ISA. XXV. 6, 7.] BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 469
the faith in them, the practice of them ; and he only can do this, he only can teach the heart, he only can discover the bent of the heart, and Satan's wiles that cast a cloud upon the understanding. The Spirit only can do it ; and therefore in all our endeavoars, labour to get knowledge, and join holi- ness and divine grace, and pray to God that he would reveal the mystery of salvation to us.
Quest. But how shall we know whether we have this heavenly light and revelation or no ? whether the veil be yet upon our hearts or no ? I will not be long in the point.
Ans. 1. We may know it by this. The apostle Peter saith to express the virtue of God's power, ' He hath called us out of darkness to his 'mar- vellous light,' 1 Pet. ii. 9. The soul that hath the veil taken from it, there is a marvelluui at the goodness of God, a icomlermg at the things of faith. And the soul sets such a price upon divine things, that all is ' dung and dross' in comparison of the excellent knowledge of Jesus Clu-ist, Philip. iii. 8. Wherefore is it that thou wilt reveal thyself to us, and not unto the world ? as admiring the goodness of God. What are we ? What am I, that God should reveal these things to me, and not to the world ? that many perish in darkness and shadow of death, though they hear of divine things, yet they, teaching rebellion and unbelief, are not moulded to them, and so perish eternally ? There is a secret admiration of the goodness of God to the poor soul, and a wonderment at spiritual things. ' 0 ! how sweet is thy law,' saith David, Ps. cxix. 103. And teach me the wonders of thy law, and joy unspeakable and glorious, and peace that passeth under- standing, Philip, iv. 7. These things be high to the soul.
Ans. 2. By the taste of what they have, they wonder at that little, and at that they look for, and arc carried with desire still further and further, which is a farther evidence. They that have any spiritual knowledge, they be carried to gi'ow more and more, and to enter further and further into the kingdom. Where there is not a desire still, till they come to the full measure that is to be had in Jesus Christ, there is no knowledge at all. Certainly a gracious soul, when once it sees, it desires still to feel the power and virtue of Christ in it, as Paul counted all dung in comparison of this knowledge, to know myself in Christ, and feel the power of his death in dying to sin, and virtue of his resm'rection in raising me to newness of life. It was Saint Paul's study to walk still to the high price* of God's calling, and where that is not, no grace is begun.
Ans. 3. And again, where divine light is, and the veil taken away, it is the sanctified means ; for God works by his own instraments and means, and they be able to justify all conrses of wisdom. * Wisdom is justified of her children,' Mat. xi. 19. By experience they be able to say the word is the word. I have found it casting me down, and raising me up, and searching the hidden corners of my heart. I have found God's ordinances powerful, the word and sacrament. I have found my hope, faith, strength, and spiritual comfort, and therefore I can justify them ; for I have found, tasted, and relished of these things, which worketh that upon the soul which Christ did on the body. I find mine eyes, I find my deaf ears opened. I can hear with another relish than before. I find a life and quickening to good things, though it be weak. I had no life at all to them before. I find a relish which I knew not before. So that there be spiritual senses whereby I am able to justify that these things be the things of God. So that they that have divine truths can justify all the ordinances of God by their own * The old way of spelling ' prize.' — G.
470 THE MABRIAGE FEAST [SeRMON IV.
experience. As Peter answered when Christ asked him, Will you be also gone ? Be gone ! said Peter ; ' Whither should we go ? thou hast tne words of eternal life,' John vi. 68. I have found thy words efficacious io comfort and strengthen and raise, and shall I depart from thee, who hast the words of eternal life ? And so take a soul that the Spirit of God hath wrought upon. Ask whether they will be careless of means of salvation, not to pray, or hear, or receive the sacrament. By these have I eternal life conveyed. God hath let in by these comfort, and strength, and joy, and shall I leave these things ? No ; I will not. ' Whither shall I go ? thou hast the words of eternal life.' Ai'e we able to justify these things by the sweetness we have found in them ? Then certainly God hath shined upon the soul, and, together with strength and light, conveyed sweetness to the soul.