3. See the misery of man in the state of nature. Before Christ come to be their prophet they are invcloped with ignorance and darkness. Men know nothing in a salvifical sanctified maTiner, thcv know no- thing as they ought to know, 1 Cor. viii. 2. This is sad. 1. Men in the dark cannot discern colours : so in the state of nature they cainiot discern between morality and grace, — they take one for the other, pro dca mihcm. — 2. In the dark the greatest beauty is hid, — let there be rare flowers in the garden, and pictures in the rooir, yet in the dark their beauty is vailed over, — so, though there be such transcendent beau- ty in Christ as amazeth the angels, a man in the state of nature sees none of this beau- ty. ^\liat is Christ to him, or heaven to him ? The vail is upon his heart. — 3. A man in the dark is in danger every step he goes : so a man in the state of nature is in danger, every step, of falling into hell. Thus it is before Christ teachcth us ; nay, the darkness in which a sinner is, while in an uuregenerate state, is worse than natu- ral darkness, for natural darkness affrights, Gen. XV. 12., "An horror of great dark- ness fell upon Abraham," b.ut the spiritual darkness is not accompanied with horror, — men tremble not at their condition, — nay, they like their condition well enough, John iii. 19,, "Men loved darkness." This is their sad condition, till Jesus Christ comes as a j)rophet to teach them, and to turn them fr(»m darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God.
4. See the happy condition of the chil- dren of God, they have Christ to be their pro]>het, Isa. liv. 13., " All thy children shall be taught of the Lord ;" 1 Cor. i. 30.,
' God is made to us wisdom." One man cannot see by another's eves ; but Ix'lievers see with Christ's eyes, — " In his light they see light;" Christ gives them the light of grace and light of glory.
Use 2d. Labour to have Christ for your prophet ; he teacheth savingly, he is an in- terpreter of a thousand, he cai untie those knots which puzzle very angels. Till Christ teach, we never learn any lesson:
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till Clirist is made to us wisdom, we shall never be wise to salvation.
QuKsr. JVhnt ahall tee dctto have Christ for our teacher ?
Anx. See your need of Christ's teaching. You cannot see your way without this morning-star. Some speak much of the light of reason improved : Alas ! the plumb- line of reason is too short to fathom the deep things of God, — the light of reason will no more help a man to believe, than the light of a candle will lielp him to un- derstand. A man can no more by the power of nature reach Christ, than an in- fant can reach the top of the pyramids, or the ostrich fly up to the stars. See your need of Christ's anointing and teaching, Rev. iii. 18.
J. 2. Go to Christ to teach you, Ps. xxv. 5. " Lead me in thy truth, and teacli me." As one of the disciples said, " Lord teach us to pray," Luke xi. L : so Lord, teach me to profit. Do thou light my lamp, O thou great prophet of thy church ! Give me a spirit of wisdom and revelation, that I may see things in another manner than ever I saw them before ; teach me in the word to hear thy A'oice, and in the sacrament to discern thy body. Ps. xiii. 3., " Lighten mine eyes," &c. Cathedram habit in cocio qui corda docet in terra. Aug. " He hath his pulpit in heaven who converts souls." And that avc may be encouraged to go to our great prophet :
\. Jesus Christ is very willing to teach us. \Vliy else did he enter into the calling of the ministry but to teach the mysteries of heaven ? Matth. iv. 23., " Jesus went a- bout teaching and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people." Why did he take the oflice pro- phetical upon him? — Why was Christ so angry with them that kept away the key of knowledge ? Luke xi. 52. — Why was Christ anointed with the Spirit without measure ? — but that he might anoint us with know- ledge. Knowledge is in Christ as milk in the breast for the child. O then go to Christ for teaching ! None in the gospel came to Christ for sight but he restored their eye-sight ; and sure Christ is more willing to work a cure upon a hWxnX soul,
than ever he was to do so upon a blind body.