[1.] Because there is nowhere else such a discovery of God. The main end of regeneration is conformity to God's image, or to make us ' partakers of a divine nature,' 2 Peter i. 4, to work such a change in us as may make us like unto God in wisdom, righteousness, and humility, and pity to poor creatures. Now what fitter instrument to be used in such a work than the word, which is the fairest draught and copy of God that ever was, and so a fit pattern whereby the new creature may be framed ? It is for God's honour that he should be expressed as fully and exactly as may be. Now where can this be but in God's word ? Not in the doctrines of men ; they know little of him, and they cannot set him out as he doth deserve. And men are more apt to transform God into an idol of their own fancy, and turn his glory into a lie, Kom. i. 25, than to give us any true mirror and glass wherein he can be repre- sented. God's own works do discover his wisdom, power, goodness, but not so evidently his holiness. They do but half discover God, and can- not give us such a distinct knowledge of his nature and will till we see them altogether in the whole contexture, and then but darkly ; we need the commentary of his word to interpret them. David was fain to go into the sanctuary before he knew what to make of providence, Ps. Ixxiii. 17. Otherwise he could not understand the holiness and righteousness of God's actions. It is true, his works praise him. They show him in his tender mercies, and mighty power, and Godhead, and justice in rewarding and punishing ; but they never express him so distinctly, nor in that fulness and latitude as his word doth, and therefore cannot affect the heart so deeply. But now here we ' behold the glory of the Lord as in a glass, and are changed into the same image from glory to glory,' 2 Cor. iii. 18. The image of God is most exactly expressed in the word, the perfect draught of his face ; and therefore a fit stamp whereby to leave an impression upon the new creature, as the seal well engraven doth upon the wax : 2 Cor, iv. 4, • Lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine upon them.' Christ is the image of his Father's glory, and the gospel the lively image and representation of Jesus Christ. As God the Father shineth forth in the Son, so the Son in^his glorious gospel. So that here is a happy way for us to recover again our lost image of God in which we were created, and which by the fall was defaced in us. In the face of Jesus Christ is to be seen the glory of God ; and Jesus Christ is to be seen in the glass of the gospel, according to which the new creature is formed and fashioned.
[2.] Because nothing is so likely to sway the heart of the creature, nor to come with such authority and power upon the conscience, as the word of God. Man's heart would be hardly brought to stoop to any power but God's alone, whose voice prevaileth upon the conscience and imaginations of the heart, which the voice of no man can do, and therefore is able to shake our hearts. God appointed some to go in his
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name, and with evidence commending tliemselves to the consciences of every one, to challenge man of his duty. ' Where the word of a king is/ saith Solomon, ' there is power,' Eccles, viii. 4. We reckon not of the words of a private person, but of a king we do ; so ought we much more of God.
[3.] No means are so accommodate for this purpose as the word, so suitable to man's nature. It is such a doctrine as the conscience dotii require. No doctrine is so fitted to humble, to comfort, to persuade us to holiness.
(1.) To humble us, by working in us a sight and sense of our misery and natural filthiness. It is a glass wherein we see God's face and our own : James i. 23, ' If a man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass.' A light by which we see every sin in our own bosoms. The new nature is never sought after but by them that are dissatisfied with their old estate. And now when a man hath a sight of his natural face, what a deformed, loathsome creature he is, he beginneth to abhor himself, and to look after another state and frame of heart.
(2.) No doctrine so fit to comfort and revive the broken heart with hopes of mercy as the gospel, that revealeth the way of life upon gra- cious terms. It is the charter and grant of Christ and all his benefits from God to every one that will receive him : Ps. xix. 8, ' The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.' This doth the heart good to think of it.