Use 2. It presseth us, if we would know the secret of the Lord, be holy. Grace opens the eyes, and a man discerns things more clearly. A holy man hath a greater insight into truth than a carnal man, for lusts are the clouds of the mind. He that is encumbered with lusts is blind : 2 Peter i. 9, 'He that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off.' Grace will be an advantage to you in point of knowledge.
Thirdly, I observe, in Noah being warned by God that this warning
180 SEEBIONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SkR. XXXV.
■was by oracle and special revelation ; from whence I note that revela- tion is the ground of faith ; for faith relates to some divine testimony. What we know by reason is knowledge or opinion, but not faith, which supposes a revelation and a testimony. Now divine revelations can only be the object of faith, because they are certain infallible truths, and cannot deceive us, and such whereunto men absolutely give credit. But you will say What revelations have we now oracles are ceased ? I answer. It is true, these are God's ancient ways. Of old time, God spake — 7ro\vfiepb)<i koX irokvTpoTrco^ — ' at sundry times and in divers manners' to his people, Heb. i. 1. Sometimes he spake to them by voice, sometimes by vision, sometimes by dream, sometimes by mira- culous inspiration, or by urim and thummim, or by a sign from heaven, or by an angel ; now God speaks to us by his Son. God's mind is fully revealed and disposed into a settled course. Enthusiasts may delude themselves with their own imaginations. Christians now have but two revelations ; the one is ancient, and the other is new, and happens every day : there is the light of the word and the light of the Spirit.
1. The light of the word ; this is our oracle, and therefore it is called, ' The oracles of God,' Eom. iii. 2. This is our urim and thum- mim, God tries us by that; the standing rule of justice is settled in the word, and this is more sure and less liable to deceit than an oracle, voice, or angel ; for the devil may transform himself into an angel of light. Saith the apostle : 2 Peter i. 19, 'We have a more sure word of prophecy ; whereunto ye do well to take heed, as unto a light shin- ing in a dark place ' — more sure than what ? He speaks of the voice upon the holy mount, the voice that came from the excellent glory, that said, ' This is my well-beloved Son,' Mat. xvii. 5. Oracles and voices as to us are more liable to deceit. The apostle doth not say, We have a more true word, but a more sure word. The oracle was true, because it came from God ; but a standing rule is not so liable to deceit and mistake as a transient voice.
2. We have the light of the Spirit in our hearts, by which our understandings are opened ; we cannot be able to understand the word without this inward revelation of the Spirit. When we are reading and hearing the word, we cannot discern it with any favour, till the Spirit opens our eyes. As Christ, when he came to his disciples — first he opened the scripture, then he opened their understandings, Luke xxiv. 44, 45. And it is the Spirit that gives us a constant revelation, that reveals the secrets of God to us — all his purposes of grace concerning our souls : Eom. viii. 15, ' Ye have not received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.' The Spirit of God, by inward suggestions, tells us God is our Father. By this voice God saith, I am thy salvation, as David prays, Ps. xxxv. 3, ' Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.' It is the Spirit that comes and reveals to us when it is a fit season to come and call upon God ; and when the arms of mercy are ready and open to receive us ; and what are the answers of our prayers ? 1 John v, 6, ' It is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.'
Use, Learn hence whereon to bottom faith — upon the word of God. Let us be contented with this dispensation. Foolish creatures would give laws to heaven, and we would indent with God upon our own
YeR. 7.J SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XT. 181