All natural abilities, all acquired endowments, all the reading and learning, all the Teachers and Tutors in the world, cannot help one poor soul to the saving knowledge of God. It is God that teacheth man knowledge, Psal. 94.10. He who made light in the first Creation, only can cause light in the new Creation, 2 Cor. 4.6. But God who caused light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ. He that at first said, Let there be light (when darkness covered the face of the world) and there was light, a corporeal light, can command spiritual light, and the knowledge of his glory in the face of Christ, who is the express Image of his person. Therefore the Apostle betakes himself to God for the gift, Praying that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ would give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, in the knowledge of him, &c. 1 Eph. 17, 18. So David often, Psal. 119.18, 34, 35, 125, 143, 144. Rev. 3.18. Reader, art thou blind? take the Counsel of thy Saviour; Go to him for eye salve that thou mayest see; and be confident he that bids thee come to him for that, will bid ⟨p. 263⟩thee welcome when thou comest, Rev. 3.18. None knoweth the Father, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him, Math. 11.27. Therefore, whoever thou art that sittest in darkness, and in the shadow of death, go to the Sun for light, go to the Sun of Righteousness, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, Col. 2.9. for the light of the knowledge of God. Dost thou not know the sinfulness and misery of a blind dark state, that vengeance is the fruit of this ignorance, Psal. 79.6. that God will pour out his wrath upon them that know him not. Go therefore, as the blind man to the Lord Jesus Christ. Cry, sigh, mourn, pray, Jesus thou Son of David have mercy on me; though he hear not presently, hold on, continue instant in Prayer; though the Devil and flesh rebuke thee (as the multitude him) yet hold on, call louder, Jesus thou Son of David,1 Have mercy on me, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And doubt not but he will have pity on thee, as he had on him, and touch thine eye, and give thee to see the things of thy peace; for thine encouragement thou hast his promise, Jer. 24.7. I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord, ⟨p. 264⟩Jer. 31.34.
All natural abilities, all acquired endowments, all the reading and learning, all the Teachers and Tutors in the world, cannot help one poor soul to the saving knowledge of God. It is God that teacheth man knowledge, Psal. 94.10. He who made light in the first Creation, only can cause light in the new Creation, 2 Cor. 4.6. But God who caused light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ. He that at first said, Let there be light (when darkness cover'd the face of the world) and there was light, a corporeal light, can command spiritual light, and the knowledge of his glory in the face of Christ, who is the express Image of his person. Therefore the Apostle betakes himself to God for the gift, Praying that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ would give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, in the knowledge of him, &c. 1 Eph. 17, 18. So David often, Psal. 119.18, 34, 35, 125, 143, 144. Rev. 3.18. Reader, art thou blind? take the Counsel of thy Saviour; Go to him for eye salve that thou mayest see; and be confident he that bids thee come to him for that, will bid ⟨p. 263⟩thee welcome when thou comest, Rev. 3.18. None knoweth the Father, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him, Math. 11.27. Therefore, whoever thou art that sittest in darkness, and in the shadow of death, go to the Sun for light, go to the Sun of Righteousness, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, Col. 2.9. for the light of the knowledge of God. Dost thou not know the sinfulness and misery of a blind dark state, that vengeance is the fruit of this ignorance, Psal. 79.6. that God will pour out his wrath upon them that know him not. Go therefore, as the blind man to the Lord Jesus Christ. Cry, sigh, mourn, pray, Jesus thou Son of David have mercy on me; though he hear not presently, hold on, continue instant in Prayer; though the Devil and flesh rebuke thee (as the multitude him) yet hold on, call louder, Jesus thou Son of David,
- 1Mat. 32. to 37.
