One-Hundred Forty-Five Sermons Upon John 17, Sermon 92
SERMON XCII. Of the Truth of the Scriptures.
JOH. 17.17.
Thy Word is Truth.
THis is a Deſcription or Explication of what was meant by Truth, Thy Word is Truth; which is a Propoſition.
Wherein you have,
1. The Subject.
2. The Predicate.
The Subject is deſcribed by its Name and Nature, with the propriety thereof, Thy Word.
The Word of God is ſometimes called foreign and ſometimes foreign; It's called Gods Word becauſe ſpoken by him, and that two waies.
Either 1. Immediately, when God himſelf ſpake, as unto the Patriarchs of old.
Or 2. Mediately, when he inſpired the holy Prophets, and made them to publiſh his Word.
It's called at other times foreign, All Scripture is given by Inſpiration, 2 Tim. 3.16. So Search the Scriptures, and in many other places: This is a Deſcription of Gods Word from the accidentall form of it as it is put into writing.
Sometimes God did govern his Church by his Word as revealed only; Thus it was with the Church at firſt, In this latter Age he guides it by the Scriptures only; There is no other Word of God, but what is written; In Chriſts time there was both, for there were the Books of the Old Teſtament, and they were Gods written Word, and what Chriſt while on the Earth did with his own mouth ſpeak to the Church, that was the Revealed Word and Will of God; We reade not that Chriſt wrote any thing but once upon the Ground, and what that was, though there are many and ſeverall Conjectures, yet none can certainly tell: But what Chriſt ſpake and did, the Evangeliſts afterwards being guided infallibly by the divine Spirit of God, did commit to Writing;
Object. If then you ask, What Word of God it is our Saviour doth here mean?
I anſwer, Both the Word that was written, the Scrip…ures, that were the Oracles of God committed to the Jews, and that Word which he did manifeſt to his Diſciples, of which he had ſpoken ver. 6.
Some indeed by Word underſtand Chriſt, and it's true that Chriſt is the Eſſential Word of God, and ſo alſo the Eſſential Truth, but the Context doth evidence it, that he ſpeaks of the Revealed and Preached Word: Now this is called Gods Word, becauſe whether immediately delivered by God; or commanded to be written, It's ſtill Gods Word, Speaking and Writing are but accidentall to it: It's the ſame Eſſentiall Word, as it is the ſame man, though he alter his Garment, and the ſame wine though put in divers Veſſels: The Word of God written ought with as much Faith and Reverence to be received, as if God did immediately ſpeak it from Heaven, and though it ſeem incredible, yet our Saviour confirmeth it, Luke 16.31. that he who doth not beleeve the Scriptures, the Word of God written would not beleeve though there were miraculous waies of publiſhing it.
In the next place we have the Predicate, its Truth; Interpreters judge this to be taken out of the Pſalm 119.151. They are therefore ſaid to be Truth, not true in the Abſtract, to ſhew the Fulneſſe and Univerſality of Truth in them.
Doct. The Word of God is Truth.Obſ. That the Word of God is Truth.
This Doctrine if beleeved may work wonderfull changes in the mindes and lives of men, for Certainly the Foundation of all Hereſie and Impiety, is becauſe Gods Word is not received as true; In the Scripture it is often called the Word of Truth, Coloſ. 1.5. 2 Timoth. 2.15. James 1.18. And ſometimes Truth in the Abſtract, 1 Peter 1.22. 2 Peter 2.2.
To Open this Conſider, That it's not my purpoſe at this time to prove the Verity of the Scriptures, I am only to ſhew in what ſence, and wherein it is true, and the nature of this Truth.
