not find him?" and then, after some unsatisfactory conjectures about his going to preach among the Gentiles, or destroying his own life, they were con- strained to acknowledge, that they could not at all comprehend it; " What manner of saying is this that he said?" Indeed, even his own Disciples were as much at a loss about his meaning as his very enemies3.
It is not our intention to justify their unbelief: for it is evident that they were actuated by a proud cap- tious spirit, and not by a sincere desire after instruc- tion. Yet their words will afford us a fit occasion to shew,
i. The importance of inquiring into Divine truth in general —
It is certain that there are many expressions in the
Scriptures dark and intricate —
[This arises in part from the mysterious nature of Divine truth, which relates to subjects remote from the apprehensions of fallen man It is owing also in part to the metapho- rical language in which the doctrines of Revelation are often expressed ; for, however certain figures may serve to illustrate the particular doctrine contained in them, they cast a veil over the doctrine, till the truth contained in them is understood
But most of all, it is owing to the disinclination of
man to receive the things which are revealed. The mind of fallen man is blinded by pride, and passion, and interest : it has a corrupt bias : it is averse to the things which the Spirit of God requires and reveals : " it hates the light, and will not come to the light, lest its vile propensities should be reproved :" and therefore it accounts " the things of the Spirit foolishness," because it is not able to discern their excellency.]
Nevertheless the things contained in the Scriptures are of infinite importance to us all —
[They relate to the everlasting salvation of the soul : they declare the only way in which a sinner can find acceptance with God : they set forth the person, work, and offices of the Messiah, together with the distinct offices of the Holy Trinity in the work of redemption. They make known the characters of them that are saved and of them that perish, together with the states to which both the one and the other will be sen- tenced. In short, " the word that Christ hath spoken to us, the same shall judge us in the last day." Now in comparison
a Compare ver. 35. and viii. 22. with xvi. 16 — 18.