[5.] The prophecies of the word ; future contingencies are in it fore- told many years before the event : Isa. xli. 22, 23, ' Let them show the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, and know
VeR. 17.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 459
the latter end of them, or declare us things for to come. Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods.' Cyrus was mentioned by name a hundred years before he was born : Isa. xlv. 1, ' Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden.' The birth of Josiah three hundred years before it came to pass : 1 Kings xiii. 2, ' Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name,' &c. The building of Jericho five hundred years before it was re-edified : Josh. vi. 26, ' Cursed be the man before the Lord that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho ; he shall lay the foundation thereof in his first-born, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.' Which was fulfilled : 1 Kings xvi. 34, ' In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho ; he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his first-born, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.' The great promise of Christ made in paradise was accomplished some thou- sands of years afterward.
Use L It informeth us how to settle the conscience in sore tempta- tions. When we doubt of the truth of the scriptures, take this course : —
1. There must be some word and rule from God to guide the crea- tures ; how else shall he be served and worshipped ? The inward rule of reason is not enough, as appears by the sad experience of the heathens: Eom. i. 21, 22, ' Because that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful ; but became vain in their imagi- nations, and their foolish hearts were darkened : professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.' There must be some second edition of his will. Keason will teach us that God is to be worshipped, and every man's heart will tell him that he must not be worshipped as we will, but as he will ; for the servant must not prescribe to the master, but the master to the servant. Now we have no rule of worship but in the scriptures. The Alcoran is a silly piece, fit for sots. As for revelation, those that are ingenuous cannot speak of any such thing ; and we see how men split themselves upon that rock : all is proved lies at length.
2. There is far more reason to receive the scriptures as the word of God than to suspect them. There is none more credulous than the atheist ; he oflfereth violence to his own heart. The first temptation to it ariseth from his lusts ; he would not have them true ; and then afterward he is hardened and grown obstinate in his prejudices. If he would but hearken to the books of Moses as to the story of an ordinary man, as of Henry the Eighth, there is enough to make him tremble. Now there is no such history in the world, of such a genuine native style, so free from weaknesses, so likely even to a common eye ; and if Moses be true, so is all the rest ; the same vein runneth through all. Now the cause being so weighty, the inducements so rational, why should we not believe it ? At least we may say, as of the blind man, ' If it be not he, it is like him,' John ix. 9.
3. To what hath been alleged, add only this : consider the matter and aim of the scriptures. The scriptures seek to establish nothing but the worship and glory of the true God, the creator and governor of the world ; they discover the God of nature in a most worthy and glorious manner. And for precepts : ,Deut. iv. 8, ' What nation is
460 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeU. XXIX.
I.here so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous, as all this law, which I have set before thee this day ? ' AVhere are there such precepts ? where such promises ? such a manifestation of happi- ness ? sucli purity ? There have been corruptions in the best things to whicli man ever put his hand, mixtures of falsehood and folly ; but here all is pure and divine. Where are there such comforts for afflicted consciences? Jer. vi. IG, ' Stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, Where is the good way ? and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls ; ' Mat. xi. 28, ' Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and ye shall find rest for your souls.' Go and survey all the religions in the world, whatever pretence they be of, see where you can iind such rest for your souls, such provision for the comfort and everlasting happiness of the creature, such rich encouragements for afflicted consciences. That which all religions aim at is here only accomplished.