There is but one thing which I can foresee that may with any pretence of reason be objected unto this testimony of the psalmist in particular; and this is, that he speaks of the times and writings of the Old Testament. " Now, it is confessed that there was in them a darkness and obscurity, and such as needed new revelations for the understanding of them ; but since all things are ' brought to light by the gospel,' there is no need of any special aid or assistance of the Holy Spirit, by supernatural illumination, for the understanding
CHAP. II.] SPIRITUAL ILLUMINATION PROVED FROM SCRIPTURE. 131
of them." In answer hereunto I shall consider the discourse of the apostle wherein he stateth this whole matter: 2 Cor. iii. 13, 14, 16-18, "And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished : but their minds were blinded : for until this day remain eth the same veil untaken away, in the reading of the Old Testament ; which is done away in Christ. . . . Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord" (or, they be turned unto the Lord) " the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit : and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all with open face behold as in a glass the glory of the Lord."
When Moses had received the revelation of the law from God, " his face shone," Exod. xxxiv. 29 ; for there were wonderful things contained in that revelation with respect unto Jesus Christ, — he was in them all, and the end of them all. The whole ministry of Moses was but a testimony given unto the things that were afterward to be spoken concerning him, as the apostle declares, Heb. iii. 5.
On the receipt of this revelation " his face shone," because there was a light, a lustre, a glory, in the things revealed unto him, and by them reflected on his ministry, which was so represented. Never- theless, this light did not shine immediately into the hearts and minds of the people. They did not see or discern the glorious and "wonderful things" that were in the law; for there was a double veil or covering that hindered them, — one that was put on Moses face, another that was on their own hearts. Some dark apprehen- sions and glances of light they had, but " they could not look stead- fastly unto the end of that which was to be abolished ;" they could not comprehend the truth concerning Christ, which was the substance and end of the law.
The first veil, that which was on the face of Moses, was the obscu- rity of the instructions given them, as wrapped up in types, shadows, and dark parables. This they could not see through, so as clearly to discern the " wonderful things" contained in and under them. This veil is quite taken off in the revelation or doctrine of the gospel, wherein " life and immortality are brought to light," and the won- derful things of the mystery of God in Christ are fully declared and plainly expressed. Herein, therefore, it is acknowledged that there is a great difference between those under the Old Testament and those under the New.
But, saith the apostle, there is another veil, a veil upon the heart. And hereof he declareth two things: — 1. That this veil is done away only in Christ; and, 2. That therefore it is not taken away from any but those who are converted unto God. This is the covering of ignorance, darkness, blindness, that is on men by nature. The former
1 32 CAUSES, WAYS, AND MEANS, ETC. [BOOK VI., PART II.
veil is taken away by the doctrine of the gospel; this latter is to be removed only by an effectual work of the Spirit of Christ, in the conversion of the souls of men unto God.
And two things do ensue on the removal of this doable veil: — 1. That as unto the doctrine itself concerning the mystery of God in Christ, it is no more represented unto us in types, shadoivs, and dark parables, but in the clear glass of the gospel, whereon the glory of Christ is reflected. Hereby the veil is taken off from the face of Moses. 2. That we have wpocooTov avaxexaXv^/xsvov, an " open, uncovered face," or, as the Syriac reads it, a " revealed eye," whereby we are enabled to discern the wonderful mysteries of God so revealed. This ensues on the taking away of the second veil of darkness and blindness, which is on the hearts of all by nature.
The removal and destruction of this double veil by the Spirit and grace of the gospel is that which is prophesied of, Isa. xxv. 7, " He will destroy in this mountain the face ^l1 &(?[*, of the covering covered," or the double veil, " that is on the face of all people, and rDlDSfl rnDfsn^ the veil veiled over all nations."
This being the design of the discourse of the apostle, it is evident that although there be a difference between them under the Old Testament and us as to the veil that was on the face of Moses, which is destroyed and removed by the doctrine of the gospel, yet there is none as to the veil which is on the hearts of all by nature, which must.be removed by the Holy Spirit, or we cannot " with open face behold the glory of the Lord," — the thing which the psalmist prayeth for in the place insisted on ; that is, that God by his Spirit would more and more renew his mind, and take away his natural darkness and ignorance, that he might be able to behold, perceive, and under- stand the mind of God as revealed in the Scripture. And if any shall suppose or say, that for their part they need no such especial aid and assistance to enable them to understand the mind of God in the Scripture, which is sufficiently exposed to the common reason of all mankind, I shall only say at present, I am afraid they do not understand those places of Scripture where this aid and assistance is so expressly affirmed to be necessary thereunto.