In confirmation of this truth, I will endeavour to point out,
I. Some of those secrets which God reveals to his faithful people —
The whole of the divine life is a secret, from the beginning to the end; and "the joys" arising from it are such as " the stranger intermeddleth not with." But, to descend to particulars,
1 . God gives them an insight into the great mystery of redemption —
[This was " a mystery hid from ages and generations," yea, " hid in God from the fomidation of the world^:" but at last it was made known to the Church by Christ and his holy Apostles, that all God's saints might become acquainted with it=. St. Paul, speaking of the great truths of the Gospel, says, " It is written. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit^." We must not, however, imagine, that because this mystery is revealed to the Church in the written word, we need no further revelation of it to our souls : for " the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God ; for they are foolishness unto him : neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." Notwithstand- ing, therefore, the Gospel revelation is so clear in itself, we still must " receive, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we may know the things that are freely given to us of God\" A speculative knowledge of the Gospel may, indeed, be acquired by human instruction : but a spiritual and experimental acquaintance with it, as " the wisdom of God and the power of God," can be attained only through the teaching of God's Spirit: " flesh and blood cannot reveal it unto us:" it can be made known only by inspiration from the Father*^. And that inspiration, blessed be his name ! is given to many. Through his tender mercy, it may be said of many, " Ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things^." Whilst to some, who hear the Gospel, " it is spoken, as it were, only in parables;" so that, in relation to the plainest truths of the Gospel, they are ready to exclaim, as Ezekiel's hearers did in reference to him, " Ah, Lord God! doth he not speak parables"^?" to others " it is given to know the mysteries of
f Rom. xvi. 25. Eph. iii. 5. e Eph. ill. 9. Col. i. 26, 27.
'' 1 Cor. ii. 9, 10. * 1 Cor. ii. 12, 14. ^ Matt. xvi. 17.
' 1 John ii. 20, 27. '^ Ezek. xx. 49.