be made righteousness; and he sanctified himself, that he might sanctify his people. If therefore these ends be not answered in us, we have neither part no lot in his salvation. This is what the Holy Spirit aims at in all his gracious operations; it is for this he puts life into our duties, and life into our souls. Let believers therefore exercise themselves unto godliness, growing in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And having received such promises, let them cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Let the prayer of each of us be, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me!" Psal. li. 10. Hear me, O Lord, thou God of peace, When pardon'd, and when purified, HOSEA viii. 2. Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee. ISRAEL pretended to know God, but in works denied him; for "they transgressed his covenant, and trespassed against his law." The Lord sent them prophets, rising up early and sending them; but they said unto the prophets, Prophesy not; and to the seers, See not. He wrote to them the great things of his law, but they were counted as a strange thing. They remained incorrigible under all their chastisements, and ignorant of their Maker amidst all the means of instruction. Yet they still pretend to some acquaintance with him, and carry on the delusion to the very last. They would cry and say, We know thee, when in truth they knew him not, and were only speaking lies in hypocrisy. 1. Observe the time when they would make this profession. In a season of great affliction and distress, when God would contend with them, when their enemies should be let loose upon them, and every thing around them look dark and distressing. "Israel is swallowed up; now shall they be among the Gentiles, as a vessel wherein is no pleasure. Now the Lord will remember their iniquity, and visit their sins." And now, when they begin to feel his wrath, they will begin to humble themselves, and profess themselves to be his people. Those who forget God in their prosperity, are often made to remember him in a day of adversity; and when other refuges fail, they will flee to him for refuge. Those who are backward to seek God at other times, yet in their affliction will seek him early. Troubles will often make those pray who never prayed before; but they as often leave off prayer when the trouble is over, and this shews that it came out of feigned lips. "Lord, in trouble have they visited thee; they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them." They are desirous of being delivered from affliction, but are not willing to forsake their sins. Conviction is often the fruit of correction, but does not always lead to conversion. Pharaoh was often convinced, but never converted; and while the plagues were in Egypt, he wanted Moses to pray for him; but as often as they were removed, he hardened his heart. So Israel would hold fast deceit amidst all their afflictions, and still continue their hypocritical profession, "My God, we know thee." 2. The manner in which this profession would be made. They would not only speak, but speak vehemently, and "cry" with earnestness and confidence. And this would not be to others merely, but to God himself: they shall "cry unto me." We seek your God, said the adversaries of Israel, to those who were rebuilding the temple at Jerusalem: but these carried the matter much farther. They not only conceived a falsehood in their hearts, and uttered it with their lips; but they did this before God. They called him their God, though they had no interest in him; and claimed an acquaintance with him, while they were ignorant of his true character. Many will go to God, and say, We know thee; to whom he will answer another day, Depart from me, I know you not. There were some in the church of Smyrna who said they were Jews, and were not, but were of the synagogue of Satan; and similar to this is the conduct of Israel, in professing to know God, while in works they denied him. Rev. ii. 9. 1. Consider the importance of a right knowledge of God, and making a profession of his name. 66 1. It is a great thing truly to know the Lord. A perfect knowledge is unattainable by us, and is proper to Him only whose understanding is infinite. "Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection?" The heathens are said to have known God, though they glorified him not as God: but such a notional idea of him as they possessed will be of no avail. The true knowledge of God is vital and efficacious, and has a transforming influence. Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, we are changed into the same image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord." It is the effect of divine illumination, so that none have it till it is communicated from above. "God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of his glory in the face of Jesus Christ." It is that also by which the christian is distinguished from all others. Many have heard, and read, and thought about God, and may speak of him with some degree of propriety: they may also speak eloquently of his nature and perfections, of his works which they behold, and may profess to worship and adore him but after all it is the disciple of Jesus only who truly knows him, for he it is that hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true." "No man knoweth the Father but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him." No nation under heaven was so blessed with the means of knowledge as the Jews, and yet Christ tells the Scribes and Pharisees, who were some of the most intelligent persons and greatest professors among them, "Ye say that he is your God; yet ye have not known him." The knowledge of God is the delight and the : perfection of the gracious soul: it fits him for his service here, and the enjoyment of him hereafter. "It is life eternal to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." It is eternal life begun, secured, and in some measure possessed. Job xi. 7. John viii. 55. xvii. 3. 2 Cor. iii. 18. iv. 6. 1 John v. 20. 2. A profession of this knowledge is of great importance. It is no light matter to be able to say on good ground, "My God, I know thee. Much de pends upon this, and it requires the most serious consideration. With the mouth, confession is made unto salvation; but there must first be a believing with the heart unto righteousness. True faith will produce a good confession, and it will produce it almost involuntarily; for where God has kindled the heavenly fire in the soul, it will break forth in some way or other. But how often does the tongue go before the heart, and even contrary to it, in professions of love to God and knowledge of him! Israel would have spoken more like the truth, if they had said with Pharaoh, "We know not the Lord, neither will we obey his voice." Before we profess to know God, therefore, we'should seek to be truly acquainted with him; to know him in his real character and the relation he bears to his creatures, in his works and in his word, especially as he is revealed in the person of his Son. It is in him that he is God indeed, and there his glory shines. All other representations of him are faint and partial, when compared with this. "He is the image of the invisible God;" yea, "the brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of his person." It is in him that all the divine perfections shine forth in their highest splendour; and all we can know of God in any other way is but little better than speculation, which can neither animate to duty, support in affliction, or arm us against the fears of death. Till we see God in Christ, and worship him as such, it may be said of us as of the Samaritans, We worship we know not what |