If it be yet inquired whether those who duly consider Jesus Christ may not yet mistake the truth and fall into errors? I answer, they may; but,—
(1.) Not into any that are pernicious. He will assuredly pre- . serve such persons from destructive errors. As he hath not prayed that they may be taken out of the world, but preserved in it, so he doth not take them out of all possibility of errors or mistakes, but from such only as may prejudice the eternal condition of their souls.
(2.) They shall not act their mistakes and errors with a spirit of envy, malice, and disquietment against the truth; for none that duly considereth Jesus Christ can be captivated under the power of such a frame of spirit, seeing there is nothing more unlike unto him, ,
(3.) Even their mistakes are from failures in their consideration
524 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [oHAP. III.
of the Lord Christ, either in the matter or manner of it. Either they search not after him with that spiritual diligence which they ought, or they meditate not on the discoveries that are made of him in the word, or they labour not after assimilation and conform- ity unto him; and upon these neglects it is no wonder if errors and mistakes do arise.
3. Because “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid in Christ,’ Col. ii. 8; and therefore from him alone are they to be received, and in him alone to be learned. Now, wisdom and know- ledge have both of them respect unto truth. Where they are ob- tained, there truth itself doth dwell. In the due consideration of the Lord Christ are these treasures opened unto us. And although we may not at once clearly and fully discern them, yet we are in the proper way to know them and possess them. There is not the least line of truth, how far soever it may be extended, and how small soever it may at length appear, but the springs of it lie in the person of Christ. And then we learn it aright, when we learn it in the spring, or as it is in him, Eph. iv. 21; which when we have done, we may safely trace it down, and follow it unto its utmost extent. But he that looks on gospel truths as sporades, as scattered up and down independently one of another,—who sees not the root, centre, and knot of them in Jesus Christ,—it is most probable that when he goes about to gather them for his use, he will also take up things quite of another nature. They say that all moral virtues are knit up in one, that is, righteousness; so that he who hath that hath all the rest, at least radically and virtually. This I know, that all spiritual truths are knit up and centred in him who is “the truth;” and they who have “learned him,” as the apostle speaks, Eph. iv. 20, have with him received the seeds of all truth: which being watered and attended as they ought, will in due time flourish into all their proper branches and fruits; for all things are gathered into one head in him, Eph. i, 10.
4, The right performance of this duty enlivens, excites, and acts all those graces and gracious affections, which are effectual to pre- serve us in the truth, and to keep us from decays in our profession. The Lord Christ being the proper object of them, and this considera-
tion consisting in the application of the faculties of our souls unto | that object, by a due exercise of those graces, they must needs be -
increased and augmented thereby; as all grace grows and thrives in and by its exercise, and ordinarily not otherwise. And when any grace is so applied unto Christ as spiritually to touch him, virtue goes forth from him for its strengthening. The neglect then also hereof must of necessity produce the contrary effect, John xy. 5, 6. Thus in particular is faith increased; for according as the object of it is cleared, manifested, represented suitable and desirable unto
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VER. 1, 2.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 525
the soul, so is faith itself excited, stirred up, and strengthened. Now, this is no otherwise done but when the soul is enabled gra- ciously to ponder on the person and offices of Christ. There it finds all that is needful unto it to make it happy and blessed,—to procure pardon, peace, righteousness, and glory for it. This faith receives, and is improved by it. So the apostle informs us, 2 Cor. iii. 18, Hav- ing boldness and liberty given us in the gospel to consider and behold by faith the glory of Christ, we are thereby transformed into his likeness and image,—namely, by an increase of faith, whereby we “grow up into him who is the head.” And this brings along with it an increase in all other graces, whereby we are preserved in the profession and practice of the truth,
By this means, also, a fountain of godly sorrow is opened in the hearts of believers; which is a precious grace, Zech, xii. 10. The consideration of the Lord Christ as pierced for us, or by us, will melt and humble the soul, or it will never yield unto any ordinance of God.