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 diligence11. 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 blind1, and incapable of compre- hending spiritual things, till he himself has opened their eyes,
and given them a spiritual discernment11 Hence he
counsels all to come to the Lord Jesus Christ " for eye-salve, that they may see1;" and to look to him as the only Author of true wisdom"1. He represents it as the Holy Spirit's office to take of the things that are Christ's, and to shew them unto us11;" and to bring home to the minds of men a clear percep- tion of those various truths which are most of all interesting to their souls. He considers all men as equally under the neces- sity of submitting to the teachings of his Spirit0. The efforts of those who lean to their own understanding, he derides p, and will communicate to " babes the things which he conceals from the wise and prudent q." True it is, that God uses both the written and preached word as the means of conveying instruction : but the due reception of that instruction he ascribes to the opera- tion of his own almighty power1. Even the disciples whom Jesus himself had instructed for three or four years, were not able rightly to apprehend his word, till " he opened their under- standings to understand the Scriptures s :" and, when Peter confessed his Lord to be the Christ, he was expressly told, that " flesh and blood had not revealed it" to him, but God him- self*. Be it known then to all, that every child of man, whether learned or unlearned, must " hear and learn of the Father," who is " the Father of lights, and from whom cometh every good and perfect gift11."]
This is the way pursued by the saints in all ages —
11 John v. 39. i Rev. Hi. 17. k lCor.H. 14. Eph.iv. 18.
1 Rev. Hi. 18. m Jam. i. 5. » John xvi. 8, 11, 13, 14.
0 John vi. 45. p 1 Cor. i. 19, 20. <i Matt. xi. 25.
r I Cor. iii. 5 — 7. s Luke xxiv. 45. < Matt. xvi. 17. u Jam. i. 17.
697.] II0W TO ATTAIN DIVINE KNOWLEDGE. o09
[Who more instructed than David ? yet he was not
ashamed to seek from God a spiritual illumination. The
saints at Ephesus were inferior to no Church whatever, in a
comprehension of divine truth: yet did St. Paul pray for them,
that they might yet further " be enlightened by the Spirit of
wisdom and revelation, through whose gracious influences alone
they could grow either in knowledge or in grace x. If we look
to those of later times, we find this truth acknowledged by all,
excepting those infidels who " deny the Lord that bought
them." The Reformers of our Church have most unequivocally
sanctioned the use of these means, and encouraged us to look up
to God for " the inspiration of his Spirit," " that we may both
perceive and know what things we ought to do, and also have
grace and power faithfully to fulfil the samey." Let us not be
contented with any efforts of our own, or any instructions from
man; but let us " cry after knowledge, and lift up our voice
for understanding, knowing that it is the Lord alone who giveth
wisdom, and that out of his mouth cometh knowledge and