272 / 652
262
FAITH
BUILT
ON
KNOWLEDGE.
DISC.
x.
knowledge as
is
absolutely necessary
for conversion, or
so
much as
is
sufficient to
make
a
profession
of
his
name,
and thereby obtain a right
to
the
fellowship
of
the
saints.
Let
us
not
be
content
to be always
babes,
feeble
and fearful because unknowing
:
We
should
think
no pains too much to
acquire
divine knowledge,
and to
improve
it
:
And to
this end
let
the holy
scriptures
be
our
daily study,
for these
are the
writings
that
testify
of
Christ.
Let
us
not
censure
the
preachers
that
feed us
with
a
word
of
knowledge,
nor
complain
of
dry dis-
courses,
when in any
particular
sermon,
the doctrines of
religion are
chiefly
insisted
on;
for these are the founda-
tion
of our
wisest faith, and
the pillars
of
solid and
exalted joy.
It
was
knowledge
that
carried
the
great
apostle into
that
extacy
of
pleasure, and divine mortifi-
cation
to every thing besides
Christ
;
Phil.
iii.
8,
9.
Yea,
doubtless,
I
count
all
things
but
loss,
for
the
excellency
of
the
knowledge,
of
Christ Jesus
my Lord,,
for
whom
I
have
s2.t
ffered
the
loss
of
all
things, and
count
them
but
dung
that
I
might
be
found
in him,
&c.
Seek
after experimental acquaintance
With
Christ.
Follow the advice
of
St.
Peter,
2
Epistle
iii.
18.
Grow
in
grace, and
in
the
knowledge
of
our Lord
Jesus. This
is
attained
by
much converse
with him,
in meditation
and
prayer
;
by
secret and
hourly addresses to
him
;
by
fre-
quentl>reathings of
soul
towards our heavenly Friend,
in
whose hands
lie
all
our immortal
concerns.
Make
daily
observations
of
the
work
and power
of
his
grace
upon
your
hearts,
in
your performance of
duties, and suc-
cess
against temptations
:
and
have
a
care
that
you lose
not
the things
which he had
wrought
:
Take
heed lest
you decline
in
your acquaintance
with
Christ
;
that your
faith and hope being
built
upon
a
regular
knowledge,
you
may
have a blessed
treasure.of
christian experiences
to establish
and exalt
it.
Illcl
Remark. How unkind and unnatural
is
it
for
'parents
to let the
souls
of their
children perish
for
want
of
knowledge
!
How
necessary to
acquaint
them
be-
times with the gospel
of
Christ
that
they may
trust
in
,
him
betimes, and
that their
souls may be safe
in
the
great
day
!
If
I
should ask every mother in
the assembly
this
question,
do you
not
desire
all
your
children
should
be
young
believers
?
But
how can they
believe
in
him
whom
they have
not
known
v
Hqw
can you
expect
they