That all mankind are perplexed and entangled with and about these considerations — ^that all men ever were so, without exception, more or less, and continue so to be to this day — that of themselves they miserably grope up and down in the dark, and are never able to come to any satisfaction, neither as to what is present nor as to what is to come — I could manifest, from the state, ofl&ce, and condi- tion of conscience, the indelible irpok^-^ni;, "presumptions," about them, that are in the hearts of all by nature. The whole history of all religion which hath been in the world, Avith the design of all ancient and present philosophy, with innumerable other uncon- trollable convictions, (which also, God assisting, I shall in another treatise declare,) do manifest this truth.
That, surely, then, which shall administer to all and eveiy one of them, equally and universally, satisfaction as to all these things — to quiet and calm their spirits, to cut off all necessity of any further inquiries — give them that wherein they must acquiesce and wherewith they will be satiated, unless they will cast off that relation and dependence on God which they seek to confirm and settle; surely, I say, this must be from the all-seeing, all-satisfying Truth and Being, and from none else. Now, this is done by the doctrine of the Scrip- ture, with such a glorious, uncontrollable conviction, that every one to whom it is revealed, the eyes of whose understanding are not bhnded by the god of this world, must needs cry out "Euprjxa, — " I have found" that which in vain I sought elsewhere, waxing foolish in my imaginations.
It would be too long to insist on the severals — take one mstance in the business of atonement, reconciliation, and acceptance with God. What strange, horrible fruits and effects have men's con- trivances on this account produced ! What have they not invented ? what have they not done? what have they not suffered? and yet continued in dread and bondage all their days. Now, Avith what a glorious, soul-appeasing light doth the doctrine of satisfaction and atonement by the blood of Christ, the Son of God, come in upon such men ! This first astonisheth, then conquereth, then ravisheth
THE WORD OF GOD MANIFESTS ITSELF. 339
and satiatetli the soul. This is that they looked for, tliis they were sick for, and knew it not. This is the design of the apostle's dis- course in the three first chapters of the Epistle to the Romans. Let any man read that discourse from chap i. 18, and onward, and he will see with what glory and beauty, with what full and ample satis- faction, this doctrine breaks out. (Chap. iii. 21-26.)
It is no otherwise as to the particulars of present worship or futm-e blessedness. This meets with men in all their wanderings, stops them in their disquisitions, convinces them of the darkness, folly, uncer- tainty, falseness, of all their reasonings about these things ; and that with such an evidence and light as at once subdues them, captivates their understanding, and quiets their souls. So was that old Roman world conquered by it; so shall the Mohammedan be, in God's good and appointed time.
Of what hath been spoken this "is the sum : All mankind, that acknowledge their dependence upon God and relation to him, are naturally (and cannot be otherwise) grievously involved and per- plexed in their hearts, thoughts, and reasonings, about the worship of God, acceptation with him, (having sinned,) and the future enjoy- ment of him. Some with more clear and distinct apprehensions of these things, some under more dark and general notions of them, are thus exercised. To extricate themselves, and to come to some issue in and about these inquiries, hath been the great design of their lives — the aim they had in all things they did, as they thought, well and laudably in this world. Notwithstanding all which, they were never able to deliver themselves, no, not one of them, or attain satisfaction of their souls, but waxed vain in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts were more and more darkened. In this estate of things, the doctrine of the Scripture coming in with fall, unques- tionable satisfaction to all these — suited to the inquirings of every individual soul, with a largeness of wisdom and depth of goodness not to be fathomed — it must needs be from that God with whom we have to do. And those who are not persuaded hereby, that will not cast anchor in this harbour, let them put to sea once more, if they dare ; turn themselves loose to other considerations, and try if all the fore-mentioned perplexities do not inevitably return.
Another consideration of the doctrine of the Scripture to this purjjose regards some particulars of it. There are some doctrines of the Scripture, some revelations in it, so subliviely glorious, of so 'profound and mysterious an excellency, that at the first proposal of them, nature startles, shrinks, and is taken with horror, meeting with that which is above it, too great and too excellent for it, which it could deshously avoid and decline ; but yet, gathering itself up to them, it jaelds, and finds that unless they are accepted and submitted
340 THE DIVINE ORIGINAL OF SCEIPTURE.