There is a natural knowledge, even of spiritual objects, a
spark of nature blown up by an advantageous education; and though
the objects of this knowledge be spiritual things, yet the light in
which they are discerned is but a mere natural light.
And there is a spiritual knowledge of spiritual things, the
teaching of the anointing, as it is called, 1 John 2: 27. i.e. the
effect and fruit of the Spirit's sanctifying work upon our souls,
when the experience of a man's own heart informs and teacheth his
understanding, when by feeling the workings of grace in our own
souls we come to understand its nature; this is spiritual knowledge.
Now, a little of this knowledge is a better evidence of a man's
interest in Christ, than the most raised and excellent degree of
natural knowledge: As the philosopher truly observes; Praestat
paucula de meliori scientia degustasse, quam de ignobilori multa:
One dram of knowledge of the best and most excellent things, is
better than much knowledge of common things. So it is here, a little
spiritual knowledge of Jesus Christ, that has life and savour in it,
is more than all the natural, sapless knowledge of the unregenerate,
which leaves the heart dead, carnal, and barren: it is not the
quantity, but the kind, not the measure, but the savour: If you know
so much of the evil of sin, as renders it the most bitter and
burdensome thing in the world to you, and so much of the necessity
and excellency of Christ, as renders him the most sweet and
desirable thing in the world to you, though you may be defective in
many degrees of knowledge, yet this is enough to prove yours to be
the fruit of the Spirit: you may have a sanctified heart, though you
have an irregular or weak head: many that knew more than you are in
hell: and some that once knew as little as you, are now in heaven:
In absoluto et facili stat aeternitas: God has not prepared heaven
only for clear and subtle heads. A little sanctified and effectual
knowledge of Christ's person, offices, suitableness, and necessity,
may bring thee thither, when others, with all their curious
speculations and notions, may perish for ever.
spark of nature blown up by an advantageous education; and though
the objects of this knowledge be spiritual things, yet the light in
which they are discerned is but a mere natural light.
And there is a spiritual knowledge of spiritual things, the
teaching of the anointing, as it is called, 1 John 2: 27. i.e. the
effect and fruit of the Spirit's sanctifying work upon our souls,
when the experience of a man's own heart informs and teacheth his
understanding, when by feeling the workings of grace in our own
souls we come to understand its nature; this is spiritual knowledge.
Now, a little of this knowledge is a better evidence of a man's
interest in Christ, than the most raised and excellent degree of
natural knowledge: As the philosopher truly observes; Praestat
paucula de meliori scientia degustasse, quam de ignobilori multa:
One dram of knowledge of the best and most excellent things, is
better than much knowledge of common things. So it is here, a little
spiritual knowledge of Jesus Christ, that has life and savour in it,
is more than all the natural, sapless knowledge of the unregenerate,
which leaves the heart dead, carnal, and barren: it is not the
quantity, but the kind, not the measure, but the savour: If you know
so much of the evil of sin, as renders it the most bitter and
burdensome thing in the world to you, and so much of the necessity
and excellency of Christ, as renders him the most sweet and
desirable thing in the world to you, though you may be defective in
many degrees of knowledge, yet this is enough to prove yours to be
the fruit of the Spirit: you may have a sanctified heart, though you
have an irregular or weak head: many that knew more than you are in
hell: and some that once knew as little as you, are now in heaven:
In absoluto et facili stat aeternitas: God has not prepared heaven
only for clear and subtle heads. A little sanctified and effectual
knowledge of Christ's person, offices, suitableness, and necessity,
may bring thee thither, when others, with all their curious
speculations and notions, may perish for ever.
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