6. That it is given to us in our persons in particular in the power and efficacy of it. It is offered to the nation, but bestowed upon us : John xiv. 22, ' How is it that thou wilt reveal thyself to us, and not unto the world ? ' Others have only truth presented to them obiter, by the by, for your sakes ; but you are ' called according to purpose,' Bom. viii. 28. Though in the general means they have a like favour with you, yet you may observe the particular aim of God in continuing the gospel to England for your sakes.
Use. Well, then, acknowledge God in the truths that are delivered to you out of the scriptures. Whatever means are used, God is the author of the doctrine, and the disposer of the message : receive it ' as the word of God,' and then it will ' profit you,' 1 Thes. ii. 13. If you had an oracle from heaven speaking to you on this wise, you would be more serious. It is as certain, yea, it is /3e^acoTepo<; X6yo<i, ' a more sure word,' 2 Peter i. 19, more sure than the oracle spoken of in the context. Regard the promises and threatenings of it with more rever- ence, as if God in person had delivered them to you. If you receive it * as the word of God, and not of men,' what will you venture upon the promises of it ? These are bills of exchange given you, that you may draw your estate into another country, that you may lay up ' treasures in heaven.' Neglect of the opportunity is a sign of unbelief. If one should proffer you a hundred pounds for the laying out of a penny, and you go away and never heed it, it is a sign you do not believe the ofier. The recompenses of the word do far exceed all temporal emolu- ment; if you do not heed them, it is a sign you do not believe them. So what will you forbear upon the threatenings of the word ? If there were a law made that every time we deceive or slander one another, we should hold one of our hands in scalding lead for half an hour, men would be afraid of the offence. God hath told us that ' the wages of sin is death,' that we shall be plunged for evermore in ' the lake that burnetii with fire and brimstone ; ' and yet it doth not deter us from sin, and giving offence to God. If a man were told that he were in danger of a cruel death every moment if he did not presently get a
^ ' Monatra diabolica colebant, ^Egyptiaca nunc numero vincentia.' — Gildas.
110 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [VeR. 3.
pardon, he would not sleep till it were done. Natural men are in danger of hell every moment hy the sentence of the word, and yet how backward are they to make their peace with God !
Obs. 2. The word delivered, implieth a leaving things in another's hand by way of trust, and so doth not only note the mercy of God, but the duty of the church, to whom ' the oracles of God are committed ' to be kept. Whence observe, that God hath delivered the doctrine and rule of faith to the church as a public trustee, that it may be kept and employed to the uses of the truth. Let us a little see what is the church's duty towards the truth. I answer — (1.) To publish it to the present age. (2.) To keep it and preserve it for ages to come. So that to the present age w^e are witnesses, to the future trustees, Isa. xhii. 10.
1. To publish, own, and defend the truth, by profession and martyr- dom ; and therefore the church is called ' the pillar and ground of truth,' 1 Tim. iii. 15, namely, in respect of men, and as it holdeth it forth to the world ; and therefore we ought to hearken to the church's testimony till we have better evidence. We do not ultimately resolve our faith into the church's authority, for the church's authority is not absolute, but ministerial ; as a royal edict doth not receive credit by the officer and crier, he only declareth it and publisheth it ; yet the church's testimony is not to be neglected, for ' faith cometh by hearing,^ Rom. X. 14, and this publication of the church is a good preparative inducement, John iv. 42. If we would know the truth of a thing, till we have experience we go to those that have experience, and ordinarily the judgment of others whom we respect and reverence causeth us to have a good opinion of a thing till we make trial ourselves : in which respect Austin saith, I had never believed the scriptures unless I had been moved thereunto by the authority of the church ; "^ as we should never have known the king's pleasure unless the messenger had brought us his letters. The church hath not power to make and unmake scripture at pleasure, but only to communicate and hold forth the truth ; and till we have further assurance, is so far to be heard. We receive the faith per ecclesiam, by the ministry of the church, though not 'propter ecclesiam, for the authority of the church.