4. In case you have it, praise God for it. Oh, get largeness of heart io conceive of this great privilege, to have Christ not only to be revealed to you, but in you ! There is a threefold ground of thankfulness : —
[1.] In respect of yourselves, that God was not discouraged with your often resistance of him, but that he should go on with his work : Isa. Ixvi. 9, * Shall I bring to the birth, and not cau.se to bring forth ? ' God speaketh of the outward glory of his church, but it is also true of grace in the hearts of his servants. Oh, how justly might God have broken otF and interrupted his design and purpose of grace and mercy, and have given over such a stubborn heart as yours to the sway of its lusts! As Elizabeth said, Luke i. 43, ' Whence is this, that the mother of my Lord should come to me ? ' So whence is it that the Spirit of the Lord should come to me, stubborn me ? There should be such a reflection upon our unkindness.
[2.] In respect of the freeness of the gift, that he should give his Spirit to work faith in us so freely. Faith is expressed to be the gift of God, Eph. ii. 8; Phil. i. 29, ' To you it is given to believe,' v/j.Ii' e-xapiaOq; you have it of the free grace of God. Flesh would fain boast, and have these things in its own power, but you see, ' to you it is given.'
[3.] In respect of others. That he should reveal himself unto you, and not unto others. What did he see in you more than in others, that he should give you a token of his distinguishing love ? Christ thanketh God for the distinguishingness of it : ' Father, I thank thee, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to babes,' Mat. xi. 2G. And therefore we have the greater reason so to do : John xiv. 22, 'How is it that thou wilt mani- fest thyself unto us, and not imto the world? ' Thus you see what cause there is of thankfulness on this threefold account.
Use 2. Is examination, to see whether you have closed with the re])ort of Jesus Christ or no. If you have closed with it aright, it is with the Spirit's revelation, it is because you have been inwardly con- vinced in your hearts of the truth of it. But how shall we know that we believe in the report because of the Spirit's revelation, and that many will say and every one crieth it up for a truth, that Jesus Christ came to save sinners? I answer: —
1. The S])irit's revelations are distinct; it showeth the soul how Christ will be received. Most men's knowledge of Christ is an in- definite knowledge ; they know him in a confused, indistinct, indefinite manner ; they look upon him as a Saviour, but they do not look upon him as commanding things contrary to their vile affections. Now the Spirit revealeth him detenuinately, what he is, and upon what terms we must take him.
2. It giveth men an experimental taste of Christ : 1 Peter ii. 3, ' If .w be that ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.' They can speak of
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what sweetness there is in Christ. Notional knowlcd<:je looketh upon him as a man looketh npon a thing in the bulk. When a man hears a minister talk of Christ, he taketh it up as a great and comfortable truth, but he cannot speak out of experience. All Christians can speak out of their desires, though not delights : Oh, come, taste and see how good the Lord is !
3. The Spirit revealeth so as to influence us to obedience. Spiritual light is like that of the sun, it hath heat with it. But now it is other- wise with notional irradiations, and common illuminations; the heart is vain, and the conference conduce tli to controversy, more than to the conversion of others.
Use 3. The third and last use is to condemn all that false faith that is in most people : they think they believe in Christ, whereas they scarcely believe the report of him. True faith hath a true ground. Most men have this in their thoughts, that there was such a person as Christ ; the preachers tell them so; the laws of the land and the customs of the people are for it. Alas ! most people are like wax, they are fit to take the stamp and impression of any religion that is bequeathed to them. They are not said so properly to believe, as to have a super- ficial apprehension of the common report that is made concerning such a thing. They have no more saving faith in Christ than Turks and infidels, and have as little true love for him as the Jews that crucified him. I cannot examine every false ground. I will give you marks in general when you have it from any wrong ground ; as —
1. When you take it up without weighing : Prov. xiv. 15, ' The simple believeth every word, but the prudent man looketh well to his going.'