None but Christ,: or A plain and familiar treatise of the knowledge of Christ, exciting all men to study to know Jesus Christ and him crucified, with a particular, applicatory, and saving knowledge, in diverse sermons upon I Cor. 2. 2. / By John Wall B.D. preacher of the word of God at Mich. Cornhill London.

CHAP. XII. A Reproofe of those that know nothing of Iesus Christ.

[Vse 1] IF this be so, that we ought to study to know nothing but Iesus Christ and him crucified) then they are justly to be re∣proved that know nothing of Iesus Christ and him crucified. There are five sorts of them who know nothing (or very little) of Iesus Christ and him crucified.

First, the heathens, who are the great∣est part of the world, and of whom there are milions of milions at this day, who want the meanes of knowledge, and can never attaine salvation: for if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that perish. 2 Cor. 4. 3.

And they are without hope. Eph. 2. 12.* 1.1

Some indeed think the moralized hea∣thens that walked by the light of nature, were saved (as Chrys. Clemens Alexand. Erasmus, Casauhon, and others) but Christ tels us the contrary Act. 4. 12. Though in comparison of us that have the meanes, they are said to have no sin, Ioh. 15. 22. I grant, whether it be a sin or no, in the Heathens not to know Christ, to whom he was never revealed, is a que∣stion; But of this I am sure, if their nega∣tive infidelity be no sin (being ignorantia privationis, or negativa) yet their positive fidelity is odious, in that they trust to dumb Idols, to the stock of a tree, &c. when as the light of nature tels them that they themselves are better then that they trust

in (by whichlight of nature they shall be judged, Rom. 2. 12.) yea light of nature tels them a living creature is better then the pi∣cture (as a lamb in the field or a bird flying in the aire. &c. are better then a picture of them) And yet saith one, si accepto spi∣ritu occurrerent, ut monstra haberentur.

2. The Turks that acknowledge God a fa∣ther, yet deny Christ a Redeemer, though they heare of Christ, yet despise him, reject, abuse him and his members, and prefer their Mahomet before him: whose sin is greater, because their own religion is so absurd, fleshly, and filthy, and his rewards all fleshly, fitter for swine then men.

3. The poore scatter'ed Iewes, of whom and for whom Christ especially came, to them still Christ is a mystery; they acknowledge Moses law and the Pro∣phets, but reject Christ as an impostor, & looke for a saviour to come, when Christ is so plainly preached in their own law; search the scriptures saith Christ, for they are they which testify of me. John 5. 39. And yet they remain as judiciarily, so wilfully blind and ignorant (2 Cor. 3. 14.) as a just punish∣ment of their own imprecation when they cryed, His bloud be on us and our children.

4. Papists who nourish ignorance, teaching it to be the mother of devotion,

when as we know that ignorance is the cause of sin. Matth. 22. 29. and punishment of sin. Rom. 1. 21. Esa. 6. 9. & surely that re∣ligion cannot be good which hateth the light; He that doth evill hateth the light John. 3. 10. Neither is it likely that that should be the mother of devotion, that is the mother of Atheisme, idolatry and su∣perstition, as appeares Act. 17. 22. Psal. 10. 4. Gal. 4. 8. But thus they pul out the peoples eyes, as the Philistims did Samp∣sons, and then they make sport with them.

And further, though they know Christ to be a Saviour, yet they make him not the alone Saviour, but joyne with Christ their owne workes, and make themselves at least in part, their owne saviours: But if wee adde but one mite to Christs treasure, we say Christ is not rich enough to save us, and so we make him no Saviour, Rom. 10. 3. Gal. 5. 4.

5. And lastly, it reproveth all ignorant* 1.2 persons among our selves; a man would wonder how they can make a shift or study to be so ignorant, who are even like the horse and mule that have no understanding; As in the creation, Darknesse covered the face of the earth, so of their soules. Ask them what Christ is? They answer some

of them, that he is a God, some a man, some an angel, a spirit, &c. Learned Master Pemble reports of a man dying, being asked what Christ was, he said, he thought he was a towardly young youth, &c.

