Scripture Light the Most Sure Light, Sermon group 1
SCRIPTURE-LIGHT, The moſt Sure LIGHT. The Contents.
Sermon I.
THe Words opened Page 1
An Exhortation to a great Duty ibid.
The Duty commanded, commended ibid.
The Duty is urged, and amplified by divers Arguments.
1 It is a word of Propheſi…. ibid.
2 A more ſure word Page 4
It is meant comparatively.
Arguments taken from the uſe.
Fulneſs of the …o d to us.
How long we must take heed to it; which is the ſecond thing whereby this Duty is amplified ibid.
1 It is not understood of Supernatural Revelation. ib.
2 It is no… spoken to the beleeving few, in reſpect of the old Testament ibid.
3 It is not meant only of thoſe glorious time… yet to come Page 5
4 It is not meant of Heavenly Glory ibid.
5 The word Until, not taken excluſively ibid.
DOCT. Scripture Light is our greateſt, and moſt ſure Light; whereunto we ſhal do wel that me take heed, &c. Page 6
Opening of it Page 6
1 A good man may be in the dark, in a dark place, ſtate, and condition ibid.
2 Though he be in the dark, yet God hath not left him without Scripture Light to walk by.
3 The Scripture Light, in the moſt excellent, ſafe, and ſure Light.
4 It is the duty of al the Saints to take heed thereunto, and to walk thereby, especially in dark times and places.
I. A good man may be in the dark ibid.
1 Proved by Examples of perſons and places Page 7
2 From times of Affliction. ib.
3 From great ſtreights ibid.
4 From times of Offences. ib.
5 A good man may err, and be miſtaken in erroneous times Page 8
6 A good man may be engaged in ſome diſſention ibid.
7 He may be under ſome deſertion Page 9
8 He may be under ſome temptation ibid.
II. Though a good man be in the dark, yet he hath Scripture Light to walk by Page 10
Queſt. 1. Have not wicked men Scripture Light to walk by in their darkneſs? ibid.
Anſw. It is n… …ght to them ibid.
Queſt. 2. M… … mans Eyes be … the Scripture … Page 11
Anſw. 1 In ſome things they may ib
2 He doth not ſhut his eyes from any Scripture Light, if he be in health, and not under ſome temptation. ibid.
3 A good man feels more than he can ſpeak ibid.
4 He hath his intervals of ſight, though ſome things be hidden from him Page 12
5 Though he be in the dark, yet God doth not leave him ſo ibid.
III. Scripture Light, the moſt excellent, ſafe, and ſure Light ibid.
1 It is a true light ibid.
2 It is an admirable wonderful light Page 13
3 It is a ſafe and ſure light. ib.
4 It is a pleaſant ſatisfying light ibid.
5 It is a full, and ſufficient light ibid.
6 It is a cleer light in al Truths neceſſary to Salvation Page 14
7 It is the moſt excellent Light, compared with ſeven or eight falſe Lights, in theſe daies cried up by men for great lights ibid.
1 Revelations or Viſions.
2 Dreams.
3 Impreſſions on the heart, with, or without the Word
4 Experience.
5 The Law and light within
6 Providence.
7 Reaſon.
8 Judicial Aſtrology.
Queſt. Wherein doth Scripture light exceed Revelations or Viſions? Page 14
Anſw.
1 It is more full ibid.
2 It is the higheſt light Page 15
3 It is more certain and ſure, the other are uncertain ibid.
4 There is no danger in taking heed to Scripture light; to the other there is, for three Reaſons Page 16
Queſt. May not God ſpeak extraordinarily in our daies, by Viſions and Revelations? Page 17
Anſw. affirmatively. He may. ibid.
The matter ſet with bounds.
1 We muſt not have itching Ears after Viſions and Revelations, though we are bound to receive them when God speaks by them; for we may not tempt God Page 18
2 If the Revelation be contrary to Scripture, it is from the Devil ibid.
3 It is not from the Lord, if it be brought to confirm the Goſpel; for the Doctrine of the Goſpel is ſufficiently confirmed already ibid.
4 By extraordinary means a mans heart muſt not be drawn off from the ordinary means Page 19
5 All Viſions and Revelations muſt be tried by the Touch-ſtone of the Scripture ibid.
Sermon II.
INSTANCE, II Scripture Light compared with Dreams and Voyces Page 20
Scripture Light the beſt, comparatively ibid.
1 Dreams are commonly vain ibid.
2 Dreams are uncertain to know whether they be Natural, or Supernatural; from God, or from the Devil Page 21
Queſt. May not God speak to us by a Dream now if he will? ibid.
Anſw. Affirmatively.
He may if he pleaſe: but we have no order to wait for it: nor is it a ſign of Gods love to me ibid.
