The Fountain of Life Opened

Thirdly, Other knowledge, though you should attain the §3highest degree of it, would never bring you to Heaven, being defective and lame both in the integrity of parts, the principal thing, viz. Christ being wanting: and in the purity of its nature, for the knowing Heathens grew vain in their imaginations, 1 Rom. 21. and in the efficacy and influence of it, on the heart and life, they held the truth in unrighteousness: their lusts were stronger than their light, 1 Rom. 18. but this knowledge hath potent influences, changing souls into its own image, 2 Cor. 3.18. and so proves a saving knowledge unto men, 1 Tim. 2.4. and thus I have in a few particulars pointed out the transcendency of the knowledge of Christ.

The use of all this I shall give you in a few Inferences, on which I shall not enlarge, the whole being only preliminary to the Doctrine of Christ, only for the present I shall hence infer,

The use of all this I shall give you in a few Inferences, on which I shall not enlarge, the whole being only praeliminary to the Doctrine of Christ, only for the present I shall hence infer,

The ••sufficiency of the Doctrine of Christ,¹ to make men wise unto salvation. Paul desired to know nothing else, and indeed nothing else is of absolute necessity to be known: a little of this knowledge (if saving and effectual upon thy heart) will do thy soul more service than all the vain speculations, and profound parts that others so much glory in; poor Christian, be not dejected, because thou seest thy self out-stripped, and excelled by so many, in other parts of knowledge: if thou know Jesus Christ, thou knowest enough, to comfort and save thy