1, The desires and appetite of the former are kept always within the bounds of what is written and plainly revealed in the word; for we have showed that the deepest mysteries have the plainest revelations, Offer them any thing that is not plainly attested by the word, and they turn from it as poison, They have learned in
VER. 12-14.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 603
all things to “think soberly,” according to the analogy of faith, Rom. xii, 3. They would be wise, but unto sobriety, and not above what is written. But for the other sort, if any thing be new, curious, seemingly mystical, removed from the common sense and apprehen- sions of Christians, without any due consideration whether it be a truth of God or no, that is it which they run greedily after, and catch at the empty cloud of. Their principal business is to “intrude them- selves into the things which they have not seen, being vainly puffed up by their fleshly minds,” Col. ii. 18.
2. The former sort, upon the declaration and discovery of any deep, important mysteries of the gospel, are greatly taken up with a holy admiration and reverence of God, whose these things are. So our apostle, having in the 9th, 10th, and 11th chapters of his Epistle to the Romans, treated of the deep mysteries of electing grace, and the effects of it, he shuts up his whole discourse in an admiration of God, and an ascription of glory unto him, chap. xi. 33-36. So is it with all holy and humble souls, upon their instruc- tion in and view they have of the mysteries of the gospel, in that marvellous light whereinto they are translated. The other sort satisfy themselves in their own speculation, without being much affected with the greatness or glory of God, in the things they imagine them- selves to know. :
3. The former sort do find real food and nourishment in this strong meat, so that their faith is strengthened, their love increased, and holiness promoted in their souls by them. They find by expe- rience that such things do not only sound in their ears or float in their minds in the notion of them, but that really and truly their faith feeds upon them; and their whole souls being affected with them, they are encouraged and directed by them in the course of their obedience. Others, whose desires proceed from the distempers of pride and curiosity, find none of those things ; and so their itch- ing ears are suited, and their inquisitive minds satisfied, they regard them not. Hence it is hard to see one of these notional persons either fruitful or useful ; neither can they bear those parts of the yoke of Christ which would make necessary the constant exercise of faith and love.
4, The former sort are always more and more humbled, the latter more and more puffed wp, by what they attain unto. But I must not further enlarge on these things. There yet remain two obser- vations more, with the naming whereof we shall shut up our dis- courses on this chapter.
Obs. IV. The assiduous exercise of our minds about spiritual things, in a spiritual manner, is the only means to make us to profit in hearing of the word.
604 AN EXPOSITION OF THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. [CHAP. V
When our spiritual senses are exercised by reason of constant use, they are in a readiness to receive, embrace, and improve, what. is tendered unto them. Without this we shall be dull and slow in hearing,—the vice here so severely reproved.
Obs. V. The spiritual sense of believers, well exercised in the word, is the best and most undeceiving help in judging of what is good or evil, what is true or false, that is proposed unto them.
END OF VOL. XXL
EDINBURGH ; PRINTED BY JOHNSTONE AND HUNTER,
VER. 12-14.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 603
all things to “think soberly,” according to the analogy of faith, Rom. xii. 3. They would be wise, but unto sobriety, and not above what is written. But for the other sort, if any thing be new, curious, seemingly mystical, removed from the common sense and apprehen- sions of Christians, without any due consideration whether it be a truth of God or no, that is it which they run greedily after, and catch at the empty cloud of. Their principal business is to “intrude them- selves into the things which they have not seen, being vainly puffed up by their fleshly minds,” Col. ii. 18.
2. The former sort, upon the declaration and discovery of any deep, important mysteries of the gospel, are greatly taken up with a holy admiration and reverence of God, whose these things are. So our apostle, having in the 9th, 10th, and 11th chapters of his Epistle to the Romans, treated of the deep mysteries of electing grace, and the effects of it, he shuts up his whole discourse in an admiration of God, and an ascription of glory unto him, chap. xi. 33-36. So is it with all holy and humble souls, upon their instruc- tion in and view they have of the mysteries of the gospel, in that marvellous light whereinto they are translated. The other sort satisfy themselves in their own speculation, without being much affected with the greatness or glory of God, in the things they imagine them- selves to know.