2. Observe, again, the certainty of christian doctrine. The word delivered to the apostles was received from the Father by Christ. It was no invention of his own, but brought out of the bosom of the Father: John vii. 16, ' My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.' So John xiv. 10, 'The words that I speak, I speak not of myself;' that is, not as mediator. It was prophesied of Christ, who was the great prophet of the church: Deut. xviii. 18, 'I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.' Christ said, ' his Father gave it him.' Christ was consecrated })rophet of the church by the Trinity: Mat. iii. 17, 'This is my beloved ISon, in whom I am well pleased.' There Avas the Father's voice, the Holy Ghost as a dove, and the Son was there in person.
Use. Which should stablisli us the more in the truth, and is a pattern to ministers. It is excellent when we can say, ' My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me;' or, as Paul, 'That which I received of the Lord I have delivered to you,' 1 Cor. xi. 23.
3. Observe, among tl:e things which the Father gave to the Son, one of the chiefest is the doctrine of the gospel. Let us look upon it as a gift; the Father gave it, the Son gave it. Here is a double gift; it was a gift from the Father to Christ, and from Christ to the apostles : ' I have given them the word which thou gavest me.' Next to Christ the gospel is the greatest benefit which God hath given to men. He that despiseth the gospel, despiseth the very bounty of God, and men can- not endure to have their love and bounty despised. As when David
VeU. 8.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 229
sent a courteous message to Nabal, and he was refused, he threatened to 'cut off from Nabal every one that pisseth against the walL' Take heed you despise not God's special gifts. The preaching of the word, it was Christ's largest in the day of his royalty: Eph. iv. 8, 11, 'When he ascended up on high, he gave some, apostles ; and some, prophets ; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;' as princes, when crowned, have their royal donatives. Those that grudge at the ministry, and count it a burden, they do in effect upbraid Christ with his gift, as if it were not worth the giving. Those that labour in the ministry, are his especial gift to us. They are but sottish swine that trample such pearls under feet. We should think of them as the special favours of Christ. I do not speak of the persons, l)ut the calling. This disposition showeth no love to Christ.
Secondly, The next thing is the nature of faith. There are two things spoken of in the text — yvcoaL<; and Xr}i//^i9, ' they have received them, and have known surely.'
First, I begin with the latter, in order of words, as first in order of nature, e'yvwaav a\r]6(bi;, 'they have known surely.' The word dX7j6m, which signifieth truly, surely, is used to exclude that literal historical knowledge which may be in carnal men.
1. Observe, faith cannot be without knowledge. It is not a blind assent: Kom. x, 14, 'How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?' We must know what Christ is before we can trust him with our souls: 1 Tim. i. 12, ' I know whom I have believed.' We must see the stay and prop before we lean upon it, otherwise we shall neither be satisfied in ourselves, nor be able to plead with Satan, nor answer doubts of conscience. He that is impleaded in court, and doth not know the privileges of the law, how shall he be able to purge him- self ? Fears are in the dark. The blind man spoke reason in that conference between Christ and him, when Christ asked him, 'Dost thou believe on the Son of God ? He answered and said, Who is he. Lord, that I might believe on him?' John ix. 35, 36. We must know what God is. Till we have a distinct knowledge of the nature of God, and the tenor of the covenant, we shall be full of scruples. Well then —
Use 1. It discovereth the wretched condition of ignorant persons. We are not so sensible of the danger of ignorance as we should be. God will render vengeance 'to them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel,' 2 Thes. i. 8. Poor wretches! they live sinfully and die sottishly ; they live sinfully, they are under no awe of conscience, be- cause they have no knowledge ; and when they come to die, they die sottishly ; like men that leap over a deep gulf blindfold, they know not where their feet shall light. In their lifetime, at best they live but by guess and some devout aims ; and when they come to die, they die by guess, in a doubtful, uncertain way.
Use 2. To press christians to gain more distinct knowledge, if you would settle your souls in a certainty of salvation. God may lay trouble of conscience upon a knowing person; but usually persons ignorant are full of scruples, which vanish before the light as mists do before the sun.