4. He is enlightened in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. i. 23, 24. But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness: but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God. The truth is, unregenerate men, tho' capable of preaching Christ, have not (properly speaking) the knowledge of him, but only an opinion, a good opinion of him; as one has of many controverted points of doctrine, wherein he is far from certainty. As when ye meet with a stranger upon the road, he behaving himself discreetly, ye conceive a good opinion of him; and therefore willingly converse with him; but yet ye will not commit your money to him; because, tho' you have a good opinion of the man, he is a stranger to you, ye do not know him. So many, they think well of Christ; but they will never commit themselves to him; seeing they know him not. But saving illumination carries the soul beyond opinion, to the certain knowledge of Christ and his excellency, 1 Thess. i. 5. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the holy Ghost, and in much assurance. The light of grace thus discovers the suitableness of the mystery of Christ, to the divine perfections, and to the sinner's case. Hence the regenerate admire the glorious plan of salvation through Christ crucified, lay their whole weight upon it, and heartily acquiesce therein: for whatever he be to others, he is to them Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. But unrenewed men, not seeing this, are offended in him; they will not venture their souls in that bottom, but betake themselves to the broken boards of their own righteousness. The same light convincingly discovers a superlative worth, a transcendent glory and excellency in Christ; which darken all created excellencies, as the rising sun makes the stars to hide their heads: and so it engages the merchant-man to sell all that he hath, to buy the one pearl of great price, Matth. xiii. 45, 46. makes the soul well content, to take Christ for all, and instead of all. Even as an unskilful merchant, to whom one offereth a pearl of great price, for all his petty wares, dares not venture on the bargain; for tho' he thinks, that one pearl may be more worth than all he has, yet he is not sure of it:
4. He is enlightned in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. i. 23, 24. But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness: but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God. The truth is, unregenerate men, tho' capable of preaching Christ, have not (properly speaking) the knowledge of him, but only an opinion, a good opinion of him; as one has of many controverted points of doctrine, wherein he is far from certainty. As when ye meet with a stranger upon the road, he behaving himself discreetly, ye conceive a good opinion of him; and therefore willingly converse with him; but yet ye will not commit your money to him; because, tho' you have a good opinion of the man, he is a stranger to you, ye do not know him. So many, they think well of Christ; but they will never commit themselves to him; seeing they know him not. But saving illumination carries the soul beyond opinion, to the certain knowledge of Christ and his excellency, 1 Thess. i. 5. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the holy Ghost, and in much assurance. The light of grace thus discovers the suitableness of the mystery of Christ, to the divine perfections, and to the sinner's case. Hence the regenerate admire the glorious plan of salvation through Christ crucified, lay their whole weight upon it, and heartily acquiesce therein: for whatever he be to others, he is to them Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. But unrenewed men, not seeing this, are offended in him; they will not venture their souls in that bottom, but betake themselves to the broken boards of their own righteousness. The same light convincingly discovers a superlative worth, a transcendant glory and excellency in Christ; which darken all created excellencies, as the rising sun makes the stars to hide their heads: and so it engages the merchant-man to sell all that he hath, to buy the one pearl of great price, Matth. xiii. 45, 46. makes the soul well content, to take Christ for all, and instead of all. Even as an unskilful merchant, to whom one offereth a pearl of great price, for all his petty wares, dares not venture on the bargain; for tho' he thinks, that one pearl may be more worth than all he has, yet he is not sure of it:
