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united with knowledge. It was knowledge that recommended the piety of Christ himself, and commanded the respect and admiration of his enemies. They exclaimed, "How knoweth this man letters!" They saw his perfect holiness united with his profound knowledge of those scriptures, which they allowed to be of divine Inspiration; and this evidence of the truth and importance of his religion they could not despise, nor resist. While the followers of Christ increase in spiritual knowledge and gracious affections, their good cannot be evil spoken of. They shine as lights in the world, and lead others to glorify their Father who is in heaven. They adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour, which reflects great honour upon their religion, and carries conviction to the consciences of sinners, that they are guilty of inexcusable folly as well as sin, in neglecting the one thing needful. Besides,

2. It is of great importance, that christians should grow both in knowledge and in grace, not only on the account of others, but on their own account. For, in the first place, their growth in these respects, will be the most effectual security against the gross and dangerous errours to which they are continually exposed in their present imperfect state. It is a good thing, that the understanding be enlightened with knowledge, and the heart be established with grace. Those who have a clear and extensive knowledge of the gospel, can easily distinguish its great and fundamental doctrines from every false sentiment and fatal errour. Scoffers and deceivers early appeared in the christian church, who wrested the Scriptures unto their own destruction. And it is in particular reference to such men, that the apostle Peter exhorts christians to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, "lest they should be led away with

the errour of the wicked, and fall from their own steadfastness." Knowledge and grace united, enable christians to detect, expose, and reject the various errours which the enemies of the gospel are zealous and artful in propagating. While true believers clearly understand and faithfully practise their own religion, they are able to meet and refute every false doctrine, which may be proposed and recommended to their belief. This the apostle John suggests to those christians, who were exposed to fatal errours in his day. "Little children it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us, but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth: but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth." It is as important and necessary now, that christians should grow in knowledge as well as grace, to guard themselves and others against those, who lie in wait to deceive. Christians-never had a louder call to grow in knowledge and grace, that they may be able to contend earnestly and successfully for the faith which was once delivered to the saints. They are surrounded by false teachers, who are zealously en deavouring by art and subtilty, to bring in damnable heresies; and nothing but a zeal according to knowledge will prepare them to discover and refute such fatal errours, and to repel the attacks of all their spiritual enemies.

Growth in knowledge and grace will happily tend, in the second place, to remove darkness and doubts

from the minds of christians. They often meet with these inward trials, which greatly depress their spirits and enfeeble their exertions, as well as disturb their peace and comfort. Grace is the evidence of grace, and knowledge discovers this evidence. It is always owing to some kind of ignorance, that real christians are involved in darkness and doubts, respecting their good estate. But by growing in knowledge and grace, they will take the proper and effectual method, to dissipate all the clouds which hang over their minds, and to regain that peace, which the world cannot give, nor take away. Declining christians may expect to be troubled with darkness and perplexity of mind, and the fiery darts of the great accuser of the brethren, because they lay themselves open to both external and internal temptations, and provoke God to withdraw his Spirit and the light of his countenance from them. This he threatens to every backslider. Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see, that it is an evil and bitter thing, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God. of hosts." But repenting, returning, growing saints may confidently hope, that God will graciously return to them, and give them the joy of his salvation.

delightful and acceptable While they are declining are departing from God,

Furthermore, growth in knowledge and grace will prepare christians for the performance of every duty. in religion and their hearts they are apt to stand, and hesitate, and try to reason themselves into doubts about both the revealed and providential will of God. They endeavour to excuse themselves for the neglect of disagreeable and selfdenying duties, because they do not see their way

clear to perform them. But when they grow in knowledge and grace, they intuitively see what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God, which they ought to follow. Hence says Solomon, "A wise man's heart is at his right hand." And again, "A wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment.” And again, "The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way." This Solomon knew, by happy experience; for while he was growing in knowledge and grace, he prayed for a wise and understanding heart, and his request was abundantly answered. In consequence of having such a heart, he found less difficulty in knowing, and less reluctance in doing his duty. Growing saints are ready to hear the voice of God in his word and providence, and to run in the way of his commandments, with peculiar pleasure and delight. And the more readily they discern, and the more cheerfully they perform the various duties devolved upon them, the more sincere and acceptable are all their services in the sight of God.

It is, finally, of great importance that christians should make continual advances in knowledge and grace, to prepare them for the closing scene of life. They are every day drawing nearer and nearer to the time of their decease, when they must leave this world, and go the way of all the earth. If they neglect to improve their minds in knowledge and their hearts in holiness, they may expect to live in bondage, and die in darkness and distress; for christians commonly die very much as they live. But if they make it their business to perfect holiness in the fear of God, and to go from strength to strength in their journey towards heaven, they may humbly hope to triumph over death and the grave, and be able to say, "O death! where is sting? O grave! where is thy victory?" It appears from the sacred history of growing saints, that their hopes

and prospects grew brighter and brighter, the nearer they approached to the confines of death and eternity. Hear the last words of David. "Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire." Hear also the language of Paul, whose growth in grace enabled him to say, "I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." The more christians grow in knowledge and grace, the better they are prepared to perform their last great act on the stage of life, to the glory of God, to the honour of religion, to their own joy, and to the benefit and consoJation of those whom they leave behind,

IMPROVEMENT.

1. If knowledge be necessary to promote the growth of grace; then the most instructive preaching must be the most profitable. Many are fond of making a distinction between sentimental and practical preaching, and consider the latter as much more useful than the former. They insinuate, that christians at this day, do not need to be instructed in the doctrines of the gospel, but only to be quickened and animated to the practice of the duties of religion and morality. But there is reason to believe, that saints as well as sinners, at this day, stand in great need of being instructed in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This knowledge lies at the foundation of all true devotion, and true devotion lies at the foundation of all

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