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It is a remarkable expression — "Learning Christ." We learn a science, or we learn a language, or we learn a subject — but what is it to learn a person? We do not learn a person by hearing about him, or reading about him; we must know him. Now remember, that to "learn" implies effort, study, perseverance, progress. You do not learn by intuition. You do not learn by simply being told a thing. There must be patient earnestness. Now I wish to inquire, What are the schools in which Christ is most taught?

1. And I say first, and emphatically, the nursery. Perhaps in no part of our lives have we truer views of Christ than the views of our early childhood. The Scriptures is made for childhood. Even before a child can understand anything, it can understand Jesus. It is the basis of a good education. It meets a child's intellect. It draws out a child's thoughts. It is a child's philosophy.

2. The next best school, perhaps, is affliction. Life is more still. The day is not so crowded. The heart is more open. We are more impressible to holy lessons.

3. But affliction will not do much if it do not lead us to a further and most important school, the school of our own closet, By three teachings we chiefly learn Christ — prayer, the Bible, and meditation. If either be wanting we shall miss our lesson.

4. Another school of Christ and an eminent one, should be this place. What is this pulpit for but to teach Christ? All our theology begins and ends there. Christ the basis — Christ the sum and substance — Christ the end and object — of all true knowledge.

(J. Vaughan, M. A.)

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KJV: But ye have not so learned Christ;

WEB: But you did not learn Christ that way;