Now it is good to see how David compareth these two revelations of the mind of God, where he first admireth the brightness of the sun, and then the purity of the law. The joining of both these medita- tions showeth —
(1.) That the world can be as ill without the word of God as with- out the light of the sun. What would this inferior world be without the light of the sun, but a great cave and obscure dungeon, where men would creep up and down like worms out of xheir holes ? Now the light of the word is as necessary for the blessedness of our souls as the sun's light is comfortable to our bodies.
(2.) The comparing of both these showeth that there are two books wherein we shall do well to study, both made by God himself, and both manifesting and discovering God to the world — the book of nature, and the book of scripture. You cannot look upon the book of the creatures, but in eveiy page and line of it you will find this truth presented to your eyes, that there is an infinite, eternal power, that made all things, and is to be owned, reverenced, worshipped, and obeyed by us. This is enough to leave the world without excuse. But in the book of the word you may see more of God and the way to enjoy him. This doth more powerfully convince man of his misery, and show him his remedy. The use which the psalmist maketh of these books is notable. Of the first, to admire the glory of God by the beauty of the heavens ; of the second, to humble and awe man by the purity and strictness of the law ; as all religion lieth in the know- ledge of God and ourselves. Well, then, this is the double way of revelation —
The revelation of God's mind in the word consists of two parts — the moral part, and the evangelical.
(Is/.) The moral part doth mostly contain our first holiness, and the primitive duty which we owed to God as a creator before the fall
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or our defection from him, that we should serve and obey him as our rightful Lord, and love him as our chief good and happiness. The moral part is that which is mentioned in the text, and still belongeth to us ; for every creature ought to be in subjection, and is under a debt of duty to his creator. And Christ Jesus, when he came to redeem us, did not dissolve this bond ; for he ' redeemed us unto God,' Rev. V. 9. He never intended to rob God of a creature when he made any man a christian. This were to make us rebels against God, and not subjects to him. This was far from Christ's intent ; for he came to fit us for that holiness and righteousness which was due to God by virtue of our creation ; to fit us for it by his renewing and re- conciling grace. He encourageth us by his reconciling grace : Luke i. 74, 75, ' That we should serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness, all the days of our lives.' He inclinetli us to it by his renewing grace : Eph. iv. 24, ' The new man is created after God, in righteousness and true holiness.' Therefore the law of grace is subor- dinate to the law of nature, and was introduced that we might return to the obedience due to God. And in this respect it may be said, ' He hath showed thee, 0 man, what is good ; ' for Rom. vii. 12, ' The law is holy, and the commandment holy, just, and good ; ' that is, the law in general, and this command in particular, that which had wrought such gracious effects in his heart. The law is holy, fit for God to give and us to receive ; and just, hugely conducible to the good of human society ; good, very profitable to those that observe them.
(2c/.) The evangelical part of the word, which revealeth pardon of sins a.nd salvation by Christ to all those that will accept it with a believing and thankful mind, and are willing to return to their obed- ience to God, 1 Tim, i. 15, John iii. 16, Heb. v. 11, and in many other places. Now here is the greatest, fullest, and truest prospect of his goodness to mankind, Titus iii. 4, in that, when God was displeased for the breach of the first covenant, and man hereby had fallen irre- parably from his primitive holiness, and brought himself under guilt and a curse, he took occasion by this misery to open a door of hope to us by Christ, and hath set up a new court of righteousness and life, where sinners may appear ; and grace taketh the throne, and the judge is Christ, and the rule is the gospel ; and upon repentance, faith, and sincere obedience, we may be accepted with him ; and the Lord standeth with open arms to receive all those that run for refuge to this court, and take sanctuary at this grace, devoting themselves to his fear and service. Here we may say indeed, ' He hath showed thee, 0 man, what is good.' The gospel part is called ' the good word : ' Heb. vi. 5, ' Having tasted the good word ; ' and the great privileges offered to us are called ' glad tidings of good things,' Rom. x. 15, quoted out of Lsa. Iii. 7 ; the best things that ever were brought to man's ear. Therefore chiefly I shall consider these words with respect to the gos- pel revelation.