Of Communion with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

2. There is required Acquaintance also to walking together. Two may meet together in the same way, and have no quarrel §. 36 between them, no enmity, but if they are mere strangers one to another, they pass by, without the least Communion together. It ⟨p. 121⟩doth not suffice that the Enmity betwixt God and us be taken away, we must also have acquaintance given us with him: Our not knowing of him is a great cause & a great part of our enmity. Our understandings are darkened, and we are alienated from the life of God, &c Ephes. 4. 18. This also then must be added, if we ever come to walk with God, which is our Wisdom. And this also is hid in the Lord Christ, and comes forth from him. It is true there are sundry other means, as his Word, and his Works, that God hath given the Sons of men, to make a discovery of himself unto them, and to give them some acquaintance with him, that as the Apostle speaks Act. 17. 27. They should seek the Lord, if haply they might find; but yet as that knowledge of God, which we have by his works, is but very weak & imperfect, so that which we have by the Word, the letter of it, by reason of our blindness, is not saving to us if we have no other help: for though that be light as the Sun in the firmament, yet if we have no eyes in our heads, what can it avail us? No saving acquaintance with him, that may direct us to walk with him can be obtained. This also is hid in the Lord Jesus, and comes forth from him: 1 Joh. 5. 20. He hath given us this understanding, that we should know him that is true: all other light whatever without his giving us an understanding, will not do it. He is the true light, which lighteth every one that is enlightened Joh. 15. Luk. 24. 45. he opens our understandings that we may understand the Scriptures; none hath known God at any time, but he hath revealed him. 1 Joh. 18. God dwells in that light which no man can approach unto, 1 Tim. 6. 26. None hath ever had any such acquaintance with him, as to be said to have seen him, but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Hence he tells the Pharisees, that notwithstanding all their great knowledge which they pretended, indeed they had neither heard the voice of God at any time, nor seen his shape