We take it for a principle granted by Chriſtians, that the Word of God is true, and although Learned men have by unanſwerable Arguments demonſtrated the Truth of the Scriptures, yet that was to Heathens and Pagans, or that were not Beleevers of it; It is true the work is neceſſary alſo to thoſe that are Chriſtians, to make their faith more ſolid, certain, and clear, and the rather becauſe there are ſome wretched men roſe up of late that cry down the Scriptures, and that pretend to be above them, yea, that bid us prove the Scriptures to be Gods Word, but I am not to deal with ſuch at this time, Certainly every good Chriſtian having received this principle into him, doth finde ſuch authority and Divine Majeſty coming from the Word, that he doth no more deſire Arguments to prove the Scripture to be the Word of God, then he would have another Sunne to ſee this Sunne-ſhine: Auſtin long agoe ſpeaks of ſuch a diſpoſition with great Indignation, O Lord, Thou haſt taught me to abhorre all ſuch who ſay,In how many particulars Gods Word is true. Ʋnde ſcis hos Libros eſſe Canonicos? This then being laid down as a ſure Foundation, Let us proceed to ſhew in how many particulars Gods Word is true.
I. In regard of the efficient Cauſe God.And Firſt, It's Truth in regard of the Efficient Cauſe, God and Chriſt who are the Authour of it, ſo that the Scripture can no more lye then God or Chriſt could. The Scriptures then are the Truth of him who is the Supream Truth, So that as Truth it ſelf cannot be falſe, ſo neither can Gods Word; Humane Truth is Truth, but yet becauſe every man may erre, Therefore we cannot have ſuch a Faith in it, Cui non poteſt ſubeſſe falſum, but when we come unto Gods Word, and his Truth, it is impoſſible that there ſhould he any Errour.
II. It's the Rule of all Truth.Secondly, It is the Rule of all Truth; That as God is the primum principium eſſendi, of giving being to all Truth; ſo the Scripture is the primum principium cognoſcendi, the firſt principle to teach and inform us: The Scripture then is true, becauſe all Divine Truth floweth from that, and every thing is true ſo farre as it is commenſurated according to that Rule; Whatſoever men ſay, whatſoever Reaſon ſaith, whatſoever Traditions and Cuſtomes ſay, yet if againſt Scripture, away with all; This is the Standard of all Truth, all Truth (I ſay) neceſſary to Salvation, It is the Chriſtians Metaphyſicks, Ethicks, and Politiques, the Rule of all Speculative and Practicall Truth, To the Law, and to the Teſtimony, if they ſpeak not according to this, it is becauſe there is no light in them, Iſaiah 8.20. Therefore it is ſo often called a Light unto our Feet; If this principle were kept too; Neither Superſtitious Traditions on the one hand, nor ſubtle Deluſions of pretended Revelations on the other hand could ever have moleſted or troubled the Church.
Thirdly, It's true materially, that is, all the matter contained therein is true, The Hiſtorical part, The Dogmatical part, The morall part, III. It's true materially.The predicting part, all contain un-erring Truth in them, Whatſoever Doctrine is there revealed, it is to be received without any further diſputing or asking, How can it be ſo? The firſt Truth hath ſaid it, therefore the Underſtanding muſt ſubmit; If it be made clear, Thus ſaith the Lord; then all muſt yeeld, and ſo for the Threatnings of it whatſoever God ſaith againſt the wicked man, all the evil that is there ſaid to come upon him doubt not of the Truth of it, though for the while a wicked man may live in all eaſe and jollity; It is not ſo much a Threatning as the Truth of it that makes it ſo dreadfull, what were the Names of Hell and Damnation, of a Day of Judgement, if there were not Truth in them, and thus the promiſſory part is full of Truth: Though a Godly man be caſt down with many Temptations, weakneſſes, and Diſcouragements, yet the Truth of Gods Promiſes ſhould be a Pillar of Marble to him, and a brazen wall; He may ſooner fear the falling of the Heavens, and the removing of the Earth out of its place then doubt in the leaſt of the Truth thereof: Hence Gods Word is ſaid to be like Silver ſeven times refined, So that there is no errour, no droſſe, or falſhood mixed with it: It it true in the matter of the Scripture, in the Hiſtoricall part eſpecially, there are ſome appearing Contradictions, and to ſome Learned men they have been inſoluble, but this ariſeth from the weakneſſe of our Underſtanding, not from the Scripture it ſelf: As there is no defect in the Sunne becauſe the Owles Eye cannot ſtedfaſtly look upon it, yea, as God himſelf, So the Scriptures, becauſe they have moſt Truth in them, ſo are moſt intelligible, if there were capacious Subjects, as the Sunne is Maximè viſibilis, if there were a fit Eye to behold it.
