2. None else can give us a capacity to learn. Jesus Christ is such a teacher, that he doth not only give the lesson, but the wit and skill to learn : 1 John v. 20, ' We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true.' No matter what the scholar is, when we have such a master. We use to inquire whether any one hath a capacity to learn. He openeth the scriptures, and openeth the understanding to learn : Luke xxivl 27, ' And beginning at Moses, and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures, the things concerning himself ; ' and ver. 45, ' Then opened he their understandings, that they might under- stand the scriptures.' There is a double veil — upon the doctrine and upon the heart ; Christ removeth both.
Use 1. If that the true knowledge of God is only to be had from Christ, it directeth us in tlie use of all ordinances to look up to him ; there must our trust be fixed, in reading, hearing, meditating. We must use helps and means, else we tempt God, but our trust must be elsewhere. In reading, Ps. cxix. 18, ' Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.' There are wonders in the law, but our eyes must be opened to see them, otherwise we shall have but a superficial and literal knowledge, when men think to find more in books than in Christ. So in hearing, cathedt^am habet in coelis : Isa. ii. 3, ' Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the
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Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways.' You come to the word to be taught by man, and yet not to be taught by man ; in obedience you use the means, but your confidence is on Christ, that you may hear his voice to the soul, that he that brought the gospel out of the bosom of God may bring it into your hearts. The dial is of no use without the sun ; except the sun shine, you cannot see what is a-clock by the dial ; so in meditation and study ; Christ is ' Wonderful, counsellor,' Isa. ix. 6 ; Prov. viii. 14, ' Counsel is mine and sound wisdom ; I am understanding, I have strength.' How are men befooled that go forth in the confidence of their own wit ! Flesh and blood are apt to stumble in God's plainest ways. Carnal hearts turn all to a carnal purpose : Prov. xxvi. 9, ' As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the moutli of fools.' The same cloud that was light to the Israelites was darkness to the Egyptians. Luther calleth the promises ' bloody promises,' through our perverse applications. Truth is only renewing as taught by Christ : Eph. iv. 21, ' If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus.' We cannot tell how to master corruptions without this. The light of common conviction is like a March sun, that draweth up aguish vapours ; it discovereth sins, but cannot quell them. We should be apt to for- sake truth upon every temptation, unless it were for Christ's teaching : Ps. cxix. 102, ' I have not departed from thy judgments, for thou liast taught me;' 1 John ii. 20, ' Ye have an unction from the holy one, and ye know all things.' When men lead us into truth, others may lead us out again. Those that have made trial can best judge of the difference between being taught of God and men : 1 Cor. ii. 4, ' My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.' When the arrow cometh out of God's quiver, it sticketh in our sides. Then we see truths with application.
Use 2. It teachetli us how to direct our prayers to Christ. Seek to him with confidence, and with all earnestness of affection.
1. With confidence ; we despair many times because of our block- ishness: Col. ii. 3, * In him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.' Hidden, not that they should not be found out, but because they are seen by the eye of faith : hidden, because deposited there, to be dispensed to us. God made Christ a storehouse to furnish all our necessities : 1 Cor. i. 30, ' Of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.' Wisdom to give us spiritual illumination. Be not discouraged ; it is not the pregnancy of the scholar that prevaileth here, but the excellency of the teacher. If Christ be the teacher, no matter how dull the scholar be. Pride in parts hatli been a hind- rance, but simpleness hath never been a hindrance : Ps. xix. 7, ' The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple ; ' Jer. xxxi. 33, 34, ' I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their liearts : and will be their God, and they shall be my people : and they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying. Know the Lord , for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them, saith the Lord ; ' Mat. xi. 25,