But let all thus grosly ignorant consi∣der, [unspec 1] first their ignorance is inexcusable, be∣cause the Gospell shines so clearly in their faces (The light shineth in the darkness, but the darkness comprehendeth it not, Joh. 1. 10.) There is a three-fold ignorance, 1. A privative ignorance, 2. A wilfull igno∣rance, 3. A negligent ignorance. Now their ignorance is not ignorantia privationis in∣vincibilis, that is, negative or invincible igno∣rance; but first it is ignorantia pravae affecti∣onis (as the Schoolmen speak) That is wil∣full from corrupt affection: It is one thing nescire, not to know, and another thing nolle scire, not to be willing to know; And these are they that shut their eyes least they should see with their eyes, Math. 13. 15. Depart from us, say they, for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes, Job. 21. 14. Or secondly, at least it is supina ignoran∣tia, supine, careless, or negligent igno∣rance, when men will use no meanes nor take any paines for knowledge; these are said to hate knowledge, Prov. 1. 19. And this ignorance doth much aggravate their

sin, and make it without any cloake or colour of excuse; if I had not come among you (saith Christ) you had had no sin, but now you have no cloake for your sin, John 15. 22. How shall you escape that neglect so great salvation? saith Paul Heb. 2. 3.

2. An ignorant heart is an evill heart;* 1.3 without knowledge, the mind is not good, saith Solomon, Prov. 19. 2. surely if the head be leprous, the body cannot be sound; If the head be giddy, the body must needs stag∣ger; If the eye be dark, all the body is dark. Matth. 6. 22.

3. All their workes are evill, and workes of darknesse; they can yeeld no obedience to God acceptably, because it is brutish and not rationall service; for how can we shun evill when we know not what is evill? Or do our duty when we know not our duty? The blind eates many a fly; and who so bold as blind Bayard? Ignorance made them lay violent hands upon Christ himselfe; but had they known him, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

4. Fourthly, They can have no repen∣tance; for how can we repent and be greived for our sins untill we know them? and how can we cry for mercy when we see not our misery? Ionas while he was

asleepe in the ship, feared not the tempest till awakened; the child in the dark womb cryes not, till it come into the light.

5. How full of feare are they that walk* 1.4 in the dark? The Egyptians, when the plague of darknesse, was upon them, how uncomfortable was their condition? But what horrour will possesse thy darke soul in that hour of darknesse? how terrible will death be to thee? The Sun ecclipsed at the death of Christ, was dreadfull; but more dreadfull will it be when the face of God is ecclipsed toward thee.

6. Sixthly, Such have no part in Christ; for as in the creation, the first work God made was light, so in the regeneration* 1.5 the first grace God gives is light. Awake thou that sleepest, and stand up from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light, saith the Apostle. Eph. 5. 14. The Eagle tryes her young whether they be her owne, by this signe if they can endure to look upon the Sun, or else she ownes them not (as they say) but casts them upon the hard stones; And certainly thy ignorance, or know∣ledge, discovers thee to be a child of light, or a child of darknesse; for God hath sworne an ignorant person shall never come into heaven; It is a people that do

erre in their hearts, and have not knowne my wayes wherefore I sweare in my wrath, they* 1.6 should never enter into my rest. Heb. 3. 10. Neither will God shew them any mercy (which is usually their excuse) if they be ignorant, as appeares Esa. 27. 11. They are a people of no understanding, there∣fore he that made them will have no mer∣cy on them. Nay Christ hath said he will come in flaming fire to render vengeance to them that know not God. 2 Thes. 1. 8. Igno∣rance will end in vengeance. Neither will voluntary or negligent ignorance excuse a tanto but aggravate thy wrath, John 3. 19. this is condemnation; that is, this makes their* 1.7 condemnation the greater, because light is come among them, but they loved dark∣nesse more then light; and therefore it is affected darknesse.

