The saints delight. To which is annexed a treatise of meditation

Strange! was not Christ in the world? had not he made many Sermons about sin? it is true, he had, but the Jews were not yet convinced of it, therefore he shall send his Spirit to convince them. And of righteousness] why? had not Christ told them that there was no righteousness to be found but in him, that they could graft their hopes of salvation upon no-other stock besides? yes, they had heard Christ say so, but they were not yet convinced; therefore the Spirit shall come and convince them. Hence I gather, that men may have a speculation of Christ, yet be ignorant of him, that is, not know him convincingly; and that they have not a convincing knowledge, is clear; for were they convinced in their conscience of the ⟨p. 376⟩lovely excellencies of Christ, would they value a lust or trifle, would they with Judas, prefer thirty pieces of silver before him?

Strange! was not Christ in the world? had not he made many Sermons about sin? it is true, he had, but the Jews were not yet convinced of it, therefore he shall send his Spirit to convince them. And of righrighteousnesse] why? had not Christ told them that there was no righteousnesse to be found but in him, that they could graff their hopes of salvation upon no-other stock besides? yes, they had heard Christ say so, but they were not yet convinced; therefore the Spirit shall come and convince them. Hence I gather, that men may have a speculation of Christ, yet be ignorant of him, that is, not know him convincingly; and that they have not a convincing knowledge, is clear; for were they convinced in their conscience of the ⟨p. 376⟩lovely excellencies of Christ, would they value a lust or trifle, would they with Judas, prefer thirty pieces of silver before him?

2. It is a speculation without affection; men have notions of Christ, but are not warmed with love to Christ. Their knowledge is like the Moon, it hath light in it, but no heat. True knowledge of Christ is like fire to the ice, it melts it into water; so this knowledge melts the sinner into tears of love. I do the hypocrite no wrong to tell him he bears no true affection to Jesus Christ. There is a great deal of difference between the knowledge that the prisoner hath of the Judge, and the knowledge that the child hath of the parent. The prisoner knows the Judge, but hath no affection at all to his person, his knowledge is joined with fear and hatred; but the child's knowledge of his parent