"good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God," as the apostle speaks, Kom. xii. 2, is alone valuable and desirable, as unto all spiritual and eternal ends.
4. It doth not give rtdvra xXovrov rSj; wXrjpcxpopiixs rtjg ewztsmg sig zviymoiv rou /xvffryiplov rod Qsov, — " all riches of the full assurance of un- derstanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God," as the apostle speaks, Col. ii. 2. It gives unto men no other assurance of mind in the things that they know but what they have from acknow- ledged principles, and conclusions drawn from them, in any other science. But that knowledge which men have of the mysteries of the gospel by the teaching and illumination of the Holy Spirit gives them " the riches of assurance of understanding" of a higher nature, even the assurance of faith. That assurance, I say, which believers have in spiritual things is of another nature and kind than can be attained out of conclusions that are only rationally derived from the most evident principles ; and therefore doth it produce effects of an- other nature, both in doing and in suffering: for this is that which
158 CAUSES, WAYS, AND MEANS, ETC. [BOOK VI., PART II.
effectually and infallibly puts them on all those duties and that obe- dience in self-denial and the mortification of sin which the world either knoweth not or despiseth ; for " he that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as Christ is pure," 1 John iii. 3. And this also enables them cheerfully and joyfully to suffer all that the world can inflict on them for the profession of those truths whereof they have that assurance. But nothing of this ensues on that common know- ledge which men may have from themselves of sacred things ; for, —
5. It doth not enable men to trust in God, and adhere firmly unto him by love. The psalmist, speaking unto God, saith, " They that know thy name will put their trust in thee," Ps. ix. 10. To " know the name of God," is to know the revelations that he hath made of himself, his mind and his will, in the Scripture. They that have this knowledge, he affirms, " will put their trust in him." Therefore, it is certain that those who put not their trust in God have not the knowledge of him. There is a yvusig -^svBuwfAog, a " knowledge falsely so called," which hath nothing of real spiritual knowledge but the name ; and it is generally much given to disputing, or the main- taining of antitheses, or oppositions unto the truth, 1 Tim. vi. 20. But it is falsely called knowledge, inasmuch as those in whom it is do neither trust in God nor adhere unto him in love. And we shall not much inquire by what means such a knowledge may be acquired.
It remaineth, therefore, notwithstanding this objection, that all real useful knowledge of the "wonderful things" that are in the Scripture is an effect of God's opening our eyes by the illuminating grace of his Holy Spirit.
1. And this will enable us to "try the spirits," as we are com- manded, of many amongst us; for some there are who at once have cast off a due respect unto their rule and guide, the Scripture and Holy Spirit of God. Some formerly have pretended unto such a guidance by the Spirit as that they have neglected or rejected the written word; and some pretend such an adherence unto the ivord, and such an ability in their own minds and reasons to under- stand it, as to despise the teaching of the Spirit. Others reject both the one and the other, betaking themselves unto another rule and guide, whereunto they ascribe all that belongs unto either or both of them ; but a wandering light it hath proved unto them, that hath led them into a bog of many vain imaginations and corrupt opinions. And it is fallen out with them as might be expected; for although the Holy Spirit be promised to lead us into all truth, yet is he so in an especial manner as unto those which concern the person, offices, and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ immediately, whose Spirit he is : see John xvi. 13-15; 1 Johnii. 20, 27. Those, therefore, who renounce a dependence on him for instruction out of the word are either left
CnAP. III.] SPIRITUAL ILLUMINATION PEOVED FROM SCRIPTURE. 159
unto palpable ignorance about these things, or unto foolish, corrupt imaginations concerning them. Hence some of them openly deny, some faintly grant, but evidently corrupt, the truth concerning the person of Christ; and unto his offices and grace they seem to have little regard. And what else can be expected from such, who despise the teaching of that Sp>irit of Christ who is promised to lead us into all truth concerning him? Nor will the loudest pre- tences of some unto the Spirit in this matter relieve them ; for we inquire not after every spirit that any one who will may make his boast of, but of that Spirit alone which instructs us in and by the written word. Until such men will return unto the only rule and guide of Christians, until they will own it their duty to seek for the knowledge of truth from the Scripture alone, and in their so doing depend not on any thing in themselves, but on the saving instructions of the Spirit of God, it is in vain to contend with them; for they and we build on diverse foundations, and their faith and ours are re- solved into diverse principles, — ours into the Scripture, theirs into a light of their own. There are, therefore, no common acknow- ledged principles between us whereon we may convince each other. And this is the cause that disputes with such persons are generally fruitless, especially as immixed with that intemperancy of revil- ing other men wherein they exceed; for if that be a way either of learning or teaching of the truth, it is what the Scripture hath not instructed us in. When the veil shall be taken from their eyes, and they turned unto the Lord, they will learn more modesty and hu- mility. In the meantime, the issue between these men and us is this and no other : We persuade men to take the Scripture as the only rule, and the holy promised Spirit of God, sought by ardent prayers and supplications, in the use of all means appointed by Christ for that end, for their guide. They deal with men to turn into themselves, and to attend unto the light within them. Whilst we build on these most distant principles, the difference between us is irreconcilable, and will be eternal. Could we come to an agree- ment here, other things would fall away of themselves. If we shall renounce the Scripture, and the instruction given out of it unto the church by the Spirit of God, betaking ourselves unto our own light, we are sure it will teach us nothing but either what they profess, or other things altogether as corrupt. And if they, on the other hand, will forego their attendance to their pretended light, to hearken unto the voice of God in the Scripture only, and to beg sincerely the guid- ance of the Holy Spirit therein, they will learn from thence no other thing but what we profess. Until, therefore, they return unto " the law and testimony," — without which, whatsoever is pretended, there is no light in any, — we have no more to do but, labouring to preserve