[4.] The word being thus stated and put into a sure record, it is intelligible enough, in all necessary matters at least ; for if God should speak or write darkly to his people, especially in necessary things, it is because he could not or would not speak otherwise. The former is direct blasphemy : Exod. iv. 11, ' Who hath made man's mouth? have not I, the Lord ?' The latter cannot be said, because that is contrary
24 TUE SECOND SERMON. [2 ThES. II. 2.
to his goodness : Ps. xxv. 8, ' Good and upriglit is the Lord, therefore will he teach sinners the way.' It is not to be imagined that the great and universal king should give a law to mankind, and speak so darkly that we should have no sure direction from thence, nor be able to know his mind in any of the duties God hath required of us, or expose us to great difficulties and hardships in the world. And if he had not plainly expressed his will to us, man would never leave writing and distinguishing himself out of his duty. Surely he that will venture his all for Christ's sake had need of a clear warrant to bear him out, for none will hazard all that is near and dear to him but for weighty reasons.
[5.] Besides, the illumination of the Holy Spirit doth accompany this word, and make it effectual to us, to show us God as revealed in Christ : 2 Cor. iv. G, ' God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined into our hearts, to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ;' and for heaven, Eph. i. 17, 18, ' Praying that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him ; the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.' He sanctifieth and healeth our souls, and prepareth us for the entertain- ment of the truth, that as natural things are naturally discerned, so spiritual things are si)iritually discerned: 1 Cor. ii. 14, 'The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolish- ness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.'
[6.] There are promises of direction made to humble and sincere minds : Ps. xxv. 9, ' The meek shall he guide in judgment, the meek shall he teach his way ;' to the industrious : Prov. ii. 4, 5, ' If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures, then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God ;' to the godly and well-disposed: John vii. 17, ' If any man will do his will, he sliall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself ; ' so to them that pray much : James i. 5, ' If any man lack wisdom, let him ask it of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.' They that thus sincerely endeavour to know the will of God, will come to a sound, established judgment in the truth.
2. A Chri.stian that is thus established, is fortified against spirit, word, or writing, or all suggestions that may perplex his mind.
[l.J Against j)retended revelations, called here spirit.
(1.) Because having his mind thus settled, he may boldly defy all revelations j>retended to the contrary : Gal. i. 8, ' Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel than we have preached, let him be accursed.' Any doctrine, if diverse, or different from, or besides the written word, much more contrary to it, a Christian may reject it, and account it cursed doctrine ; therefore neither church, nor angel, nor sjtirit is to be heard against it.
(2.) Because a Christian is upon better terms, having the written word, than if God dealt with him by way of revelations : 2 Peter i. ID,
2 Tees. II. 2.] the second sermon. 25
* We have ^e^aiorepov \6yov, a more sure word of prophecy ; ' com- paring it with the voice from heaven, of which he spake before ; not as if there could be any uncertainty in the Lord's voice speaking from heaven, but because a transient voice is more easily mistaken or for- gotten than an authentic standing record ; as Samuel thought Eli called him, when it was the Lord. It is quoad nos ; though God gave evidence of the truth of such revelations as he made, yet we have more accommodate means. Our Lord intimateth such a thing : Luke XVI. 31, ' If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.' This is the surest ground for faith to rest upon of any that ever hath been or can be given to sinners, subject to forgetfuluess, jealousies, and mistakes.
(3.) Because it is not rational to expect new revelation, now the canon and rule of faith is closed up: Heb. ii. 1, 2, ' Therefore we ought- to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip,' &c. ; Mat. xxviii. 20, ' Teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you ; ' John xvii. 29, ' Neither pray I for these alone, but for them which shall believe on me through their word.'