I confess, some think it strange that this one book, and that whereof so great a part is taken up in genealogies, histories, and laws, antiquated as to their original use, should contain all sacred spiritual truth; and therefore they have endeavoured to help it with a supply of their own traditions and inventions. But they do not consider the hand whereby these things are stored. They are laid up in God’s method, wrapped up in his words, which, in infinite wisdom, he hath given a capacity unto to receive and contain them all. Those “secrets of wisdom are double unto what can be com- prehended,” Job xi. 6. Hence, although every humble soul may learn and receive trom it what is absolutely sufficient for itself on all occasions, with respect to its own duty and eternal welfare, yet the whole church of God, neither jointly nor severally, from the be- ginning to the end of the world, have been, are, or shall be, able to examine these stores to the bottom, and to find out perfectly all the truths, in all their dimensions, concerns, and extent, that are con- tained herein.
From hence the truth of our second proposition is evident, namely, That many important truths lie deep and secret in the Scripture, standing in need of very diligent search in their investigation and for their finding out. And the reason why in this place I insist on these things, is not so much to explain the sense of it as to vindi- cate the way of our apostle’s arguing and citing of testimonies out of the Scripture, with his exposition and explication of them; which some in our days are not afraid nor ashamed to charge with ob-
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scurity and perplexity, not understanding what the nature of these things doth require.
And thus shall we find it in this place. And many instances of the like nature may we meet withal in this epistle; wherein the obscurity of the apostle is not to be blamed, but his wisdom admired. Hence is the direction and command of our Saviour, John v. 39, *Epsuvire ras ypapdés,—“ Search the Scriptures;” dig into them, ac- complish a diligent search, as 1 Pet. i. 11, Acts xvii. 11,—as men seek after rubies, silver, and gold, as the wise man expresseth it, Prov, ii. 8-5, iii 14, 15. The sum of these words is,—Without hu- mility, industry, prayer, and diligence, proceeding from desires, it is in vain to think of obtaining divine wisdom. They that search for silver and hid treasures go about it with inflamed desires, pursue it with unconquerable and unwearied industry, and rejoice in them when they are found, ‘Matt. xii. 44. And David describeth his blessed man to be one that “ delighteth in the law of the LorD, and meditateth in it day and night,” Ps, i. 2. So God expressly com- manded Joshua: “ This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night,” chap. 1 8,— that is, constantly and diligently; making it manifest that great and sedulous inquiry is to be made after the mind and will of God therein. And this carried David to pray that God would “open his eyes, that he might behold wondrous things out of his law,” Ps. exix. 18. It must be when men take a transient view of the Scrip- ture, in their own light and strength, that they can see no great nor excellent thing in it, Hos. viii. 12; but he who in the light of God, his eyes being opened thereby, searcheth deeply and attentively into it, shall find “wondrous” or marvellous “things in it,” excellent and glorious things, that others are not acquainted withal, and be made wiser than others thereby.
That which we are therefore to inquire into, for our own advan- tage, is the. ways and means whereby a due search may be made into the Scriptures, and what is necessarily required thereunto, so that we may not fail of light and instruction. And they are, amongst others, these that follow :—
1. A peculiarly humble frame of spirit, which is teachable. As there is no grace that is either more useful unto our own souls or more acceptable with God than humility, 1 Pet. iii, 4, so it is in an especial manner required as a qualification in them who would be instructed in the mind of God out of his word. So the promise is, Ps. xxv. 9, “The meek will he guide in judgment; and the meek will he teach his way;”’—®"22, that is, the humble and contrite ones. And it is the same that is twice expressed in that psalm by “ fear:” verse 12, “ What man is he that feareth the Lorp? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose;” and verse 14, “The secret of the Lorp is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his
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covenant.” Now, these promises of instruction in “judgment,” or the ordinances of God, in his “ way,” his “covenant,” and of the communication of his “secret counsel” (that is, 717! 11D, “the secret counsel of the Lorp”), are not given merely unto such as are per- sonally “meek” and “humble,” but unto such as bring meekness and humility, self-diffidence and submission of soul, unto the word in their studying of it, Isa. xxviii. 9, with Ps, cxxxi. 2. In Job xxviii, there is a great inquiry made after wisdom; it is sought for amongst men “in the land of the living,” by mutual converse and instruction, verse 13; and in the “depths of the sea,” verse 14, among the secret works of nature; but “it is hid close from all living”” What then shall a man do? lie down and utterly despair? ‘No; saith he, verse 28, “ Unto man he said, Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wis- dom.” This is the only way to attain it, for such only God will teach. Hence are we enjoined to “receive with meekness the ingrafted word,’ James i. 21. When men come to the reading and study- ing of the Scriptures in the confidence of their own skill, wisdom, parts, learning, and understanding, God scorneth to teach them, he “beholds them afar off” The fruits and effects of this state of things, in the pride of men, and the severity of God in giving them up to darkness and blindness, we may behold every day. Hence that came to pass of old which is yet observable, mentioned by our apostle, 1 Cor. i. 26, 27. And sometimes none presume more in this kind than those who have as little reason as any to trust to themselves. Many an illiterate person hath an arrogance propor- tionable unto his ignorance, 2 Pet. iii.16. And hence sundry from whom it was expected, on the account of their condition, that they should be very humble and lowly in mind in their reading of the word, have been discovered in the issue, by their being given up to foolish and corrupt errors, to have had their minds filled with pride and self-conceit; without which they would not have been so,