblest can fulfil, we understand well whJi the apostle calls them" exceeding great and precious promises." 1, The gift promised,; 28 THE SECOND EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. [an. 1, 1-21.