Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

6. What is the universality of this knowledge; They shall all know m• from the least of them to the greatest of them, saith the Lord? The meaning is, that all that are in the Covenant of grace, shall be so taught of God, as that in some measure or other they shall every one know God inwardly, clearly, experimentally, sweetly and savingly. I know there are several degrees of this knowledge; God hath several Forms in his School: there are fathers for experience,¹ young men for strength, and babes for the truth and being of Grace: as one Star differeth from another in glory, so also is the School of Christ: But here I am beset on both sides. 1. Many are apt to complain, alas they know little of God! sweet babes consider, 1. It is free grace you are stars; though you are not stars of the first and second magnitude: it is of the Covenant of grace, that God hath let into your souls a little glimmering,² though not so much light as others possibly may have in point of holy emulation (as one notes well) we should look at degrees of grace, but in point of thankfulness and comfort, we should look at the truth▪ and being of grace. 2. If you know but a little, you may in time know more: God doth not teach all his lessons at first entrance;³ it is true, The entrance of thy Word giveth Light; but this is as true, that God lets in his Light by degrees; it is not to be despised if God do but engage the heart in holy desires and longings after knowledge, so that it can say in sincerity, My Soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.⁴

1. 11 Joh. 2.12.
2. 2Case. Correc. instruct.
3. 3