knowledge of the truth.
SERMON VII.
1 TIMOTHY, Chap. ii. verses 3, 4, and 5.
3. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour:
4. Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
When we despise those whom God would have honoured, it is as much as if we should despise him: so it is, if we make no account of the salvation of those whom God calleth to himself. For it seemeth thereby, that we would stay him from showing his mercy to poor sinners, who are in the way to ruin. The reason why St. Paul useth this argument, that God will have all the world to be saved, is, that we may, as much as lieth in us, also seek the salvation of those, who seem to be banished from the kingdom of God; especially while they are unbelievers.
We must always observe what the condition of the world was in the days of St. Paul. It was something new and strange to have the gospel published to the world in those days: for it appeared that God had chosen the stock of Abraham, and that the rest of the world would be deprived of all hope of salvation. And indeed we see how holy writ setteth forth the adoption of this people: but St. Paul commandeth us to pray for all the world; and not without cause; for he addeth the reason, which is here mentioned: to wit, because God will have all men to be saved. As if he should say, my friends, it is reasonable that we should observe what the will of God is,