168 CAUSES, WAYS, AND MEANS, ETC. [BOOK VI., PART II.
God is not distinguished from the proposition of the word in the outward dispensation of it, as hath been proved. Besides, every one that enjoys this teaching, that is, who is taught of God, doth really believe and come to Christ thereby: John vi. 45, " It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me," saith our blessed Saviour. But it is not thus with all, nor ever was, towards whom the most powerful and cogent means of outward instruction have been or are used. Wherefore, (3dly.) This teaching is an internal work of the Spirit, giving light, wisdom, understanding, unto our minds ; [and] so is spoken of and promised in an especial manner, distinct from the outward work of the dispensation of the word, and all the efficacy of it singly con- sidered. One testimony will serve to this purpose, which hath been pleaded and vindicated already. It is by an unction that we are thus taught, 1 John ii. 20, 27. But the unction consists in a real communication of supernatural gifts and graces, whereof superna- tural light is that which is peculiarly necessary unto this end. The communication of them all in all fulness unto Jesus Christ, the head of the church, was his unction, Heb. i. 9; Isa. lxi. 1. Wherefore, in the real participation of them in our measure doth our unction, where- by we are taught, consist.
It is granted that this teaching is such as regards our own in- dustry, in the use of means appointed unto this end, that we may know the mind of God in the Scripture ; but yet it is such as in- cludes an inward effectual operation of the Holy Spirit, concomitant with the outward means of teaching and learning. When the eunuch read the prophecy of Isaiah, he affirmed he coidd not un- derstand it unless some one did guide him. Hereon Philip opened the Scripture unto him. But it was the Holy Ghost that opened his heart, that he might understand it ; for so he did the heart of Lydia, without which she would not have understood the preaching of Paul, Acts xvi. 14. Wherefore, in our learning, under the conduct or teaching of the Spirit, the utmost diligence in the exercise of our own minds is required of us ; and where men are defective herein, they are said to be vuSpot raTg dxoaTg, Heb. v. 11, " dull in hearing/' or slow in the improvement of the instruction given them. And it is a senseless thing to imagine that men should be diverted from the exercise of the faculties of their minds merely because they are enabled to use them unto good purpose or successfully, which is the effect of this internal teaching.
[5.] It is expressed by shining into our hearts : " God, who com- manded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of
CHAP. IV.] SPIRITUAL ILLUMINATION PROVED FROM SCRIPTURE. 1 69
Jesus Christ," 2 Cor. iv. 6. Jesus Christ is the " image of the invisible God, the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his per- son;" and that because of the illustrious representation of all divine excellencies that is made both in his person and his mediation. The person of the Father is the eternal fountain of infinitely divine glorious perfections; and they are all communicated unto the Son by eternal generation. In his person absolutely, as the Son of God, they are all of them essentially ; in his person as God-man, as vested with his offices, they are substantially, in opposition unto all types and shadows; and in the glass of the gospel they are acci- dentally, by revelation, — really, but not substantially, for Christ himself is the body, the substance of all. As the image of God, so is he represented unto us in the glass of the gospel ; and therein are we called to behold the glory of God in him, 2 Cor. iii. 18. The meaning is, that the truth and doctrine concerning Jesus Christ, his person and mediation, is so delivered and taught in the gospel as that the glory of God is eminently represented thereby ; or therein is revealed what we are to know of God, his mind and his will, as he is declared by and in Jesus Christ. But why is it, then, that all do not thus behold " the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" unto whom the gospel is preached? or whence is it that all unto whom the gospel is preached or declared do not apprehend and understand the truth, and reality, and glory, of the things revealed or proposed? — that is, why do they not understand the mind and will of God as revealed in the gospel? The apostle assigneth two reasons hereof: 1st. From what hindereth it in many; 2dly. From what is neces- sary unto any that so they may do: —
1st. The first is the efficacy of the temptations and suggestions of Satan, whereby their minds are filled with prejudices against the gospel and the doctrine of it. Being blinded hereby, they can see nothing of beauty and glory in it, and so certainly do not appre- hend it aright: 2 Cor. iv. 4, " The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gos- pel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." This is acknowledged by all to be an obstacle against the right un- derstanding of the gospel. Unless the mind be freed from such pre- judices as are the effects of such blinding efficacy of the suggestions of Satan, men cannot attain unto the true knowledge of the mind of God therein. How these prejudices are removed we shall show afterward. But if the mind be free, or freed from them, then it is supposed by some that there is need of no more but the clue exer- cise of its faculties with diligence for that end, nor is any thing else required thereunto. It is true, in the ordinary dispensation of divine grace, this is required of us ; but the apostle adds, —