Quest. What should ignorant men do to come to the knowledge of Christ and their own salvation? I answer, First I ad∣vise them to get a Catechisme, and if they cannot get it by heart, yet let them read it over and over, againe and againe: and for poore servants, let this be a part of their Sabbath dayes work; I could wish likewise that Parents, Masters, & Ministers, would what they can, set upon this work; Catechising teacheth the first principles

and fundamentals in religion, and maketh* 1.8 grounded Christians, and would preserve them from Schismes, errors, and heresyes, and every wind of doctrine with which now so many are blowne away for want of being wel grounded, as a ship without Anchor is tossed hither & thither with the winds, Eph. 4. 14. But a sure foundation will make a firme building, as the house that was built upon a rock, the raine fell, the floods came, the winds blew, but it fell not, because it was founded upon a rock, Mat. 7. 24.

2. let them use the meanes of hearing, reading, conference with other Christi∣ans asking them questions. &c. Let us* 1.9 go (said the people) to the house of the God of Iacob, and he will teach us his wayes. &c. Esa. 2. 3. Onely come with an humble and teachable heart; If any seeme to be wise, let* 1.10 him be a foole that he may be wise. 1 Cor. 3. 18.

3. Practise what you know already; for if any will do my will, he shall know whe∣ther* 1.11 it be of God or no. John. 7. 17. But on the contrary, God will take away the knowledge we have, if we imprison the truth in unrighteousnesse, as Masters blow out the candle when the servants play with it. Rom. 1. 18. 21. 18.

4. Be much in Prayer; for Christ is our Prophet, and if we seeke it of him, he will teach us so much as is necessary to salvation. I councel thee to buy of me Eye∣salve.* 1.12 If thou cryest after knowledge, and lift∣est up thy voyce for understanding, saith So∣lomon; If thou seekest for her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures, then shalt thou understand the feare of the Lord,* 1.13 and finde the knowledge of the Lord Prov. 2. 3, 4, 5. Therefore pray with Job, Lord, what I see not teach thou me; and as David often, Teach me thy statutes, as the naturally blind cried, Lord Jesus that I may receive my sight. The word is like a Dial that will not shew thee how the day go∣eth till the Sun shines upon it; So though there be a spirit in man, yet it is the inspi∣ration of the Almighty that giveth un∣derstanding.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Qui cui∣quam sa∣lutem pro∣mittit sine Christo, nescio u∣trum ipse salutem habere po∣test in Christo. Aug. Acts 17. 31 Ir is true some con∣ceive it is a sinne in Heathens to want habituall knowledge of Christ, because it was in Adam in innocency, and it had beene his duty so to have acted, if God had commanded him, as now he doth command all men: Therefore habituall knowledge of Christ seems still to be required even of heathens; Yea and actuall applicatory knowledge, of all to whom Christ is revea∣led: because the want is their sinne, for which they shall be damned, John 16. 9. Mark 16. 16. But where the Gospel is not revealed, (as among the Heathens) there it seemes not a sinne; for we are not bound to act that which God never re∣vealed to Adam nor since. There is Lex interna, id est, in∣ternus Deiconceptus, and externa or revelata: Now Gods se∣cret will is not our Law, but his will revealed. Leges factae instituuntur cum promulgantur. Rayner. Panth.
• * 1.2

  An igno∣rant man little dif∣fers from a beast. Psal. 32. Ier. 4. 22. Esa. 1. 2. Eph. 4. 17.
• * 1.3

  Iohn 9. 41.
• * 1.4

  Light is sweet, but darknesse terrible.
• * 1.5

  Iohn 17. 3. Iohn 4. 10.
• * 1.6

  Hos. 6. 6. Ioh. 7. 49.
• * 1.7

  Ignoran∣tia, minuit à peccato, quantum minuit à voluntario. Aq. 2. 2. Qu. 76.
• * 1.8

  Heb. 6. 1. & 5. 12.
• * 1.9

  2 Tim. 3. 16. Iohn. 5. 39.
• * 1.10

  1 Cor. 8. 2.
• * 1.11

  Prov. 24. 13, 14. Rom. 1. 18. 21. 28.
• * 1.12

  Iob 32. 8. 1 Cor. 2. 10.
• * 1.13

  Ioh. 34. 32