Fourthly, It is true in respect of the Adjunct or quality of it;IV. Qualitatively. Truth is an affection cleaving to a Propoſition, and thus the Word of God is true qualitatively, yea, the Truth of the Scripture is affirmed by all to be more firm and ſtrong (though not ſo evident) then any thing in the world: Thoſe things we receive by Reaſon or by Sence, are nothing ſo true and firm as thoſe that we receive by Faith: It is ſaid indeed, that all Truth conſiſts in indiviſibili, and ſo nothing can be truer then another; This is graeted in reſpect of Truth it ſelf, But then if you do regard the Foundation, or the Cauſe of Truth, ſo is one more certain then another; Thus all the Truths of Faith are tranſcendant to thoſe of Reaſon and Sence; We are more ſecurely to reſt in what God ſaith then in what we know or feel, and the reaſon is becauſe the Truth of theſe latter things is founded only upon a Creature, but of the former upon a Creator, upon God himſelf: Oh that we did thus beleeve Gods word! what manner of perſons ſhould we be; who could terrifie the Godly? who could trouble their Spirits, if this were received? And for the wicked, with what Fear and Trembling would he go up and down? Oh the Scripture is true that ſpeaks againſt ſuch ſins, that diſcovers my wickedneſs, it is ſo true I cannot deny it.
Fifthly, It is true Inſtrumentally, Becauſe the Spirit of God directs us into all Truth, and this is chiefly the intendment here;V. It's true Inſtrumentally. The Scripture is in Gods hand, and by the Spirits working leadeth us into all Truth, we are all in darkneſſe till the Scripture like the Sunne doth ariſe; Man liveth in Errours, he is nothing but a Lye, till the Scripture inform, but though the Scripture doth ſhine, yet as the Sunne cannot make a blinde man to ſee, ſo neither doth the Scripture of it ſelf, till God give a Seeing Eye.
The Scripture works onelyonly Objectively, but the Spirit of God Subjectively, preparing and fitting a man by it; So that as to an Archer there are two things that are neceſſary, The Mark to aim at, and an Eye to ſee: What could an Archer do without Eyes? Thus it is with us in all our Actions: The Scripture that is the Mark, and therefore Sinne is called foreign becauſe it miſſeth of the Mark, and then the Spirit of God that muſt give the Eye, Light, and Wiſedome unto the Underſtanding: The Scripture then is Truth, becauſe by it Gods Spirit doth direct and leade us into all Truth.
There is a threefold Truth we cannot attain to without the Scripture.Now there is a three-fold Truth that we cannot attain unto without the Scripture.
1. True Doctrine.
2. True Piety and godlineſſe.
3. True Conſolation and Comfort.
The want of the firſt Truth cauſeth Errour and Hereſie, The want of the ſecond Hypocriſie and prophaneſſe, The want of the third Diſtruſt and Deſpair, and happy is that man who hath this three-fold Truth, and indeed one begets the other, True doctrine begets true Godlineſſe, and true Godlineſſe true Conſolation.
1. True Doctrine.For the firſt, Only by this Truth are we guided into true Doctrine, whatſoever is brought in contrary or beſide this, though he were an Angel he is to be accurſed, Galat. 1. This is the Rule, and ſo what is not according to this muſt be oblique and crooked: Therefore never expect Truth from that man who is not diligent in the Scriptures, the Rule of Truth: This hath been the Cauſe why moſt Heretiques have either accuſed or deſpiſed the Authority of the Scriptures, becauſe they know that this Sunne and their darkneſſe could not conſiſt together; They ſaw their Doctrines, and the Scripture could no more ſtand by each other then the Ark and Dagon; Therefore they would rather fall out with Scripture then with their own Opinions, as if their own hearts and Conſciences were more infallible then the Bible, and as if they were not to be made conformable unto the Scripture, but the Scripture to them.
