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146 CAUSES, WAYS, AND MEANS, ETC. [BOOK VI, PART II.
unto God." It is, therefore, the work of the Holy Spirit that is here described. He alone, and his gifts, graces, and privileges that ensue thereon, are so expressed, here or anywhere else in the whole Scrip- ture.
2. Two things are to be observed in what is here ascribed unto this unction: — (1.) What is the effect of his work in believers; (2.) What is the nature of it, or how he produceth that effect.
(1.) For the first, there is a double expression of it: — [1.] That they " know all things;" [2.] That they " need not that any should teach them;" — both which expressions admit of, yea require, their limitations.
[1.] The "all things" intended come under a double restriction, — the first taken from the nature of the things themselves, the other from the scope and circumstances of the place ; or, the one from the general end, the other from the special design proposed.
1st. The general end proposed is, our abiding in Christ: "Ye shall abide in him;" which the apostle expresseth, 1 John ii. 24, by "continuing in the Son, and in the Father." Wherefore, the all things here mentioned are all things necessary unto our ingrafting into and continuance in Christ. Such are all the fundamental, yea, important truths of the gospel. Whatever is needful unto our com- munion with Christ and our obedience to him, this all true believers are taught. However they may mistake in things of lesser moment, and be ignorant in the doctrine of some truths, or have but mean degrees of knowledge in any thing, yet shall they all know the mind and will of God as revealed in the Scripture, in all those things and truths which are necessary that they may believe unto righteousness and make confession unto salvation.
2dly. The especial end under consideration is, preservation and deliverance from the antichrists and seducers of those days, with the errors, lies, and false doctrines which they divulged concerning Christ and the gospel. The only way and means whereby we may be so preserved from the poisons and infections of such pernicious opinions and ways is, the assured knowledge of the truths of the gospel as they are revealed in the Scripture. All those truths which were any- way needful to secure their faith and preserve them from mortal seductions, they were taught and did know. And where any man knows the truths which are required unto his implantation into Christ, and his continuance with him in faith and obedience, as also all those which may preserve him from the danger of seduction into pernicious errors, however he may fail and be mistaken in some things of less importance, yet is he secured as unto his present ac- ceptable obedience and future blessedness. And to speak of it by the way, tins giveth us the rule of our especial communion and
CHAP. III.] SPIRITUAL ILLUMINATION PROVED FROM SCRIPTURE. 147
love. Where any are taught these things, where they have the know- ledge and make confession of that truth, or those articles of faith, whereby they may " abide in Christ," and are preserved from per- nicious seductions, although they may differ from us and the truth in some things of less moment, we are obliged not only to forbear- ance of them, but communion with them; for who shall refuse them whom Christ hath received? or doth Christ refuse any to whom he gives his Spirit, who have the unction from the Holy One? This, and no other, is the rule of our evangelical love and communion among ourselves. Whatever we require more of any as a necessary condition of our Christian society, in point of doctrine, is an unwar- rantable imposition on their consciences or practice, or both.
[2.] It is said that they so know these things as that they " need not that any should teach them : " which also requireth a limitation or exposition; for, —
1st. It is only the things as before declared that respect is had unto. Now, besides these, there are many other things which be- lievers stand in need to be taught continually, and whose know- ledge belongs unto their edification. Many things are very useful unto us that are not absolutely necessary. In natural things, and such as belong unto this present life, men would be very unwilling to be without or part with sundry things, without which yet life might be preserved ; because they value them, as of use unto themselves, so enabling them to be useful unto others. And they who understand the nature, use, and benefit, of evangelical truths will not be contented that their knowledge in them should be con- fined only unto those which are of absolute necessity unto the being of spiritual life : yea, they cannot be well supposed to know those truths themselves who pretend such a satisfaction in them as to look no farther ; for all who are sincere in faith and knowledge do aim at that " perfect man in Christ," which all the ordinances of God are designed to bring us unto, Col. i. 28. Wherefore, notwithstanding the knowledge of these things, there is still use and need of farther ministerial teaching in the church.