Section II. — Secondly, Thou must become a disciple to Christ. Men do not teach strangers the mystery of their trade, but their servants, and such as are willing to be bovmd to them ; neither doth Christ promise to reveal the mys- teries of the gospel to any but those that will give up their names to be his servants and disciples : ' Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the king- dom of God, but unto them that are without, all these things are done in para- bles,' Mark iv. 11. When once thou hast subscribed to the covenant of the gospel, thy indenture is sealed ; Christ is now thy master ; he takes thee for one of his family and charge, and will look to thy education : but those on whose hearts he hath no hold, come to the ordinance, but when it is done, return to sin as their trade, and Satan as their lord ; is it likely that Christ should teach them ? The mysteries of iniquity and of godliness are contrary ; the one cannot be learned till the other be unlearned. Thirdly, If thou wouldst learn this mystery to any purpose, content not thyself with a simple knowledge of it. The gospel hath respect both to the head and heart, understanding and will : to the understanding, it is a mystery of faith ; to the heart and life, it is a mys- tery of godliness. Now these two must not be severed : ' Holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience,' 1 Tim. iii. 9. Here is both the manna and a golden pot to keep it in : truth laid up in a pure conscience. Knowledge may make thee a scholar, but not a saint ; orthodox, but not gracious. What if thou wert able to write a commentary on all the Bible, and from the Scripture couldst confute all the errors and heresies which were at any time broached and vented against the truth, what would this avail thee, while thy own lusts confute, yea, confound thee. ' If I understand all mysteries, and have not charity, I am nothing,' 1 Cor. xiii. 2. He that increaseth in knowledge, and doth not get grace with his knowledge, increaseth sorrow to himself, yea, eternal sorrow. It would be an ease to gospel sinners in hell, if they could erase the remembrance of the gospel out of their memories. In thy knowledge, therefore, of gospel mysteries, labour for two things.
Section IV. — First, Thy property in them. Herein lies the pith and marrow of gosjiel knowledge. When thou findest what Christ hath done and suffered for poor sinners, rest not till thou canst say with Paul, ' Who loved me, and gave himself for me.' When thou readest any precious promise, ask thy soul. Is it spoken to me, or to some other? Am I the pardoned person ? Am I the poor in spirit, to whom the kingdom of heaven is promised ? Am I one in Christ Jesus, to whom there is no condemnation ? How impatient were those two prisoners, till Joseph had opened their dream, that they might know what should befall them ! The Scripture will inform you whether your head shall be lifted up to the gibbet in hell, or to the King's court in heaven. Now, in read- ing or hearing what this is, thou shouldst inquire to know where it lays thee out thy portion, whether in the promise or in the threatening. There is a sweet feast the gospel speaks of, but am I one of Christ's guests that shall sit at it ? There are mansions prepared in heaven, but can I find one taken up for me there ? Secondlj', Labour to find the power and efficacy of gospel truths upon thee. When our first parents had eaten that unhappy fruit which gave them, and all mankind in them, their bane, it is said, then they knew they were naked ; doubtless they knew it before their fall, but now they knew it Avith shame : they knew it, and sought for clothes to cover them, of which they found no want before. I only allude to the place ; many know what sin is, but it is not a soul- feeling knowledge ; they know they are naked, but are not ashamed of their nakedness ; they see no need of Christ's righteousness to cover it. Many know Christ died, and for what he died ; but Christ's death is a dead truth to them, it doth not procure the death of their lusts that were the death of him. They know he is risen, but they lie still rotting in the grave of thair corruptions : they know Christ is ascended to heaven, but this draws not their souls after him. A philosopher being asked what he had got by philosophy, answered, ' It hath learned me to contemn what others adore, and to bear what others cannot endure.' If one should ask. What have you got by knowing the mystery of the gospel ? truly you can give no account worthy of it, except you say, ' I have learned to believe what flesh and blood could never have taught me, and to do
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