CHAP. I.] PEELIMINARY REMARKS. 13
keep, drive, or persuade men from reading and meditating on the Scripture, do take an effectual course to keep them in and under the power of darkness.
2. The mutual instruction of one another in the mind of God out of the Scripture is also required hereunto ; for we are obliged by the law of nature to endeavour the good of others in various degrees, as our children, our families, our neighbours, and all with whom we have conversation. And this is the principal good, absolutely con- sidered, that we can communicate unto others, — namely, to instruct them in the knowledge of the mind of God. This whole duty, in all the degrees of it, is represented in that command, " Thou shalt teach my words diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up," Deut. vi. 7. Thus, when our Saviour found his disciples talking of the things of God by the way-side, he, bearing unto them the person of a private man, instructed them in the sense of the Scripture, Luke xxiv. 26, 27, 32. And the neglect of this duty in the world, — which is so great that the very mention of it, or the least attempt to perform it, is a matter of scorn and reproach, — is one cause of that great ignorance and darkness which yet abounds among us. But the nakedness of this folly, whereby men would be esteemed Christians in the open contempt of all duties of Christianity, will in due time be laid open.
3. The ministry of the word in the church is that which is prin- cipally included in this assertion. The Scripture is the only means of illumination, but it becometh so principally by the application of it unto the minds of men in the ministry of the word : see Matt. v. 14,15; 2 Cor. v. 18-20; Eph. iv. 11-15; 1 Tim. iii. 15. The church and the ministry of it are the ordinances of God unto this end, that his mind and will, as revealed in the word, may be made known to the children of men, whereby they are enlightened. And that church and ministry whereof this is not the first principal de- sign and work is neither appointed of God nor approved by him. Men will one day find themselves deceived in trusting to empty names; it is duty alone that will be comfort and reward, Dan. xii. 3.
Sixthly, That the Scripture, which thus contains the whole of divine revelation, may be a sufficient external cause of illumination unto us, two things are required : —
1. That we believe it to be a divine revelation, — that is, the word of God, or a declaration of himself, his mind and will, immediately proceeding from him; or that it is of a pure divine original, proceed- ing neither from the folly or deceit, nor from the skill or honesty of men. So is it stated, 2 Pet.i. 19-21; Heb. i. 1 ; 2 Tim. iii. 1G; Isa. viii. 20. It tenders no light or instruction under any other
14 THE REASON OF FAITH. [BOOK VI., PART I.
notion but as it comes immediately from God ; " not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God," 1 Thess. ii. 13. And whatever any one may learn from or by the Scriptures under any other consideration, it belongeth not unto the illumination we in- quire after, Nehem. viii. 8; Isa. xxviii. 9; Hos. xiv. 9; Pro v. i. 6; Ps. cxix. 34; Matt. xv. 16; 2 Tim. ii. 7; 1 John v. 20.
2. That we understand the things declared in it, or the mind of God as revealed and expressed therein ; for if it be given unto us a sealed book, which we cannot read, either because it is sealed or be- cause sve are ignorant and cannot read, whatever visions or means of light it hath in it, we shall have no advantage thereby, Isa. xxix. 11, 12. It is not the words themselves of the Scripture only, but our understanding them, that gives us light: Ps. cxix. 130, "N£ T'39Tn^j — " tne opening the door," "the entrance of thy word, giveth light." It must be opened, or it will not enlighten. So the disciples understood not the testimonies of the Scripture concerning the Lord Christ, they were not enlightened by them, until he ex- pounded them unto them, Luke xxiv. 27, 45. And we have the same instance in the eunuch and Philip, Acts viii. 31, 34, 35. To this very day the nation of the Jews have the scriptures of the Old Testament and the outward letter of them in such esteem and vene- ration that they even adore and worship them, yet are they not en- lightened by it. And the same is fallen out among many that are called Christians, or they could never embrace such foolish opinions and practise such idolatries in worship as some of them do, who yet eDj'oy the letter of the gospel.
And this brings me to my design, which we have been thus far making way unto ; and it is to show that both these are from the Holy Ghost, — namely, that we truly believe the Scripture to be the word of God, and that we understand savingly the mind of God therein; both which belong unto our illumination.