Page:Excellency of the knowledge of Christ crucified.pdf/20

( 20 ) in contemplating this wiſdom. It is in the ſtudying of Chriſt as in the planting of some new diſcovered country: at firſt men ſit down upon the ſhirts and borders, and there they dwell, till they ſearch farther into the heart of the country. And indeed, my brethren, thoſe who have made the greateſt progreſs in the study and knowledge of Chriſt crucifice; are but yet on the borders of this vaſt continent. For now we ſee as through a glaſs darkly; now we know in part, and we propheſy in part: But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part ſhall be done away. (1 Cor. xiii. 9. 10. 12.)

5. knowledge of Chriſt crucified excels all other knowledge in point of profit and uſefulneſs: for godlineſs is profitable unto all things, having promiſe of the life which now is, and of that which is to come. (1 Tim. iv. 8.)— Arts and ſciences, it muſt be acknowledged, have their uſefulneſs; philoſophy is a valuable thing: but, alasǃ of how little account are they, when compared with the knowledge of Chriſt crucified? What though a man perfectly underſtand the heavenly bodies, in their nature, motion, and influences? yea, what though a man underſtand all the ſecrets of nature, and could unravel her from the ſcycamore to the cedar? If he is ignorant of Jeſus Chriſt, the Sun of righteouſneſs, the bright and morning ſtar, he with all his cargo of knowledge muſt be loſt and ruined for ever.

reaſon and philoſophy cannot give a ſatisfying anſwer to the weighty caſe of conſcience proposed by the Jaylor; "Sirs, what muſt I do to be ſaved?"—All the wiſdom of Egypt and Athens falls ſhort here, and leaves the inquiſitive mind fluctuating in painful uncertainty. But the Apoſtle, in very few words, fully anſwers the caſe: "Believe in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and thou ſhalt be ſaved. This anſwer, as one obſerves, is ſo old, that with many it seems out of date: but it is ſtill, and will ever be, new, and freſh, and ſavoury, and the only reſolution of this grand caſe of conſcience, as long as conſcience and the world laſts. Let this then commend the knowledge of Chriſt unto us, that it directs us in matters of the laſt conſequence and moment, viz. how we ſhall obtain the favour and friendſhip of God, and how we ſhould ſteer our courſe for a bleſſed and happy eternity. In fine, this knowledge is profitable unto all things:—it is profitable for proſperity, and for adverſity:—for ſickneſs, and for health:—for life, and for death;—for time, and for eternity.