in all the Mosaic ritual ; " Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn." Now the utmost that this might be supposed to teach us, is, mercy to our beasts. But it had a further reference : God's concern was, not for oxen, but for us ; and this ordi- nance was intended to declare, that all who serve at the altar, should live of the altar1.
Let this suffice to illustrate the point in hand. You see from an historical fact, cm occasional declara- tion, a personal promise, and an insignificant ordinance, that whatever the Scripture speaks, it speaks to us. There is not a precept which is not as binding upon us as on those to whom it was delivered : there is not a threatening, at which we have not cause to tremble; nor a promise, on which we are not warranted to rely, if only we believe in Jesus Christ.
We come now to notice that other appellation given to the Scriptures, " the sword of the Spirit." In a variety of views this description of them is just and appropriate.
It is by the Scriptures that the Holy Spirit speaks to men. He did indeed in the early ages of the world enlighten men by dreams and visions ; but since the publication of the written word, and especially since the completion of the sacred canon, he has called men to the law and to the testimony"1; "they have Moses and the prophets," says our Lord, " let them hear them":" and again, "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye have eternal life0." We do not say indeed, that the Holy Spirit never uses any other means of quickening or comforting the souls of men : but the Scriptures are the means by which he usually works p; nor does he ever work at all, but in a perfect conformity to them.
The Scriptures are further called the sword of the Spirit, because they derive all their power from the Spirit. In themselves, they are like a sword sheathed, and lying upon the ground : they are a dead letter :
1 Compare Deut. xxv. 4. with 1 Cor. ix. 9, 10. '" Isai. viii. 20. 1 Luke xvi. 29. ° John v. 39. p Eph. v. 26.