May 13

They shall all know me. - Jeremiah 31:34.

KNOWLEDGE is the prerogative and the distinction of humanity. “For there is a Spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth him understanding.” The principal object of this knowledge must be God himself, whether we consider the perfections of his nature, or the various relations in which he stands to his creatures. Indeed we know nothing as we ought to know, unless we know him. This knowledge is evangelical. It is not knowing him as the almighty and eternal God, who made all things; “who upholdeth all things by the word of his power;” “who is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.” This knowledge will not answer the purpose of a poor perishing sinner. Yea, it may operate upon his depravity to produce distance, dread, and dislike.

“We are saved by hope;” and our restoration cannot be accomplished till we are enabled by his grace to hope in him, and to see that with the Lord there is forgiveness, and with him is plenteous redemption. God in nature is God above us; God in providence is God beyond us; God in law is God against us: but God in Christ is God for us, and God with us, and God in us. We must know him, therefore, in the person of his dear Son; for “God, who commandeth the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” This knowledge is experimental.

There is a great diiference between knowing a thing only in theory and knowing it in experience, by the confidence of the heart, the bias of the will, and the ardour of the affections. It is expressed by tasting-“O taste and see that the Lord is good.” This is very different from the mere reading, speaking, and talking about it. The knowledge of some professors of religion never descends lower than the head. But in the new covenant God says, “I will give them a heart to know me;” and this knowledge is ever accompanied with three things. With confidence-“They that know thy name will put their trust in thee;” with affection-“He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love;” and with obedience-“He that saith I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

This knowledge is therefore practical; indeed knowledge is always to be viewed in the order of means; and when it does not reach the end, the sacred writers consider it no better than ignorance; and indeed it is not. This knowledge is also appropriating; and there are some who can say with the Psalmist, “This God is our God for ever and ever, and he will be our guide even unto death.” And oh! what a happy experience to be able to exclaim-

“When I can say this God is mine,

When I can feel his glory shine,

I’ll tread the world beneath my feet,

And all that earth calls good or great.”

And where this appropriation is not actually experienced! it is always really desired; and the desire is an evidence of a work of grace begun in the heart. The Christian therefore prays with David, “Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation;” and “blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.”