2. There is in it the whole counsel of God concerning his own worship, and the whole of that obedience which he requires of us _ that we may come to be accepted with him here, and to the eternal enjoyment of him in glory. For “all Scripture is given by inspi- ration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correc- tion, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works,” 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17, ‘ Here is all, say some; ‘ Here is enough,’ say most: and I am sure that whoever walketh according to this rule, mercy and peace shall be on him, as on the whole Israel of God. This increaseth the riches of this treasury. Here we may find all that God would have us do that we may please him,—all that ho requires of us in this world,
308 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IV.
our whole duty with reference unto eternity. Here is our guide, our rule, ready to direct us in all stated duties, on all occasions and emergencies; so that nothing can befall us, nothing can be required of us in the worship of God, in the course, ways, and actions of our lives, but what we may have here light, guidance, and direction for. It is the word of his wisdom, will, and grace, who made us these souls, and who foreknew every thought that would be in them to eternity, and hath secretly laid up in his word that which shall suit and answer unto every occasion of all that believe in him. Whence one cried out of old, “ Adoro plenitudinem Scripturarum,’—“ I adore the fulness of the Scripture;” in which posture of holy ad- miration I desire my mind may be found whilst I am in this world.
3. There is in it a glorious discovery of the eternal being or na- ture of God, with its glorious essential excellencies, so far as we are capable of an encouraging contemplation of them in this world. It is true, that the being, nature, and properties of God, may be known by the light of nature, and from the consideration of those works which are the certain product of his power and goodness. But how dark, weak, obscure, and imperfect, is that discovery, in comparison of that which is made unto us in the word! Of many things in- dispensably necessary to be known of God, it knows nothing at all, as of the eternal existence of the one individual nature of God in three persons; and what it doth teach, it doth so marvellous un- evenly, unsteadily, and darkly. Consult the writings of them who have most improved the light of nature in their disquisitions after the being and nature of God, who have most industriously and curiously traced the footsteps of nature towards its eternal spring and fountain. Men they were, wise, learned, sagacious, contempla- tive almost to a miracle, and wonderfully skilful to express the con- ceptions of their minds in words suited to intimate their senses, and to affect the readers. But when and where they are in the highest improvement of their reason, their fancies most raised, their expres- sions most reaching, generous, and noble, bring it all to one leaf of divine revelation, expressed by a poor illiterate shepherd or a fisher- man, and you shall quickly find their candle before this sun first to . lose its rays and lustre, then its light, and lastly utterly to expire as useless. Hence our apostle fears not to declare, that even in their disquisitions after God, “they waxed vain in their imagina- tions,” and that “their foolish hearts were darkened,’ Rom i. But in his word it is that God hath made that revelation of himself wherein the souls of men may fully acquiesce; upon it hath he left an impression of all his excellencies, that we might learn to “glorify him as God.” And what stores of truth are needful to this = who can express?
VER. 7.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS, 309
4. The souls of them that believe are carried by it out of this world, and have future eternal glories presented unto them. Here are they instructed in the hidden things of immortality; which is darkness itself unto them who are destitute of this guide. It is true, we have but a very low and obscure comprehension of the things of the other world; but this is from our weakness and imper- fection, and not out of any defect in their scriptural revelation. There we are told that “we shall be ever with the Lord,” “like him, seeing him as he is,” “ beholding his glory,” in “ mansions” of rest and blessedness, receiving a reward in. “a crown of glory that fadeth not.” If we know but little of what is in these things, as we do but very little; if we cannot comprehend them, nor fill our minds steadfastly with them, it is, as was said, from our own weak- ness and imperfection; the truth and excellency of them are stored in this sacred treasury. Now, how large, how extensive and un- searchable, must that repository of mysterious truths be, wherein all these things, with all the particulars whereinto they branch them- selves, all the whole intercourse between God and man in all ages, and always, are laid up and stored! O heavenly, O blessed deposi- tum of divine grace and goodness!