Queſt. Is not an immediate voyce from God to be compared with Scripture? Page 22
Anſw. It may be from Hel, or Heaven, from an Angel, or from God himſelf? yet the Scripture is beyond al Dreams, and immediate Voyces. ibid.
INSTANCE, III The written Word is better than Impreſſions upon the Soul Page 23
1 The written Word is our dayly food, Impreſſions are not Page 23
2 All Impreſſions are from the written word ibid.
3 Impreſſions are dangerous to walk by, the written word not Page 24
Queſt. Is there no uſe of Impreſſions, with, or without a particular Word? Is there no light that ſhines through them? ibid.
Anſw. Affirmatively.
1 They comfort in temptations ibid.
2 They may guide a doubtful ſoul ibid.
3 They may ſtrengthen the heart ibid.
Negatively
1 Impreſſions are no Judg of true Doctrine, but the written Word is Page 25
2 Impreſſions may bring much comfort upon the heart, especially coming with the Word, yet they may be deluſions of the Devil, if it be not according to the true ſence and ſcope of the Word ſet upon the heart Page 26
3 Though the impreſſion be of God, yet if the Application be beyond Impreſſion, I ſtill err ibid.
INSTANCE, IV The Light of Scripture, is beyond the Light and Law of Grace in the Saints Page 27
1 The Light within us here, is imperfect, the Law of God perfect ibid.
2 The light within us, cannot convince others ibid.
Queſt. Is there no uſe of the light within us? doth not God direct thereby? ibid.
Anſw. Affirmatively
1 It is a Candle of the Lord in the ſoul Page 28
2 It inclines us to good, as it diſcovers evil ibid.
3 It enableth a man to do good, and is that principle whence all good actions flow ibid.
Negatively
Though it be a principle of good, yet it is not the rule of our lives. ibid.
I. If it were the Rule, what need the Scripture? But the Scripture is the Rule. ibid.
Object. If the Spirit within me, be the ſame by which the Scripture was written, what need I wait on the Scripture any longer? ibid.
Anſw. It is ſent to be your Help, not to be your Rule Page 29
Reaſons.
1 You may have the ſame spirit, but not the ſame inspiration of the spirit ibid.
2 If the Law, and Light, and Spirit within, were the Rule, a man might do any wickedneſs without ſinning ibid.
3 If the light within, were my Rule, then am I my own Rule, and conſequently, I am God Page 29
II. The Law, Light, and Spirit, is a great Help in our way to life, yet it muſt be tried by the Word. ibid.
INSTANCE, V The written Word better than Experience. Page 30
1 All Light of Experience, is borrowed from Scripture. ib.
2 It is ſhort of Scripture. ibid.
3 Without the Word it cannot heal our Ʋnbelief ibid.
Queſt. Is there no uſe of experience? is there no light therein? ib.
Anſw.
1 Affirmatively. Yea much; for it bringeth Hope ibid.
2 Negativelvely. It is not the ground of our Faith, though it be an help to our Faith. The written Word is the firſt ground of faith and hope. ib.
3 All experience is to be reduced to the Word written. Page 31
INSTANCE, VI As for Divine Providence, the Scripture is a more ſure light than it ibid.
Reaſons.
1 God doth ſomtimes try us by his Providence, to ſee what we will do; but the Scripture is the Rule of our doing ib…d.
2 The Providence of God extendeth to all our actions, be they good or evil; and therfore no certain Rule from thence, to make up our judgment by; but you may make up your Judgment, and certain Rule from the Scripture ibid.
Queſt. Doth not God ſpeak by Providence? guide and direct by Providence ſomtimes? ibid.
Anſw. Affirmatively
1 Yea, he doth ſomtimes guide us with his eye, as the Pſalmiſt speaks ibid.
2 Though God doth this, yet to make the Providence of God the Rule of Lawfulneſs and Ʋnlawfulneſs, is a great error. The Providence of God maketh nothing lawful that is in it ſelf unlawful: but the Scripture is the Rule only, whereby to make up our Judgment, what is lawful, what not. Page 32
INSTANCE, VII. Scripture is more excellent than the Light of Human Reaſon ibid.
Reaſons
1 Reaſon is the poor mans bread, but Gods Word is the bread of Angels ibid.
2 Though Reaſon be the Gift of God, yet it cannot ſufficiently diſcover ſin ibid.
3 It cannot ſtrengthen us againſt ſin and temptation, nor convert the ſoul, but Gods Word can Page 33
4 It is not ſaving Light; but Goſpel-light is ſaving light Page 33
Queſt. Is there no uſe of the light of Reaſon? ibid
Anſw. Affirma…ively
1 Yea much: not only in civil things, but in the things of God ibid.
2 Reaſon is but an Handmaid; and R…ſons before faith leſſ…; …u… after ſaith they ſtrengthen it Page 34
3 In things of God, we muſt deny ou… Reaſon, but we muſt not d…ny the Scripture. ibid.
INSTANCE, VIII Judiciu… Aſtrology cried up as a great light in theſe da… Page 35
1 Bu… … in truth a work of da… … forbidden by God. ibid.
2 It deſi…yeth Propheſie. ib.
Queſt. Is there no light of Knowledg from the Stars? do not the Heavens declare Gods handy work? will you condemn all Aſtronomy? Page 36
Anſw. Negatively.
