Opens the EXCELLENCY of the SUBJECT.

I COR. ii. 2. For I determined not to know any thing among you, Jave Jefus Chrift, and him crucified.

T

HE former verfe contains an apology for the plain and familiar manner of the apostle's preaching, which was not (as he there tells them) with excellency of fpeech, or of wisdom; i. e. he ftudied not to gratify their curiofity with rhetorical ftrains, or philofophical niceties. In this he gives the reafon, "for I determined not to know any thing among you, fave Jefus Chrift," &c. *

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"I determined not to know" +.] The meaning is not, that he fimply defpifed, or contemned all other studies and knowledge; but fo far only, as they stand in competition with, or oppofition to the study and knowledge of Jefus Chrift. And it is as if he fhould fay, it is my stated, fettled judgment; not a hafty, inconfiderate cenfure, but the product and iffue of my most ferious and exquifite enquiries. After I have well weighed the

* Non vervoλoyer, fed dorogu, i. e. Not to teach arts and fciences, but religion.

+"Expiva [Ekrina] Signifies, to efteem much, or account the best; by this, however, he does not defpife or condemn all other knowledge, except when it is compared with the knowledge of Chrift, &c.

SERM. I. cafe, turned it round, viewed it exactly on every side, balanced all advantages and difadvantages, pondered all things that are fit to come into confideration about it; this is the refult and final determination, that all other knowledge, how profitable, how pleasant foever, is not worthy to be named in the fame day with the knowledge of Jefus Chrift. This therefore I refolve to make the scope and end of my ministry, and the end regulates the mean; fuch pedantic toys, and airy notions as injudicious ears affect, would rather obftruct than promote my grand design among you: Therefore, wholly waving that way, I applied myself to a plain, popular, unaffected dialect, fitted rather to pierce the heart, and convince the confcience, than to tickle the fancy. This is the scope of the words, in which three things fall under confideration;

First, The fubject-matter of his doctrine, to wit, Jefus Chrift. "I determined to know nothing," i. e. to ftudy nothing myfelf, to teach nothing to you, but "Jefus Chrift." Chrift fhall be the centre to which all the lines of my ministry shall be drawn. I have spoken and written of many other fubjects in my fermons and epiftles, but it is all reductively the preaching and discovery of Jefus Chrift: of all the subjects in the world, this is the sweetest; if there be any thing on this fide heaven, worthy our time and studies, this is it. Thus he mágnifies his doctrine, from the excellency of its fubject-matter, accounting all other doctrines but airy things, compared with this.

Secondly, We have here that special respect or confideration of Chrift, which he fingled out from all the rest of the excellent truths of Chrift, to spend the main ftrength of his miniftry upon; and that is, Chrift as crucified: and the rather, because hereby he would obviate the vulgar prejudice raised against him upon the account of his cross; "For Christ crucified was to the Jews a ftumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness," chap. i. 23. This alfo best suited his end, to draw them on to Christ; as Chrift above all other subjects, so Christ crucified above all things in Chrift: There is therefore a great emphasis in this word, "and him crucified" *.

Thirdly, The manner in which he difcourfed this tranfcendent fubject to them, is alfo remarkable; he not only preached Chrift crucified, but he preached him affiduously and plainly : He preached Chrift frequently; " and whenever he preached

* Vehementem habet uqar [emphasin] quod adjecit, & hunc crucifixum. Pet, Martyr in loc.

" of Chrift crucified, he preached him in a crucified stile *.” This is the fum of the words; to let them know that his fpirit was fo intent upon this subject, as if he neither knew, or cared to speak of any other: All his fermons were fo full of Christ, that his hearers might have thought he was acquainted with no other doctrine. Hence obferve,

Doct. That there is no doctrine more excellent in itself, or more necessary to be preached and ftudied, than the doctrine of Jefus Chrift, and him crucified.

All other knowledge, how much foever it be magnified in the world, is and ought to be esteemed but drofs, in comparison of the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, Phil. iii. 8. "In him are hid all the treasures of wifdom and knowledge," Col. ii. 3. t

Eudoxus was fo affected with the glory of the fun, that he thought he was born only to behold it; much more should a Christian judge himself born only to behold and delight in the glory of the Lord Jefus.

The truth of this propofition will be made out by a double confideration of the doctrine of Christ.

First, Let it be confidered abfolutely, and then these lovely properties with which it is naturally clothed, will render it fuperior to all other fciences and studies.

ift, The knowledge of Jefus Chrift is the very marrow and kernel of all the scriptures; the fcope and centre of all divine revelations Both teftaments meet in Chrift. The ceremonial law is full of Chrift, and all the gospel is full of Chrift: The bleffed lines of both teftaments meet in him; and how they both harmonize, and fweetly concenter in Jefus Chrift, it is the chief scope of that excellent epiftle to the Hebrews, to difcover; for we may call that epistle the fweet harmony of both teftaments. This argues the unspeakable excellency of this doctrine, the knowledge whereof must needs therefore be a key to unlock the greatest part of the facred fcriptures: For it is in the understanding of fcripture, much as it is in the knowledge men have in Logic and Philofophy; if a scholar once come to understand the bottomprinciple, upon which, as upon its hinge, the controversy turns, E 2

*Chriftum crucifixum ftylo crucifixo prædicabat.

