316 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. II.
contemplation by faith on the great unseen things of this salvation, which takes off our minds and spirits from a valuation of the things which we presently suffer and endure. And this experience assures us to be our only relief in afflictions; which undoubtedly it is our wisdom to be provided for. [3.] The same may be said concerning persecution, one especial part of affliction, and commonly that which most entangles the minds of them that suffer. Now, no man can endure persecution quietly, patiently, constantly, according to the will of God, especially when the devil pursues his old design of bringing it home unto their persons, Job ii. 5, unless he hath in readiness a greater good, which shall in itself and in his own mind outbalance the evil which he suffers, And this the grace of this salvation will do. The soul that is exercised in the contemplation and admiration of it, will despise and triumph over all his outward sufferings which befall him on the account of his interest therein, as all persecution doth. This the apostle declares at large, Rom. viii. Verses 81-84, he directs us unto a holy meditation on God’s electing love, and on the death and mediation of Christ, the two springs of this meditation; and thence leads us, verses 35, 36, to a supposition of the great and sore persecutions that may befall us in this world; and from the former consideration triumphs over them all, verse 37, with a joy and exultation beyond that of conquerors in a battle, which yet is the greatest that the nature of man is capable of in and about temporal things. When the soul is prepossessed with the glory of this grace and his interest therein, it will assuredly bear him up against all the threatenings, reproaches, and persecutions of this world, even as it did the apostles of old, making them esteem that to be their glory and honour which the world looked on as their shame, Acts v. 41; and without this the heart will be very ready to sink and faint. [4.] This also will greatly tend unto the confirmation of our faith, by giving us a full experience of the things that we do believe. Then the heart is immovable, when it is established by experience, when we find a substance, a reality, a spiritual nourishment in things proposed unto us. Now, how can this be obtained, unless we are conversant in our minds about them? unless we dwell in our thoughts and affections upon them? for thereby do we taste and find how good the Lord is in this work of his grace.
Thus this duty being on many accounts of so great importance, we may do well to consider wherein it consisteth. And there are these four things belonging unto it:—
(1.) Intense prayer for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, to give us an acquaintance with the mystery and grace of this great salva- tion. In ourselves we have no inbred knowledge of it, nor can we by our own endeavours attain unto it. We must have a new under-
VER. 2-4. ] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. ol]
standing given us, or we shall not “ know him that is true,” 1 John v. 20. For notwithstanding the declaration that is made of this mys- tery in the gospel, we see that the most of men live in darkness and ignorance of it. It is only the Spirit of God which can search these “deep things of God,” and reveal them unto us, 1 Cor. ii, 10. By him must “he who commanded light to shine out of darkness shine into our hearts, to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ,” 2 Cor. iv. 6. And therefore the apostle prays for the Ephesians that God would give unto them “the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; that, the eyes of their understandings being enlightened, they may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his in- heritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe,” chap. i. 17-19; and for the Colos- sians, that they might come unto “all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ,’ chap. ii. 2,—that is, that they might have a spiritual and saving acquaintance with the mystery of this great salvation, the love, grace, and wisdom of God therein, which without this Spirit of wisdom and revelation from above we shall not attain unto. This, then, in the first place, is to be sought after, this are we to abide in,—constant prayers and supplications for the teaching, instructing, revealing, enlightening work and effi- cacy of this Spirit, that we may be enabled to look into these deep things of God, that we may in some measure with all saints com- prehend them, and grow wise in the mystery of salvation. Solomon tells us how this wisdom is to be obtained: Prov. ii. 8-5, “If thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as for silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lorp, and find the knowledge of God.” It is by praying, crying, supplications, with diligence and perseverance, that we attain this wisdom. Abide herein, or all other attempts will prove but vain. How many poor souls, otherwise weak and simple, have by this means grown exceed- ing wise in the mystery of God! and how many more, wise in this world, through the neglect of it, do walk in darkness all their days !