loves with a love that passeth knowledge. Thus therefore you may
see that in this prayer of Paul, there is a great deal of good.
He prays, when he prays that we might know the love of Christ that
passeth knowledge: that we may have a help at hand, and relief
against all the horrible temptations of the devil. For this is a
help at hand, a help that is ready to fall in with us, if there
be yet remaining with us, but the least grain of right reasoning
according to the nature of things. For if it be objected against
a man that he is poor, because he has but a groat in his pocket;
yet if he has an unknown deal of money in his trunks, how easy
is it for him to recover himself from that slander, by returning
the knowledge of what he has, upon the objector. This is the case,
and thus it is, and will be with them that know the love of Christ
that passeth knowledge. Wherefore,

(2.) By this knowledge, room is made for a Christian, and liberty
is ministered unto him, to turn himself every way in all spiritual
things. This is the Christian's rehoboth, that well for which the
Philistines have no heart to strive, and that which will cause
that we be fruitful in the land (Gen 26:22).

If Christians know not with this knowledge, they walk in the world
as if they were pinioned; or as if fetters were hanged on their
heels. But this enlarged their steps under them (2 Sam 22:37):
by the knowledge of this love they may walk at liberty, and their
steps shall not be straitened. This is that which Solomon intends
when he saith, "Get wisdom, and get understanding" (Prov 4:5).
Then "when thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened, and when
thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble" (Prov 4:12). A man that has
only from hand to mouth, is oft put to it to know how to use his