He that prefers any knowledge on earth, to this facred and heavenly knowledge, prefers trash to a treafure. Davenant on Coloff. chap. ii. ver. 3.

SERM. I. the true knowledge of that principle fhall carry him through the whole controverfy, and turnifh him with a folution to every argument: Even fo the right knowledge of Jefus Chrift, like a clue, leads you through the whole labyrinth of the icrip

tures.

2aly, The knowledge of Jefus Chrift is a fundamental knowledge; and foundations are most useful, tho' least seen. The knowledge of Chrift is fundamental to all graces, duties, comforts, and happiness.

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(1.) It is fundamental to all graces: They all begin in knowledge; Col. iii 10. "The new man is renewed in knowledge." As the old, fo the new creation begins in light; the opening of the eyes is the firft work of the Spirit: And as the beginnings of grace, fo all the after-improvements thereof depend upon this increasing knowledge, 2 Pet. iii. 18. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour." See how thefe two, grace and knowledge, keep equal pace in the foul of a Christian; in what degree the one increases, the other increases anfwerably.

(2.) The knowledge of Chrift is fundamental to all duties; the duties, as well as graces of Chriftians are all founded in the knowledge of Christ. Muft a Chriftian believe? That he can never do without the knowledge of Chrift: Faith is fo much dependant on his knowledge, that it is denominated by it, Ifa. liii. 11. "By his knowledge fhall my righteous fervant ju *ftify many;" and hence, John vi. 40. feeing and believing are made the fame thing. Would a man exercife hope in God? that he can never do without the knowledge of Christ, for he is the author of that hope, 1 Pet. i. 3. he is also its object, Heb. vi. 19. its ground work and fupport, Col. i. 27. And as you cannot believe or hope, fo neither can you pray acceptably, without a competent degree of this knowledge. The very Heathen could fay, Non loquendum de Deo fine lumine, i. e. Men must not speak of God without light: The true way of conver fing with, and enjoying God in prayer, is by acting faith on him through a Mediator: So much comfort and true excellency there is in it, and no more. O then, how indispensible is the knowledge of Chrift, to all that do addrefs themselves to God in any duty!

(3.) It is fundamental to all comforts: All the comforts of believers are streams from this fountain. Jefus Chrift is the very object matter of a believer's joy, Phil. iii. 3. “Our rejoicing is "in Chrift Jefus.". Take away the knowledge of Christ, and a Christian is the most fad and melancholy creature in the world.

Again, let Chrift but manifeft himself, and dart the beams of his light into their fouls, it will make them kifs the stakes, fing in flames, and shout in the pangs of death, as men that divide the spoil.

Lastly, This knowledge is fundamental to the eternal happinefs of fouls: As we can perform no duty, enjoy no comfort, fo neither can we be faved without it, John xvii. 3. "This is life "eternal, to know thee the only true God, and Jefus Chrift "whom thou haft fent." And, if it be life eternal to know Christ, then it is eternal damnation to be ignorant of Christ: As Chrift is the door that opens heaven, fo knowledge is the key that opens Christ. The excellent gifts, and renowned parts of the moral Heathens, tho' they purchased to them great efteem and honour among men, yet left them in a state of perdition, because of this great defect, They were ignorant of Chrift, 1 Cor. i. 21. Thus you fee how fundamental the knowledge of Chrift is, effentially neceffary to all the graces, duties, comforts and happiness of fouls.

3dly, The knowledge of Chrift is profound and large; all other sciences are but shallows; this is a boundless, bottomless ocean: No creature hath a line long enough to fathom the depth of it; there is height, length, depth and breadth afcribed to it, Eph. iii. 14. yea, it paffeth knowledge. There is "a mani"fold wifdom of God in Chrift," Eph. iii. 10. It is of many forts and forms, of many folds and plights: It is indeed fimple, pure and unmixed with any thing but itself, yet it is manifold in de grees, kinds and administrations: Tho' fomething of Christ be unfolded in one age, and fomething in another, yet eternity it felf cannot fully unfold him. I fee fomething, faid Luther, which bleffed Austin faw not; and those that come after me, will fee that which I fee not. It is in ftudying of Christ, as in the plant. ing of a new discovered country; at firft men fit down by the fea-fide, upon the skirts and borders of the land; and there they dwell, but by degrees they fearch farther and farther into the heart of the country: Ah, the best of us are yet but upon the borders of this vaft continent !

4thly, The ftudy of Jefus Chrift is the most noble subject that ever a foul ipent itself upon; thofe that rack and torture their brains upon other ftudies, like children, weary themselves at a low game; the eagle plays at the fun itself. The angels tudy this doctrine, and stoop down to look into this deep

* П102.Uzeixidos copía ☺sẽ, Multiformis fapientia Dei. Caryl in Job xi. 6.