An Expojition of the Epiftle ~ in all utitrailer, and in all knowledgt, and came behind in no gift; yet (faith Ser. XIX. he verfe l·) Yotl areyet carllal, they were but as B abes in Chrilt, ( fo verfe t.) ~Theywere not fpimual,rhey wanted this Spzrilllal k11ow!edge in :i great mcafure. Now take a good heart that hath many notions in his head, Oh ( thinks he,) had I but a drop of that Elixir, that would turn all thefe notions mio pure Gold, into fpiritu•l knowledge! that were excellent. Unbelief my Brethren, makes the knowledge of Sp.ritual things to be but as Dreams, though a Man have much, whereas Faith turns them all into realities, and works upon the heart according. ly. The Apofile telleth the Cori111hs in that fecond Chapter, verfe 9· ThcJttht EJ·ebath not [een, 110r the Ear bath 110t heard, 11or 11ever mtrfdit mto the heart of a11atural man; Men may have much knowledge by the Eye and by the Ear, which enrreth into their fancies, and fo is delivered up to their underftandings, about Spiritual things; but this is a knowledge that never entred into the heart of a carnal man. And this is the knowledge tlie Apofile here pra) eth for. Obferv 2 The Second thing I would have you Obferve is this, That that knowledge · • wh1cll makes a mao Holy, is,efpecially of Spiritual things themfelves. Though. the knowledge of a Mans Intcre!l that they are his, carrieth obundance of Ho– Iinefs with it, yet it is the Revelation of the things in a Spiritual way, .that doth it m a more eminent manner. P aut you fee here doth not fo much pray that they mightlmow Heaven was theirs, he took that for granteJ, but that they might know it, have glorious apprehenfions let into their Souls of what Heaven was, and that they might increa!e in the knowledge of it, that they might know what Gad was more in his Glory, as the God of Chrilt and the Father cif Glory. It is I fay, the knowledge of the things themfelves, that cloth it. You think now that the want in knowledge is the want of application, that you know not till you have made them your own by application, and that therein lyeth the great defect of Faith, I acknowledge it is a defect of Faith, .but (my Brethren) the main thing in Faith is to fee fpiritual things really, to behold the Glory ofthe Lord. Saith the Apofile, He6. 10, l9· (it is a place I have often upon occalion quoted to this vtry purpofe,) We are ttot of thtm that draw hack 111110 Perditio11, /;ut of them that 6rluve tmto the favi"g of the Soul. Now what is this Faith that 1s to the faving of a mans Soul? R.ead the whole 11th. Chapter to the He. 6rews, it is feeing the things, the evidence of the things themfelves; it is (yo\1 will wonder at it,) to believe that God is, [o he telleth us at the 6th. verfe. He that cometh to God (faith he) mufl6eJuve that God u; It is to believe that the World was made; I: is to believe all fpiritud things by a divine light, by a fpiri· tuallighr. Now my Brethren, when once things are thus ftrongly and really re· prefenred to a man's m:nd, it will carry them all to the heart. The Apofile in 1 Job. 5. )· !aith, that by Faith we overcome the world; what is the Faith that overccmeth the World? It is not fo much believing Chrilt is yours, as it is be· lieving that he is; for who is he that overcometh the World but he that believeth that Jefus is the Son of God? You will fay unto me, that this is to preach only for general Faith. No my Brethren, if you will come now to the Faith that jultifieth you, ii mufl be with the whole heatt; aod althougl1 all that is required to juftdication in the Underfianding be to believe the thing really and fpiritually, yet the will mult concur, and how mafl that concur? It mult calt it ftlf upon God for it, forjufti– fication, there indeed c6n!eth in application. Nay let me tell you farther, that it is the !lrength of feeing the things themfelve,s that draweth in the heart to give it felfup to Chrilt. As now, take a poor foul that hath little evidence that Chrifl is his, it may be he is altogether out of hope of it, yet he hath a light that repre– fenteth fuch excellencies to be in Chri!l, as he can never leave him; this is it that makes him give up his foul to him. Take a man that bath affurance ( I will ex· emplifie it there too,) he believeth that Heaven is his, Chrilt is his; well, this affurance oftentimes lieth by him dead , why? Becaufe he wanteth a fpiritual knowledge ofthe things. Let God come in now with a light, and reveal what himfelfis, and what Heaven is to him, then affurance works in him. So that it is the knowledge of the things themfelves is the main thi.ng in Chrifiianity, and the main thing in Faith. And fomuch in general forthe Obfervations which I do premife. I
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