DISC. IN.] FAITH BUILT ON KNOWLEDGE. 253 his eye be directed to this able and all- sufficient Sa- viour, by so long a train of witnesses, and the Holy Spirit with them, and he can no longer doubt whither to applyhimself, or to whose hands he should betrust his eternal concerns. II. The:. knowledge that a believer has of Christ's ability to save, arises.not only from the witness of others, but from his own inward and sensible experience. The Apostle speaks here not as a young believer, but as one that ha.d known Christ long, had long trusted him, and gained dáily ::confirmations of his faith, as was hinted be- fore. Though a sinner at first is drawn to Christ by the report that is made.of him by others, either by his edu- cation, by reading or hearing the word, or by holy con, ference yet afterwards he grows up to an establishment and assurance of faithby the sweet experience he has had of what Christ has done for him ; and he saith to the minister, and to his fellow-christian, and to the apostles, and the...prophets, as all the neighbours said to the wo- man of Samaria ; John iv. 4Q. Now we believe, not merely. because of this saying ; for we have heard him oùrselves, and know indeed that this is the Christ, the Saviour of theworld. I amwell satisfied that it is from this sort of know- ledge, as well as the former, it is from experience as well as faith, that so many saints have been able to assume the words ofmy text, and to triumph in the approaches ofc1eath For though they may have learned the know- ledge. of Christ, and his ability to save, and that. from their earliest youth, by the pious instructions of their parents, by the ministry of their teachers, and much converse with the .holy scriptures, yet they have, a more large and confirmed knowledgeof Christ, from the many sensible effects of his love and power upon .their. souls, and from their constant converse with him by meditation and prayer, both in their secret retirement, and in their daily walk with God. They cane say from a sweet and rich experience, perhaps from their youngest years, and dowwards, to maturer age, I know whom I have be- lieved. " I ,know my conscience was burdened with guilt, ;and I could find no relief till I saw the cross of Christ, and carried my guilty conscience thither; the man that
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