sent or eternal happiness s. And this is exactly such a salvation as is suitable to fallen man. If we were required to add any thing to what Christ has done and suffered for us, in order to render it sufficient for our salvation, what could we add ? What have we of our own, but sin ? The more any one knows of him- self, the more he would despair, if any thing were required of him, as a price whereby to purchase an interest in Christ. Doubt- less we must repent, and believe, and obey the Gospel, before we can be saved : but repentance, faith, and obedience, though necessarv as means to an end, merit nothing at the hands of God ; nor have we of ourselves any sufficiency for those things : even those graces are wrought in us by the Spirit of God, who " gives us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure.'' Salvation, from first to last, is altogether of grace ; and therefore it is equally suitable to all ; to the thief when dying on the cross, as to Nicodemus, or Nathanael, whose whole life and conduct had been so exemplary, and who lived to adorn the doctrine they pro- fessed.
Contemplate these things, and say whether they contain not ^^ wonders " that surpass the comprehension, both of men and angels ? ]
From the text however we may learn, II. How we are to attain the knowledge of them —
Doubtless we must " search the Scriptures," and that with all diligence''. But, if we search them in dependence on our own wisdom, we shall never suc- ceed. We must look up to God for the teachings of his good Spirit, even as David did, and pray, " Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law."
This is the way prescribed by God — -
[God regards all men as blind ', and incapable of compre- hending spiritual things, till he himself has opened their eyes, and given them a spiritual discernment'^ Hence he coun- sels all to come to the Lord Jesus Christ " for eye-salve, that they may see' ;" and to look to him as the only Author of true wisdom™. He represents it as the Holy Spirit's office to take of the things that are Christ's, and to shew them unto us ";" and to bring home to the minds of men a clear perception of those various truths which are most of all interesting to their souls. He considers all men as equally under the necessity of submit- ting to the teachings of his Spirit". The efforts of those who
lean
s John i. 16. Gal.ii. 20.
^ John V. 2>Q.
' Rev. iii. 1/.
^ 1 Cor. ii. 14.
Eph. iv. 18.
' Rev. iii. 18,
" Jam. i. 5.
" Johnxvi.8, 11, 13, 14.
" John vi.45.