1 Aſtromy; No. There is much difference between the Lawful knowledg of the Stars, and Judicial Aſtrology, to foretel future events. ibid.
2 The Stars are for ſigns of Weather, and have a teaching power in them; but he that would foretel future events by them, makes himſelf a God, ſets up Fate, and deſtroies God, makes God the Author of all the ſin in the World ibid.
A brief of the whol matter rep…ated Page 38
Sermon III. The Fourth General Propoſition
Scripture Light, the moſt ſure Light Page 39
The Reaſons.
1 It is the Word of the Son of God. Chriſt only is not called the Word of God, but the Word written, is alſo called the Word of God Page 40
2 The Scripture is the only Rule of our lives, proved by many Reaſons. ibid.
3 It is the Salt that ſeaſoneth al our enjoyments, the great relief of our Souls in time of Temptations; it ſanctifieth all our outward comforts. Page 41
4 It ſhall be our Judg at the great day Page 42
5 It ſhall be eſtabliſhed upon us. ibid.
An Objection anſwered, concerning the word Until, which it not to be taken excluſively ibid.
Queſt. Why are the Saints to take heed unto Scripture, specially in dark times? Page 43
Anſw. Becauſe they are then in moſt danger of falling. ibid.
Object. All Hereticks lay claim to Scripture-Light Page 44, 45
Anſw. Some do, ſome do not. 'Tis one thing to cite Scripture, and another thing to take heed thereunto ibid.
Application.
1 We muſt bleſs God for Human Learning ibid.
2 They that fo…ake, or deny the Scripture, are …n a ſad Condition ibid.
3 Take heed to the Scripture. Page 46
Queſt. What muſt we do to take heed to Scripture? ibid.
Anſw. Three things
1 Take heed to underſtand it
2 Take heed to keep it
3 Attend to walk by it.
I. For underſtanding the Scripture ibid.
Hold faſt the Letter of it; for if you deny the Letter, how can you underſtand the true ſenſe? ibid.
An Objection anſwered ibid.
Queſt. How can we keep faſt the Letter when there are ſo many Greek Copies of the new Te…am… Page 47
Anſw.
1 There is no material difference between them ibid.
2 You muſt diligently enquire out the true meaning of the Scripture ibid.
Object. One Scripture hath many Senſes, &c. Page 48
Anſw. Negatively,
Nay, one Scripture hath but one intire ſenſe, though it hath divers parts and applications ibid.
2 The Scripture is to be underſtood ſomtimes literally, ſomtimes figuratively; yet alwaies spiritually ibid.
3 For Direction Page 49
1 Al fundamental Doctrins of our ſalvation, are laid down literally ibid.
2 When the literal ſenſe muſt be leſt ibid.
3 Myſtery doth not deſtroy the Hiſtory. ibid.
4 Nothing in Scripture ſet down myſtically, but is literally expreſſed in another place of Scripture. Page 49, 50
Object. When a Scripture lieth under con rov…ſie, what muſt be done? ibid.
Anſw. Somthing by way of Obſervati…n, ſomthing by Practice. ibid.
1 Obſervation; if you be able, c…nſult the Original; if not able, conſult thoſe that are able ibid.
2 Coherence, and Scope, and Context, good means to open the true ſenſe Page 51
3 Compare one Scripture with another ibid.
4 S…ve…ve not from the proportion of Faith ibid.
II. More Practically Page 52
1 Go to God for the ſpirit ib.
2 Take heed of a fleſhly mind. ibid.
3 Study your Condition by Scripture, and the Scripture by your Condition ibid.
4 Be not too indulgent to your own Condition, Dispoſition, or Opinion ibid.
5 Joyn nothing in Commiſſion with the Scripture for your Rule Page 53
2 You muſt keep the Scripture, if you will attend to underſtand it ibid.
Directions how to keep the Word Page 54
1 Obſerve the things whereby men have been drawn from it, and thoſe are chiefly three ibid.
1 The corruption of mans Nature ibid.
2 Corrupt Principles ibid.
3 Playing with the Scripture Page 55
2 Rules to keep particular Truths of Scripture in your heart, are ibid.
1 Many Saints have ſuffered willingly the loſs of all to maintain them ibid.
2 Conſider that the Saints have generally ma…ntained theſe Doctrines in oppoſition to the world ib
III. To take heed to the Scripture, is to walk thereby Page 56
1 Therefore prize it much ib.
2 Love the truth you know ib.
3 Let it be your continual Companion ibid.