Use 1 is for information.
1. The difference between the way of God and the way of sin. We have need of none to teach us to do evil — Vitia etiam sine magistro discunhii' ; we have that from nature ; but in the way of God we must be taught and taught again ; God must be our teacher and daily monitor.
2. It informs us that as to knowledge and direction there must be much done. Poor man, lying in the darkness and shadow of death, it was necessary for him —
[1.] That some doctrine should be revealed by God, by which he might understand how God stood affected towards him, and he ought to be affected towards God.
[2.] That this doctrine being revealed by God, it should be kept safe and sound, free from oblivion and corruption, in some public and authentic record, especially in these last times, when not only the canon is enlarged, but the church propagated far and near, and ob- noxious to so many calamities, and men are short-lived, and there are not such authentic witnesses to preserve the credit of a divine reve- lation.
[3.] That this writing and record be known to come from God's own hand by some infallible proof, to the end that it may be entertained with the more reverence.
[4.] To own this authority, and discern God's mind, we need a suit- able faculty, or a heart disposed by the Iloly Ghost to receive the proof which God offereth, namely, that we should be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and open our eyes.
[5.] It is not enough to own our rule, but we must be continually excited to study it, that we may come to a saving measure of the knowledge of God's mind in the word.
[6.] After some knowledge our ignorance is apt to return upon us, unless the Holy Ghost do still enlighten us and warn us of our duty upon all occasions.
Use 2. In the sincerity of your hearts go to God for his teaching. God is pleased with tlie request : 1 Kings iii. 9, 10, ' Give therefore
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thy servant an understanding heart, to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad ; for who is able to judge this thy so great a people ? And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.' Oh ! beg it of God.
1. The way of God's statutes is worthy to be found by all.
2. So hard to be found and kept by any.
3. It is so dangerous to miss it, that this should quicken us to be earnest with God.
1. It is so worthy to be found ; it is the way to eternal life and to escape eternal death ; and in matters of such a concernment no dili- gence can be too much : Prov. xv. 24, ' The way of life is above to the wise, to depart from hell beneath.' It is the way that leadeth to life and true happiness.
2. It is so hard to find and keep ; it is a narrow way : Mat. vii. 13, 14, ' Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat ; because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which lead- eth unto life, and few there be that find it.' There is defect, here excess. A gracious spirit, that would keep with God in all things, is sensible of the difficulty ; there are many w'ays that lead to hell, but one way to heaven.
3. It is so dangerous to miss it in whole or in part ; in whole, you are undone for ever ; in part, in every false religion such disadvantages, so little of God's presence and the comforts of his Spirit : 1 Cor. iii. 15, 'If any man's work shall be burnt, he shall suffer loss, but he him- self shall be saved, yet so as by fire.' A man should look after the most clear and safe way to heaven.
Doct. 2. That divine teaching is earnestly desired by God's chil- dren.
How often doth David repeat this request ! These expressions are strange to us, who, as soon as we have gotten a little knowledge, think we know as much as we need to know, and are wise enough to guide our way without further direction ; but they are not so to the people of God.
Reus. 1. It is a hard matter to understand a thing spiritually and as it ought to be understood. There is an understanding of things literally, and a spiritual discerning : 1 Cor. ii. 14, ' A natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually dis- cerned.' There is a knowing things at random and by a general knowledge, and a knowing things as we ought to know : 1 Cor. viii. 2, * If any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.' There is a knowing the truth as it is in Jesus : Eph. iv. 21, 'If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the trutli is in Jesus.' It is not every sort of know- ledge that is saving ; a man may go to hell with speculative light ; that never reacheth the heart : sucli as is practical and operative, the scripture presseth knowledge, and the modus of it.