thing can be added, and from which nothing can be withdrawn. Now the Scriptures, in this view of them, are perfect: for there is nothing in them either superfluous or defective. They are perfect,
1 . As a Revelation from God —
[That they might discover to us many things -whicli are at present either altogether hid, or but obscurely revealed, is certain ; but they have made known to us all that we are concerned to know ? and the secret counsels, which, if re- vealed, would have only administered to our pride, are better liidden from our \iew. Indeed, God has hidden many thino-s on purpose, that, whilst we behold much which he alone could reveal, we may be constrained to humble ourselves before him as creatures who are altogether indebted to him for all the light they enjoy, and dependent on him for tlie instruction which they hope yet farther to receive. In the holy Scriptures, Jehovah displays, as it were, before our eyes, all his glorious perfections, and opens to us his eternal purposes, especially respecting the redemption of the world by the incarnation and death of his only begotten Son. In them too, the person, work, and offices of Christ are all set before us ; and that with such plainness that we cannot err, and with such a weight of evidence that we cannot doubt.]
2. As a directory to us —
[In this view also they are perfect : for whilst, on the one hand, there is nothing revealed for the mere purpose of gratifying our curiosity; so, on the other hand, there is nothing withheld that could in any way conduce to the wel- fare of our souls. Respecting the whole of spiritual life, we have all the instruction that can be desired. The manner in which that life is imparted, and carried on unto perfection, is so fully delineated, that there is nothing wanting either for our direction or encouragement. And for our behaviour towards men, there is a path marked out for us in general principles, which are applicable to every situation and circumstance in which we can be placed ; and it is yet further traced out to us in examples, which serve to illustrate every virtue which we can be called to exercise. Nor have we any cause to com- plain that the rules were not more minute and numerous : for to have made a specific rule for every possible case would have been of no service, because the Scriptures would have been so voluminous, that a whole life of study would not have been suf- ficient to make us acquainted with them : but by laying down a few general principles, and embodying them in living ex- amples, God has given us all the information that we can need. In every relation of life, whether as husbands or wivcsj'^iarents
or
426 REVELATION, XXI [. 18, Ip. [1221.
or children, masters or servants, magistrates or subjects, we have rules laid down for us, from which we cannot greatly de- viate, if only we implore of God the guidance of his good Spirit. Only " let our eye be single, and our whole body will be full of light."]
In the prohibition to add to, or take from, the holy Scriptures, we also behold,
II. Their sanctity —
Nothing can exceed the strictness with which the smallest alteration of God's blessed word is for- bidden—
[If we add to the Inspired Writings, God will lay on us all the 'plagues which are there denounced against sin and sinners : and, if we take from them, *' God will take away our part from the book of life," and never suffer us to taste any of those blessings which they hold forth in rich abundance to the upright soul. In many other places we read of specific judgments denounced against sin; but in no place are the denunciations of God's wrath so full and com- prehensive as in the passage before us. It was necessary that a fiery sword should be thus waved before our eyes, to pre- vent us from trespassing on that hallowed ground: and though some slight alterations might seem allowable for the purpose of accommodating the expressions of Scripture more to our own apprehensions or desires, yet will God on no account suffer us to suppress or add one single word.]