CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

To open the Doctrine Consider,

1. That we cannot have any knowledge about Christ, either that there is such an one, or what he is, but only by Revelation; We told you about God, there was a threefold Knowledge, by nature, by the Creatures, by the Scriptures; And therefore whereas it might be, and is easily granted by all, that none can be saved without the knowledge of the true God, yet both of old and of late, there have been those who have held that the Nations that know not Christ, may be saved: It's true, they are divided among themselves, for some say, the Gentiles have some implied or confused knowledge of Christ, or else God revealeth it to them extraordinarily, but others positively say, the knowledge we have by nature and mere light of reason is enough to conduct to heaven: As for Cornelius the Centurion whom they instance in, the first Heathen converted and baptized under the New Testament, it is plain that he had a knowledge of Christ, though imperfect; Neither is that expression of Peter upon Cornelius his admission, Act. 10.35. where he saith, God is no accepter of persons, but in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness shall be saved, any ways favouring salvation without Christ; For now the partition wall being broken down, and the Gospel to be preached to all Nations, which was represented in the vision of a sheet full of clean and unclean beasts, the Knowledge of Christ was likewise therewith to be propagated: It's true the Apostle saith, they that sin without the Law shall be judged without the Law, Rom. 2. God will not judge them by that they knew not, and so they that sin without the knowledge of the Gospel, they shall not be judged for not believing in Christ, and not receiving of him to whom he was never tendered, but then they have a law of conscience within them, by which they shall be condemned, so that by the Scripture we cannot say there is any other way of salvation but by the Name of Christ, and Faith in his Name, yea, that Text Act. 4.12