576 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [ CHAP, V.
that in the preaching of the gospel they “followed not cunningly- devised fables,” but that they were confirmed by the oracle of God, 2 Pet. i. 16-21. God is “a God of truth,” Deut. xxxii. 4; and all his words are “ words of truth,” Eccles. xii.10. Herein then, alone, the souls of men can find assured rest and peace. Whatever else they may lean upon, whatever appearance of truth it may have, yet falsehood and a lie may be in it. Before God gave his oracles unto men,—that is, before he sent out his light and truth to lead and guide them,—they did nothing but perpetually wander in ignorance, error, and darkness, unto destruction. And so far as any yet take any thing else but the oracles of truth for their guide, they must continually fluctuate; and though they are not always actually de- ceived, they are never certain but that they are so. “I will show thee what is noted in the scripture of truth,” Dan. x. 21, is the only guide we have for our souls. 4 Mysteries. “Oracles” have mysteries in them, and under this covert Satan endeavoured to hide his delusions. For whereas the oracles of God were mysterious from the matter contained in them, which is sacred, holy, sublime, and incomprehensible, he delivered himself in dark, enigmatical, dubious expressions, that, making an appearance of something mys- terious, he might draw a cloud of darkness over his lies and false- hoods. And it is in opposition unto all the pretended mysteries of Gentile worship, that our apostle, summing up the principal doc- trines concerning the person and mediation of Christ Jesus, says, “Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness,’ 1 Tim. iii, 16. The oracles of God are mysterious from the depths and ex- cellency of the things revealed, delivered in words of truth and sober- ness. And this will teach us how we ought to behave ourselves with respect unto the word, these oracles of God. It is generally owned to be our duty to read it, to study it, to meditate upon it, and to attend unto its dispensation in preaching; and those by whom these things are neglected shall bear their own judgment: but as to the manner of the discharge of these duties, there may be a great failure among the best. That diligence, that reverence, that submission of mind and conscience, that dependence on God for the revelation of his mind and will, which ought constantly to accom- pany all them who consider and attend unto the oracles of God, we are too often at a loss in.
Obs. V. God hath, in infinite love and wisdom, so disposed of his word as that there are first principles, plain and necessary, laid down in it, to facilitate the instruction he intends thereby.
Men have learned this wisdom in teaching of all arts and sciences. They first lay down general principles and theorems, which they make the basis and foundation of all their following instructive de- ductions. And so there are “ first principles of the oracles of God.”
VER. 12-14.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 577
And,—1. They are plain, and easy to be learned. The things them- selves contained in them, as hath been showed, are deep and myste- rious; but they are all of them so plainly declared, as that he who runs may read them. It is an unquestionable truth, that what is not clearly and plainly revealed in the word, though it be true, and the knowledge of it very useful, yea, necessary to some persons in some circumstances, yet it doth not belong unto those “ principles of the oracles of God,” which it is the duty of all men expressly to know and believe. I could go over all the principles that are of this nature, and evince that they are all of them so plainly, so fully, so elearly revealed, taught, and expressed, and that in words and terms so suited unto the reason and understandings of men, that none unto whom the word of God comes can be ignorant of them without the guilt of supine negligence and horrible sloth; nor will any err about them, unless their minds are prepossessed with invincible pre- judices, or carnal, corrupt, and earthly affections. And this is ne- eessarily required unto the nature of first principles. They must be maxims plainly and evidently declared and asserted, or they are very unmeet to be the first principles of knowledge in any kind.
- 2. They are such as being learned, received, believed ina due manner,
the way is plain for men towards perfection ; they have such an influ- ence into all other sacred truths,—which, indeed, are but deductions from them, or lesser streams from that blessed fountain which is con- tained in them,—and do so suit and prepare the mind for them,— that they have an easy access unto it. The minds of men being duly inlaid with these “first principles of the oracles of God,” it is uncon- ceivable how they may thrive in the knowledge of the deepest mys- teries, and that in a due manner. If, indeed, when men have been instructed in these principles, they grow careless and negligent, as though they had obtained enough, and need seek no farther, as is the manner of many, they will be of no advantage unto them. He that lays the foundation of a house, and neglects the carrying on of the building, will find it but a sorry shelter in a storm. And whereas God hath designed the knowledge of these principles as a means unto a further growth and improvement, from whence they are so termed, where that end is neglected, he will blast the other attainment, that it shall be utterly useless. But where this founda- tion is well laid, where these principles are duly learned, and im- proved as they ought to be, they make the way smooth and easy unto greater degrees of knowledge; I mean, unto such as are indus- trious in the use of means. And this, as it makes evident what is our duty concerning them, so it gives great encouragement unto the discharge thereof. We ought to learn them, because they are prin- ciples; and we are encouraged to learn them, because they open the way to further improvement.