without thy saving impression, are all that can be found in the most rational instructions of men. O raise me up, then, my blessed Teacher, above the pictures of things, which may be gained by words, to the true enjoyment and reality of the thing themselves. So shall I not hear, or give discourse only of thy spiritual feast, like a man in a dream, but shall taste and see indeed how good and gracious thou art, and that all life, power, and consolation, are entirely from thee.

CHAP. IX.

ON THE WORD OF CHRIST.

FOR ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven; and upon earth it runneth very swiftly. The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: Give me understanding, and I shall live.

Such is the word, and the end of the -word, of my gracious Redeemer. It is called a word, because it is a revelation; all words being only the revelation or expression of things. This revealed word is settled in heaven upon the throne of God, is ordered by the Divine Persons in all things, and is sure, because ordered by them in a covenant which cannot be broken. Thus it stands a law unalterable, and established in the heavens.

It is a word too of testimony, because it testifieth of my Saviour throughout, either directly by the institutions and declarations of his grace, or indirectly by the courses and actions of his providence, meeting in one and the same purpose, which is the guidance and salvation of his people.

This word, in the conduct of the Divine Spirit, is also a word of power, and the fit instrument of all his work. It is his spiritual sword, by which he divides asunder the soul and spirit, and effects that circumcision of the heart, whereby his people are enabled to live no longer unto themselves, but unto God. The operation is painful indeed to the flesh, or to nature; but it causeth the spirit to rejoice in Christ Jesus, and to give up its confidence in all things beside.

For this purpose, then, of testifying for Christ, and of acting by the Spirit in the re'deemed, is all the written word calculated and given. Hence, the institutions of the law preached Jesus and his salvation, the prophecies declared the same truth, the histories are records of God's conduct towards his people from age to age, the gospels are evidences of the accomplishment of all these things in Christ, and the epistles are explanations and enforcements of these things to believers. In short, all the holy writings relateto Christ, and to the redeemed in him. Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega of the whole word and work of the Most High.

In this word and its experience consist the right wisdom and comfort of a Christian. Here is truth without error; so that he can read without fear, and trust without danger. All other books, as they come from men, have more or less of folly or vanity in them, and often are looked over with little real satisfaction and improvement. But, in this volume, grace not only discovers something new, but brings new force out of old truths, which have charmed the soul a thousand times. It discovers the multiform and manifold wisdom of God in what he hath spoken; insomuch that, from under the veil of one precious instruction, another and another shall arise, as the soul is improved to bear them. These are the steps of the kingdom: and the higher the renewed mind can ascend, it not only understands better what it hath already attained, but sees farther and wider into the glories yet before it, till it is ravished with unspeakable delight in its views of the infinite knowledge and love of God.

The right understanding of this word doth not puff up, but humbleth. That man hath not a true apprehension of its sense, who is lifted up by it in himself. The lowly reader is the only true scholar. To him it is not a word lettered or sounded, so much as a living and lively word engrafted. It enters into his heart more than his ears, and diffuseth its sweet savour through all the faculties,

setting them into delightful exercise for the divine glory.

The great depth of the word of God keeps the real christian ever a learner. He knows that it is impossible to reach the utmost of God's wisdom. There will be always mysteries to be unfolded, because man's comprehension is finite; at the bound of which, how wide soever it may extend, remaineth ignorance. One, who had been in the third heaven and in spirit caught up into paradise itself, where he heard unspeakable words, could only say, when he treated of the divine counsels, O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearch able are his judgements, and his ways past finding out! He could stand upon the shore and taste; but all beyond was an infinite

ocean.

The true disciple, however, knows enough. to make him see the vanity and unprofitableness of all learning and wisdom (if so they may be called) out of Christ. The speculations of men are but dreams, and their pursuits but idle labours at the best, which begin and end in self, or which have no higher object than this evil world. The poor simple countryman who hath learned Christ (and many such, blessed be God, there are) cau pity the pompous ignorance of those, who know almost every thing but God and the proper value of their own souls.. By a logic.

far beyond that of the schools, he hath been led to this conclusion, that God is his Father, that Christ is his Saviour, that the Holy Spirit is his Guide, that the Bible is his charter and his library, that the Devil, the world, and the flesh are his foes, that the earth is the wilderness of his banishment, that heaven is his home, and that all the favour, love, and power of the Godhead are engaged to bring him thither. The worldly wise can only value this (if at all) when carnal knowledge is dying with their bodies, and all their trifling thoughts are about to perish. Hence it is, that the poor man's knowledge being sound and true, though ever so small, can stand the onset of trials in the world, and death at last; while the self-taught, the learned and the knowing, having none of this true understanding, fall into the absurdest errors, fail in their course, and frequently go off at last doubting and despairing.

O, my soul, seek thou the substantial wisdom, which cometh from God, and which neither time, nor eternity itself, can diminish, but only brighten and improve. Though other knowledge may be valuable for the purposes of this world, yet this alone can ripen for heaven, and is therefore most earnestly to be sought for by thee, whose business and calling, whose citizenship and hope, are principally there.

And, O Thou, who art the living and life

Ꭰ