February 25

Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. - 2 Corinthians 8:9.

THERE are many who do not know it-who have never heard of his name; they are the proper objects of our compassion: we should daily pray for them, that “his way may he known upon earth, his saving health among all nations.” But it is otherwise with us. “To us is the word of this salvation sent.” It matters very little what we know, if we know not this; yet it is a lamentable fact, that there are many to be found in this land of light who are ignorant of the leading truths of the gospel; these are hastening into a miserable eternity. But persons may not only perish from ignorance, they may perish also by knowledge.

“To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” Oh, the grand thing is for us to know “the truth as it is in Jesus,” to know the way of salvation, to know the way everlasting. Oh, there is a certainty, there is an excellency in this knowledge which distinguishes it from every other. There is blessedness in it. “Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound.” There is freedom in it. “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” There is eternal life in it. “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” It is therefore more than a speculative knowledge that the Apostle intends.

Of what advantage would it be for us to know that he is the foundation, and we never build upon it? Or that he is the refuge, and we never flee to it? Or that he is the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness, and we never wash therein? This gospel belongs to the heart; it requires all our feeling, and it is impossible for us to receive it as we ought-as a message faithful and worthy of all acceptation-unless it excites feelings such as nothing else can produce, and is accompanied with dispositions and pursuits such as nothing else is characterized by.