282 FAITH 'BUILT ON KNON%LED6E. every little dark circumstance, every flying report, will be ready to shake our hearts, and till us with fear ; though perhaps our concerns maybe safe in his hands. And it is not a piece of holy wisdom totrust Christ himself infinitely, and yet be contented to know him but a very little. Such souls may be safe at last, be- causethe Lord, whom they trust, is honest and faithful; but they expose themselvesto many fears, and frequent torments of mind, all the time of their absence from him. Let Athenians build their altars to the unknown God, hut a christian should not trust in an unknown Saviour. Let us all be persuaded then to learn much of Christ, that with honour andwisdom we may trust him much that we may venture our all for eternity intóhis hands, and restsecurely upon well-known power and faithfulness. They that know thy name, O God our Saviour, will put their trust in thee; Ps. ix. 10. There is anoble instance of holy prudence in a well-built and well-set- tied faith. Let us not fancy thatweknew Christ enough, when we have attainedmerely such a degree of knowledge as is abso- lutely necessary for conversion, or so muchas issufficient to make a profession of his naine, and thereby obtain a right to the fel, lowship of the saints. Let us not be-content to be always babes, feeble and fearful because unknowing Weshould 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 its not censure the preachers that feed us with a word of knowledge, nor complain pf, dry discourses, when in any particular sermon, the doctrines of religion are chiefly insisted on ; for these are the foundation of our wisest faith, and the pillars of solid and exalted joy. It was knowledge that carried thegreatapostle into that extacy of plea, sure, and divine mortification to every thing besides Christ; Phil. iü. 8, 9. Yea, doubtless, I count all things but loss, for the excel- lency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have sufferedthe loss of äll things, and count their butclungthat Imight be found in him, $cc. 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 con- verse with him, in meditation and prayer; by seerçt and hourly addresses to him ; by frequent breathings of soul towards our heavenly Friend; inwhose hands lie all our immortal concerns. Make daily observations of the work and power of his graceupon your hearts, in your performance of duties, and success against temptations ; and have a carethat you lose not the things which 'ye had wrought: Take heed lest you decline in your acquaint- ance withChrist ; that your faith and hope being built upon a re- ular knowledge, you may have It blessed treasure of christian xperienees toestablish and exalt it
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