The Knowledge of God

VOLUME FOUR contains fifteen further discourses of primary importance to Christians in every age. The first six discourses – all on texts from the Gospel of John – focus on the knowledge of God in Christ as the only way to eternal life and happiness, showing that true and saving knowledge of God is only in and by Christ, that conviction of sin by the Spirit of God is the way to this knowledge, and that to remain in unbelief is to remain in misery under the wrath of God. The Lord’s Supper and related matters form the subject of a second group of discourses.

Stephen Charnock was born in London in 1628, studied at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was converted, and preached for a time in Southwark. He undertook further study at Oxford, becoming a Fellow of New College, and later Senior Proctor.

He served in Ireland as chaplain to the Governor, Henry Cromwell, and became a popular preacher, being lecturer at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin between 1655 and 1660, and minister of St Werburgh’s Church.

On the Restoration of the monarchy (1660) he returned to London, studying and ministering privately till 1675, when he began a shared Presbyterian pastorate with Thomas Watson at Crosby Hall, Bishopsgate. He died aged 52 in July 1680.