Sunday, August 27, 2006
"The Fountain of Life" by John Flavel
The sufficiency of the doctrine of Christ, to make men wise unto salvation. Paul desired to know nothing else; and, indeed, nothing else is of absolute necessity to be known. A little of this knowledge, if saving and effectual upon thy heart, will do thy soul more service, than all the vain speculation and profound parts that others so much glory in. Poor Christian, be not dejected, because thou sees thyself out-stript and excelled by so many in other parts of knowledge; if thou know Jesus Christ, thou knowest enough to comfort and save thy soul. Many learned philosophers are now in hell, and many illiterate Christians in heaven.
INFERENCE 2.
If there be such excellency in the knowledge of Christ, let it humble all, both saints and sinners, that we have no more of this clear and effectual knowledge in us, notwithstanding the excellent advantages we have had for it. Sinners, concerning you I may sigh and say with the apostle, 1 Corinthians 15:34. “Some have not the knowledge of Christ, I speak this to your shame”. This, O this is the condemnation. And even for you that are enlightened in this knowledge, how little do you know of Jesus Christ, in comparison of what you might have known of him? What a shame is it,
that you should need to be taught the very first truths, “when for the time you might have been teachers of others?” Hebrews 5:12, 13, 14.
“That your ministers cannot speak unto you as spiritual, but as unto
carnal, even as unto babes in Christ,” 1 Corinthians 3:1, 2.
O how much time is spent in other studies, in vain discourses, frivolous
pamphlets, worldly employments? How little is the search and study of
Jesus Christ."
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