In Rev. V. 4, St John wept when the book with ' seven seals ' could not be opened. He wept that the pi'ophecy was so obscure, that it could not be understood ; but then Christ takes the book and opens it. So when we cannot understand divine mysteries, let us groan and sigh to Christ. He can open the book with seven seals, and he lays open all the mysteries as far forth as it concerns us to know. God's children grieve when things are not discovei'ed to them.
There is a contrary disposition in God's people to carnal papists. They vex, that mysteries should be discovered. God's people grieve that they are not discovered enough. They make a perverse use of this. Divine truths are mysteries; therefore they may not be published to people. Nay, divine truths are mysteries ; therefore they must be unfolded. Hence comes the necessity of the ministry ; for if the gospel be a mystery, that is, a hidden kind of knowledge, then there must be some to reveal it. God hath therefore stablished an office in the church, with which he joins his
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own s.acrecl Spirit, that both ordinance and Spirit joining together, the veil may be taken oil": ' How can they understand without a teacher?' Rom. X. 14. And * to us is committed the dispensation to preach the unsearch- able riches of Christ,' saith St Paul, Eph. iii. G-8. Therefore there is this ordinance to unfold these depths as much as may serve for us. Pro- fane people, they think they know enough, they need not be taught ; as if this were a shallow mystery, or none at all. It argues a profane and naughty heart, not to attend upon all sanctified means ; all is little enough. And sometimes God will not grant his Spirit in one means, because he will make us go to another, and from that to another, and run thorough all. He denies his Spirit of purpose in hearing, because he will have us to read ; and denies it in that, because he will have us confer and practise the com- munion of saints ; and all little enough to apprehend this glorious, excel- lent mystery. A man may know a profane heart, therefore, by despising the improvement of any means of knowledge. It is a mystery. Therefore God's people desire to have it taught.
2. Again, If we would understand these mysteries, let us labour for humble spirits; for the Spirit works that disposition in the first place : ' The humble, God will teach,' Ps. xxv. 9; the humble, that will depend upon his teaching. Now this kind of humility here required, it is a denial of our own wits,* though they be never so capacious for the things of the world. We must be content ' to become fools, that we may be wise,' 1 Cor. iv. 10. We must deny our own undei'standings, and be content to have no more under- standing in divine things than we can carry out of God's book, than we can be taught by God's word and ordinances. This humility we must bring if we will understand this mystery.
3. And bring withal a serious desire to know, with a xiurpose to be moulded to what we know ; to be delivered to the obedience of what ive know ; for then God will discover it to us. Wisdom is easy to him that will. Together with prayer and humility, let us but bring a purpose and desire to be taught, and we shall find divine wisdom easy to him that will. None ever miscarry in the church but those that have false hearts. They have not humble and sincere heai'ts, willing to be taught. For if they have that, then God, that hath given this sincerity and will, this resolution, that they will use the means and they will be taught, he will suit it with teachers. God usually suits men with teachers fit for their dispositions. Let a man have a naughty f heart, and he shall find flatterers to build him up in all violent and naughty courses. God in judgment will give him teachers that shall suit his disposition. But if he be a child of God, and have a sincere heart to know the truth, he shall meet with some that shall be as sincere again to tell him the truth. Therefore we should less pit}' men when we see them run into errors. God sees that they have naughty dispositions ; indeed, if they be silly fools, God will have mercy on them, if they be sin- cere, though they be in error; but if we see men that may know the truth, and yet run into errors, know that such a man hath a poisonous heart, a malicious bent of heart against the truth, or else God would not give him up to such and such things as he is carried with. There is much in that man's disposition that is carried away with false teachers ; I mean, where light is discovered. But where God gives a willing mind, there he opens his meaning. Wisdom is easy to him that will understand.
4. And take heed of passion and jirejudice, of carnal affections that stir up passion ; for they will make the soul that it cannot see mysteries that are