Having thus sought to make plain in what acknowledgment consists, as distinguished from mere knowledge, or bare non-denial, and having endeavoured, at the same time, to point out clearly the object towards whom religious acknowledgment is to be entertained, namely, "God in Christ,"—we proceed to consider first the duty, and next the advantage, of such acknowledgment; which are the cheif practical inferences we purpose, in this Section, to draw.
The acknowledgment of God, it was before remarked, is a real and practical belief, habitually pervading our thoughts, and influencing our views of life for time and eternity,—and, it may be added, naturally expressing itself in worship. Taking it, now, for granted, that "there is a Being All-Powerful, Wise, and Good, by whom every thing exists," the duty and advantage of an acknowledgment of Him, His existence, presence, and providence, must be clearly seen. In the first place, common gratitude demands this. We find ourselves in existence: we did not make ourselves: the Being, who did make us, has made Himself known to us by a distinct Revelation. We now know, therefore, whom to thank for the great gift of life, with its manifold enjoyments. Shall we not, then, express our gratitude? Though invisible to us, He has declared
mences with the words, "O thou Unknown:"—had he addressed his prayer directly to the Lord Jesus, "God manifest in the flesh," he would have had no need to say, "O thou Unknown," but he would have said, "O Saviour God." Jesus said to his disciples, "If ye had known me, ye would have known my Father also; and henceforth ye know Him and have seen Him." (John xiv. 7.) It was the heathen Athenians, who had an altar "to the Unknown God" (Acts xvii. 23); but it is the glory of Christians, that their God is no longer unknown.
