And to this seeking of God and his favour in Christ, there are divers things required; first, that we labour daily more and more perfectly to know him, not so much what he is in his own nature, essence, and attributes, as what he is in Christ unto us, that is, infinitely wise to govern us, and all-sufficient by his Word and Spirit to make us wise unto salvation; that he is omnipotent to defend us, and give us victory over all our enemies; that he is immutable, not only in his own nature, but in his love, goodness, and gifts unto us; that he is true to perform unto us his gracious promises, and merciful to forgive us our sins, and save our souls; that Christ is an all-sufficient and perfect Redeemer, to deliver us out of the hands of all our spiritual enemies, and to bring unto us full redemption; that the Spirit is not only holy in his own nature, but also to work in us sanctification and holiness. In all which, and all other respects, we are not so much to labour to know these things in speculation, as in practice and experience, nor to apprehend them in the brain, as to feel them in our hearts, nor to conceive of their excellency and sufficiency as causes, but experimentally to feel and find their efficacy, in producing their effects, and bringing forth their fruits in us. And this is that excellent knowledge which the Apostle so much and continually laboured to 1attain unto, as a thing which being of most excellent use, was also of great difficulty; and therefore he was content to be taken up wholly of it, and in comparison of it, to neglect all other knowledge, not only to know that Christ died and rose again, and the virtue and sufficiency of them for his justification and salvation, which were but the study of a few days or ⟨p. 186⟩hours, and is easy to be found and learned in every Catechism; and therefore it is not to be thought that the Apostle, who was of such excellent gifts, and illuminated with such an extraordinary measure of knowledge, did take so much pains, and spend his chiefest time and strength in attaining unto it; but to find and feel the power and efficacy of Christs death and resurrection in his own heart, for the strengthening of his faith, the inflaming of his love, the mortifying of his corruptions, and his spiritual quickening unto new obedience and holiness of life.
And to this seeking of God and his fauour in Christ, there are diuers things required; first, that wee labour daily more and more perfectly to know him, not so much what he is in his owne nature, essence, and attributes, as what he is in Christ vnto vs, that is, infinitely wise to gouerne vs, and all-sufficient by his Word and Spirit to make vs wise vnto saluation; that he is omnipotent to defend vs, and giue vs victory ouer all our enemies; that he is immutable, not onely in his owne nature, but in his loue, goodnesse, and gifts vnto vs; that he is true to performe vnto vs his gracious promises, and mercifull to forgiue vs our sinnes, and saue our soules; that Christ is an all-sufficient and perfect Redeemer, to deliuer vs out of the hands of all our spirituall enemies, and to bring vnto vs full redemption; that the Spirit is not onely holy in his owne nature, but also to worke in vs sanctification and holinesse. In all which, and all other respects, we are not so much to labour to know these things in speculation, as in practice and experience, nor to apprehend them in the braine, as to feele them in our hearts, nor to conceiue of their excellency and sufficiency as causes, but experimentally to feele and finde their efficacy, in producing their effects, and bringing foorth their fruits in vs. And this is that excellent knowledge which the Apostle so much and continually laboured to 1attaine vnto, as a thing which being of most excellent vse, was also of great difficulty; and therefore he was content to be taken vp wholly of it, and in comparison of it, to neglect all other knowledge, not onely to know that Christ died and rose againe, and the vertue and sufficiency of them for his iustification and saluation, which were but the study of a few dayes or ⟨p. 186⟩houres, and is easie to bee found and learned in euery Catechisme; and therefore it is not to be thought that the Apostle, who was of such excellent gifts, and illuminated with such an extraordinary measure of knowledge, did take so much paines, and spend his chiefest time and strength in attaining vnto it; but to finde and feele the power and efficacy of Christs death and resurrection in his owne heart, for the strengthening of his faith, the inflaming of his loue, the mortifying of his corruptions, and his spirituall quickening vnto new obedience and holinesse of life.
- 1Phil. 2. 10, 11. 1. Cor. 2. 2.
