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Virtue without knowledge were like a beautiful damsel blind, or a fair house that hath not a window in it. Virtue is like a pearl in the shell; there must be knowledge to break the shell, or we cannot come at the pearl. Ignorance is dangerous. Thus the devil carries many to hell, as falconers carry their hooded hawks, without baiting. There is no wretchedness so pitiable as that which is not known to the sufferer. If men will not know God, God will not know them. The work of regeneration begins at illumination. The first thing that sunk in our first parents was knowledge: now where the wound began, there must begin the medicine. Knowledge is the light of virtue.

1. By knowledge is here meant an insight into heavenly things.

2. This earnest exhortation to knowledge intimates that naturally we want it. The first way to knowledge is to know our own ignorance.

3. Knowledge is not the cause of sin, but ignorance; for virtue is begotten and nourished by knowledge.

4. Seeing we must join with our faith knowledge, it is manifest that an ignorant faith is no faith.

5. This knowledge must be added to virtue also.

(Thos. Adams.)

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KJV: And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

WEB: Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge;