hence I gather, that the true knowledge of
God consists not in the comprehension of all the conclusions that are
deduced, and controversies that are discussed anent these things, but
rather, in the serious and solid apprehension of God, as he hath relation
to us, and consequently in order and reference to the moving of our
hearts, to love, and adore, and reverence him, for he is holden out only
in those garments that are fit to move and affect our hearts. A man may
know all these things, and yet not know God himself, for to know him,
cannot be abstracted from loving him."(56)

The practical character of the theology of Binning is not less remarkable.
He never lost sight of the connection between truth and the conscience.
All who are acquainted with his writings must be aware, that from the
consideration of the more profound doctrines of Divine Revelation, he did
not permit himself to be deterred by any false humility, or any mistaken
idea of the incompetency of the human mind to follow in the track of the
sacred writers. In the works of no author of the period, or of the
theological school to which he belonged, shall we find more frequent
references to the high and sacred mysteries of revealed truth. Yet are we
unable to perceive, in his discourses, any symptoms of the paralyzing
influence, which the discussion of such topics has not unfrequently
exerted, on the compositions of other equally sound, but less skilful and
comprehensive writers. His divinity was drawn immediately from the sacred
scriptures, and finding it there, not only in its sublime, and often
mysterious relations to the mind, and purposes of the Almighty, but also
in its application to the conscience and affections of the finite
creature, for whose use it was revealed,--he presented it to his hearers in
all its native majesty, and at the same in all its practical simplicity.

In dealing with the consciences of sinners, in particular, this
peculiarity of Binning is displayed in a manner that is singularly
striking. In the sermons of those who are most opposed to the doctrines
which he was at such pains to inculcate, we shall search in vain for more
pungent addresses to the consciences of mankind, or more unfettered
exhibitions of the gospel as a remedial scheme, in which all the
descendants of Adam are warranted to regard themselves as having an
interest. Some of his contemporaries were evidently shackled by their
conceptions of the place which the doct