1. He procured it for us : Gal. iii. 13, 14, ' Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, that the blessing of Abraham might come on the gentiles through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.' Compare 1 Cor. x. 4, with John iv. 14, and John vii. 38, 39 ; the rock struck with the rod of Moses.
2. He conveyeth it to us : John i. 16, ' Of his fulness have we received, and grace for grace,' Christ is an head of influence as well as an head of eminence. It is by virtue of his anointing that we are anointed: 'Of his fulness we receive.' We go to God for it in the name of Christ. We receive it for his sake and from him ; upon the account of his merit, and from him as our head.
Thirdly, The benefit, ' And ye shall know all things.' How is this to be understood ? For omnisciency and infallibility is God's prerogative. And it is said of the saints that ' we know but in part,' 1 Cor. xiii. 9.
Ans. This universal particle must be restrained to the matter in hand. Two restrictions all will grant —
1. All divine things. Not secrets of nature, mysteries of trade and policy, or skill in worldly affairs. Heathens may excel God's children in these things. No ; the holy Spirit, with his gifts and graces, is not given us for these ends : 1 Cor. ii. 12, ' We have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we may know the things which are freely given us of God.' We have this Spirit to know our privileges by the gospel and the duties which belong thereunto, what is required and what granted in the charter of the new covenant.
2. There is another restriction which all will assent unto : all divine things which are revealed unto men : for Deut. xxix. 1 9, ' Secret things belong unto the Lord our God ; but those things which he hath re- vealed, to us, and our children for ever.' Hidden things, not revealed in the word are to be left unto Jehovah, to do with them as he pleaseth ; but it is our care only to regard those things which concern our duty and happiness ; and for events or the government of his providence, to leave it to God,
3. In things revealed we must distinguish between matters that
100 SERMON UPON 1 JOHN 11. 20.
belong to the plentitude of knowledge, and matters necessary either to salvation or establishment in the points controverted in that age.
[1.] Matters that belong to the plentitude and fulness of knowledge, as the gift of interpretation of tongues, knowledge of words, and the art of reasoning many matters in scripture. These things depend upon wit, industry, secular learning, and the common gifts of the Spirit. There are dona ministrantia, and dona sancfificantia, ministering gifts and sanctifying gifts. The carnal may come behind in no gift ; for these things are for the good of the body rather than the person that hath them : 1 Cor. i. 7, ' He came behind in no gift.' And yet they were not the best sort of christians which the gospel speaketh of. But the Spirit of holiness is given us to another purpose, to bring us safe to heaven by drawing off our hearts from the creature to God, and from sin to holiness, and from self to Christ. A carnal man may excel in one sort of gifts above the sanctified in opening the significa- tion of words and phrases, methodically disposing truths, and in framing such rational deductions and pressing such arguments as are most apt to work on the heart of man. Indeed, where both meet together, ministering gifts and sanctifying gifts, there a christian is most accom- plished ; and when grace governeth his parts and quickeneth his parts, he bringeth most honour to Christ, and doth not expose religion to con- tempt, as others do ; but everything must be regarded in its proper place.
[2,] Matters necessary. These are of two sorts ; either —
(1.) Essential to Christianity, and absolutely necessary to salvation. In these things the unction prevaileth : Ps. xxv. 14, ' The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will show them his covenant.' God will not conceal from them the knowledge of his will, so far as their salvation is concerned in it, the secret of the Lord, that way wherein we ought to walk, if ever we would be accepted by him. So that in the great fundamental truths the sincere christian hath the advantage ; Mat. xxiv. 24, ' Insomuch that if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.' When learned, subtle men are deceived, the Spirit will keep the elect right.
(2.) Necessary to escape seduction, or the cheats of those antichrists that w'ere then gone abroad, or might afterwards break into the church, to pervert the flock of Christ. In points not absolutely necessary, a godly man is more likely to be in the right rather than the ungodly ; he is under the promise of God when, according to light received, he walketh in God's ways : John vii. 17, ' If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God.' He is most faithful to his end, which shineth to him all along his way : Mat. vi. 22, ' If thine eye be single, thy whole body is full of light.' Having a single eye, he is most serious and industrious in the use of means ; and God's blessing usually goetli along with diligence. And so in improvement of common helps : Prov. ii. 3, 4, ' If thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding : if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures ; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord.' He hath a measure and touchstone within him, the work of grace upon his heart, by which he can try doctrines, which do most obstruct or further the work of godliness ; not which please or