2. True Piety.2. Only by the Scripture do we come to true Piety and Godlineſſe; You ſee in this Text Sanctification is by the Truth, and James 1.18. God doth beget us by the Word of Truth, and many times David doth commend the Word of God for this Effect, that it forwarneth man of Sinne, That it giveth the Simple Ʋnderſtanding, and that even young men may be cleanſed from their lusts by taking heed to Gods Word, Pſalm 119. We ſee by theſe Texts that there is no Regeneration or true Reformation but what is wrought by and through the Scripture; Therefore Converſion is called the writing of Gods Law in a mans heart, So that this makes it clear, that though many Heretiques may live civil and externally Religious Lives, yet they have no true Godlineſſe, for falſe Doctrine begets falſe Piety, when there is falſum in Intellectu, that muſt neceſſarily produce malum in voluntate; And the Reaſon is plain, becauſe Godlineſſe is nothing but Truth incorporated, Truth digeſted, Truth put into practiſe; It is Gods Law in the heart (as you heard;) Hence as Poiſon can never nouriſh a man, or afford good Health, So neither can any falſe Doctrine help to any true Piety or Holineſſe: Men may have ſeeming Devotions, but as the Serpent though it ſhines and gliſters, yet is full of inward Poiſon, ſo whatſoever external Acts of Piety, Zeal and Charity Hereticall men may put forth, yet by them they cannot be Sanctified if their Errours be Fundamental: It was Jeromes Speech, Rarò Hereticus fuit pudicus, and Ʋbi malè creditur, ibi nec benè vivitur; but that is not to be alwaies underſtood of their External Converſation, for many Heretiques have been admirable in their Externals: They have had a Sheeps-cloathing upon them, and like the Panther have allured others, becauſe of their colour, till they had devoured them: Know thy Errour will make thee more proud, looſe, and it may be at laſt outwardly prophane and contemning of Integrity, for God will not bleſſe any thing that is not of his own Inſtitution to ſpiritual Ends.
3. Only by the Scriptures come true Conſolations, So the Apoſtle,3. True Conſolation. Through the Conſolation of the Scriptures, 2 Corin. 1. No man hath true ſolid Joy but the true Orthodox Godly man: It is true, that as the devil may transform himſelf into an Angel of Light, of Truth, So alſo of Conſolation, and many Erroneous perſons in their way have a great deal of comfort and joy, yea, they have ſaid they never had ſo much peace and caſe as ſince they have taken up ſuch waies, but as their Piety was a counterfeit one, ſo is their joy; The holy Ghoſt that leads into Truth, and is the Authour of Sanctification, makes ſuch only to rejoyce in him, and gives them this Fruit of the Spirit.
6. The Scripture is ſaid to be true oppoſitely to all the Opinions, Doctrines, VI. The Scripture is true oppoſitely to all the Opinions, Doctrines, and Religions that men ſet up by their own fancy.and Religions which men ſet up by their own fancy; For every man is ſaid to be a Liar, and the Antichriſtian Doctrines which many are delivered up to beleeve, are called a lye by the Apoſtle, 2 Theſ. 2.11. Turciſme, Paganiſme is a lye, Popery, Hereſie are Lyes; Though they may be never ſo much pleaſing to fleſh and bloud; Though men carried by humane Arguments may dote on them, as they did about Diana's Temple, yet all is a lye, yea, in practicall things whatſoever ſeduceth thee to do otherwiſe then Gods Word commandeth, this is falſe, Sinne lieth, the world lieth, the devil lyeth, for all that they do is contrary to Gods Word; That ſaith; What will it profit a man to win the whole world, and loſe his ſoul, Mar. 8 36. That ſaith the pleaſures of ſinne are but for a ſeaſon, Luk 13.3. Now thou wilt not beleeve this Truth, but thou hearkeneſt to the world, to thy own heart, and all theſe betray thee and lye to thee.
Therefore let the Ʋſe be to perſwade and aſſure thy ſelf of Scripture-Truths, walk and live according to the directions thereof.