If men only knew God, it would be enough to keep them from sin, and there is a notable place in 1 John 2:4, He that saith I know Him and keepeth not His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. If there is any man in the congregation who says he knows God and does not keep His commandments, he lies, says the Holy Ghost. What, do you know God, man or woman? Sinner, man or woman, do you know God, that infinite, glorious, eternal God with whom you have to do? And do you not keep His commandments, but go on in ways of sin? Certainly you are a liar.
It may be that many of you are apt to say, "We know God. Why do we need to have so much of God preached?"
If you say that you know God and do not keep His commandments, you are a liar. But now join these together: knowing what a glorious God this is, and how sin works against God.
Some know somewhat of God's attributes and can discourse of Him yet, perhaps, never knew before sin made against this God. This is what people fail in. Certainly both together has not been known by most people. I remember a speech I read of a German divine upon his sickbed. He cries out thus: "in this disease I have learned what sin is, and how great he majesty of God is." These two together will make men understand that they never considered before what their lives are and how people go on in a resolute, inconsiderate way. They do not know what they do, nor do they know what God is. Therefore, we pray as Christ in another case. Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. Poor creatures, they do not know what they do. They never imagined what the greatness of the glory of God is. [Jeremiah Burroughs--Evil of Evils]
For Further quotes from the same book see at Reformers Corner, posts #1027 to post #1034
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