Doct. 3. That the scriptures are written so that plain and private men may get this light and spiritual understanding by them : Ps. xix, 7, ' The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul : the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.'
1. From the author, God, who is the fountain of light ; and surely lie was able and willing conveniently to exj)ress his mind to his crea-' tures. Cannot God speak plainly ? Deus et mentis, et linjuce, ef vocis artifex, as Lactantius calleth him. He that is so wise, so loving of mankind, our supreme judge- and king, would he hide this light under a bushel ? Would he conceal his mind, and leave thee in the dark? Micah vi. 8, 'He hath showed thee, 0 man, what is good ; and what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God ?'
2. For whom the scriptures were written ; not for ministers or pro- fessed students. God speaketh to all sorts of men in the scripture, and
VeK, 130.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 355
therefore would have all nnderstand them. He wrote the scripture that it might be read of all, young and old : Deut. xxx. 11, 12, ' This commandment which I command thee this day, is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off : it is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say. Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it,' &c. Eich and poor ; the king was to read in it all the days of his life : Deut. xvii. 18, 19, ' It shall be that when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, he shall write him a copy in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites : and it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life,' Every good man is to meditate in it : Ps. i. 2, ' His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night;' Deut. vi. 6, 7, ' These words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thy heart : and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.' The apostles wrote epistles to the whole church, spake to old men, youth, little children : 1 John ii. 13, ' I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write luito you, little children, because ye have known the Father.' To kings, judges, men, women, husbands, wives, fathers, children, mas- ters, servants, was it written for their use ; nor must it be taken out of their hands, nor is it above their reach.
3. The end why it was written, to be a sure and infallible direction to guide us to eternal life, and make us wise unto salvation : 2 Tim. iii. 15, ' And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus.' Not only so, but it is our food and means of growth : 1 Peter ii. 2, ' As new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.' Every life hath food conve- nient for it. It is our weapon in temptation : Eph. vi. 17, ' And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.' To be read by all in this spiritual warfare they are all engaged in. It is God's testament, therefore should be viewed by his children ; the epistle of the creator to his creatures, therefore to be read by them to whom it is sent. God's letter must not be inter- cepted upon all these reasons. There is enough to make wise the simple in scriptures.
But is there nothing difficult in scriptures? Ans. Yes, to subdue the pride of man's wit, to quicken us to wait and depend upon him for knowledge, to prevent contempt, to exercise our industry and dili- gence, and to fasten truths on our minds. There is some difficulty, but not such difficulty as that the people neither can nor ought to read them with profit, which is the dispute between us and papists. There is no difficulty but what is conquerable by that grace that God ordinarily dispenseth, and the means of explaining or applying; not a whole loaf, but a dimensum, his share ; for it distributes to every man liis portion.
Use 1. For the confutation of them that forbid the simple use of the word. The papists say, God's word is dark and hard to be under-
35G SERMONS uroN PSALM cxix. [Ser. CXLIII.
stood ; therefore they lock it up from the people in an unknown tongue, as if none could profit by it but the learned sort. Yea, many among us are ready to say, Wliat should simple ?nen do with scrip- ture ? and think that all the confusions and troubles of tlic world come from giving people this Hberty. Ans. Though in the word there are mysteries to exercise the greatest wits, yet there are plain truths to edify the simple. This text is a notable proof against them. It is good to have a text against every error of theirs. They are injurious to God ; as if he had revealed his mind so darkly, or his word, that it were so doubtful and harmful that there were danger in reading it : injurious to the scriptures, Avhile they tax them with obscurity ; injurious to the people of God, while they des[)ise those whom the Lord inviteth with their pharisaical pride : John vii. 49, ' But this people who know not tlie law are cursed ;' hinder them of their com- fort ; the simple have souls to save, therefore have need to see with their own eyes, to consider God's charter. They pretend they do it in mercy to the people, lest by their mistakes they sliould ruin them- selves, and introduce confusion into the world. They should as well say all luust be starved, and deny meat and drink because some sur- feit. But certainly they do it for their own interest ; they have false wares to vend, and to keep the people from discovering the errors they impose upon them, they would conceal the scriptures from them. Ignorance is a friend to the devil's kingdom. The blind go as they are led. They are afraid of the scriptures as a thief of a candle or the light which would discover his villany and hinder his design, John iii. 20.