Knowledge, therefore, is essential to Religion.

"The knowledge requisite to a proper understanding of the sacraments includes a knowledge of all the essential doctrines of the gospel. When a man is baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, unless these sacred names represent to his mind some definite idea, unless he know them to be the names of the persons of the Godhead, he cannot know what he does in submitting to be baptized. He does not acknowledge Jehovah; nor does he receive him as his covenant God, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. As baptism is designed to signify and seal our union with Christ, and our deliverance through him from the guilt and dominion of sin, unless we know ourselves to be sinners, and know that it is necessary for us to be united to Christ, and by his blood and Spirit to be pardoned and renewed, the ordinance for us loses all its significance.

Thus a knowledge of the truth concerning God, concerning sin, atonement, and regeneration, is essential to a proper participation to be a memorial of the death. And as the Lord's supper is intended to be a memorial of the death of Christ, unless we know who he was, why he died, and what benefits his death secures, we are incapable of profitably joining in this service. All the affections must have an appropriate object. If we love, we love something; if we fear, we fear something; if we desire, we desire something. There can be neither faith, nor love, nor penitence, nor hope, nor gratitude, but as objects suited to these exercises depends upon the nature of the objects which call them forth. If they are excited by the truth, they are right and good; and just in proportion to the clearness with which the truth is spiritually discerned, will be the purity and strength of the religious emotions. Knowledge, therefore, is essential to religion."

- Charles Hodge, 1841 The Way of Life pg. 198-199