A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 11 (Question 3)
SERMON XI.
QUESTION III.
WHAT do the Scriptures principally teach?
ANSWER.
The Scriptures principally teach, what Man is to believe concerning God, and what Duty God requires of Man.
THE Scriptures being fallen man's Rule, to direct him how he may attain his Chief End, hence the ſum and ſubſtance of them muſt needs be futed hereunto; they muſt therefore comprize all Divinity in them, viz. to guide a man right in his way; for a Rule is always of the means to an end: ſo that …he parts of Divinity, and the ſum of the Scriptures muſt be one and the ſame. Now the parts of our Religion are properly Faith and Obſervance; theſe therefore are the things which the Scriptures muſt direct unto, and inſtruct us in. We have already been aſſured that God is man's laſt end; to glorify and enjoy him, is the Reaſonable Creature's Felicity, and there are two things very requiſite in order to this, viz. That we know him, and that we ſerve him; and under theſe two is … man… Religion ſummed up: theſe two do therefore carry in them, the ſubſtance, ſcope and end of the Scriptures. The great deſign of the word of God, is to lead us to him. He is the great end of it, ſo far as he may be ſerved & enjoyed by man: ſome other things by the by, may be learnt from thence; but this is the direct aim. Knowledge and Practice make a man happy. Joh. 13.17. If ye know theſe things, happy are ye, if ye do them. Faith then and Obedience are the two Channels in which all the Scriptures do run. Solomon will inform us in the ſum of all that is ſaid there, Eccl. 12.13. Let us hear the concluſion of the whole matter, Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. And to theſe two heads Paul reduceth the whole form of wholeſome words, 2 Tim. 1.13. Hold faſt the form of ſound words, which thou haſt heard of me, in faith and l…ve which is in Chriſt Jeſus.
I ſhall here only briefly glance at the meaning and ground of the diſtribution, it being the firſt and moſt comprehenſive in all Divinity: A few words then to each part, as they are here expreſſed.
I. THE Scriptures teach what Man is to believe concerning GOD. Faith in God is the firſt part of fallen man's Religion. The foundation of the happineſs of any of Adam's natural Poſterity is laid in believing: it muſt therefore be eſſential to Religion; and all ſincere Obedience derives from it; for faith works by love; hence it is before it, in order of N…ture & Doctrine. Now in our treating about Faith, there are two things to be conſidered of: viz. The Nature of it, which in the method of our Catechiſm, will come to be treated of afterwards: And the Object of it, viz. GOD, ſo far as he hath ſeen meet to reveal himſelf to man; and this is that which is now before us. This then is the aſſertion here laid down, That the Scriptures do reveal GOD to us, as a ſutable & ſufficient Object of our Faith. Concerning which let theſe things in general be taken notice of.
1. THERE is no happineſs for man, but in the enjoyment of God. He only can be man's objective felicity: This the Pſalmiſt well underſtood when he ſaid, as Pſal. 73 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I deſire beſides thee. Every other thing, that man truſts to for his well being, becomes to him a lying Vanity.
2. THERE is no enjoying God, but in the way of glorifying him. It is an honour that he beſtows upon none but thoſe that honour him. To have him for their portion is the recompenſe which God beſtows upon ſuch as make it their great deſign to glorify him. Pſal. 50. ult. Whoſe …reth praiſe, glorified me… and to him that …dereth his converſation aright, will I ſh…w the ſalvation of God. Our fruition of God is the proper fruit of our being entirely de…ed to him.
3. THERE is no glorifying of God, without knowing of him. How is it poſſible for men to give him the glory that is du… to his name, if they know not his name? If we know not who, or what he is, we cannot acknowledge him as he is. Knowledge & truſt go together, Pſal. 9.10 They that know thy name will put their truſt in thee. All the Atheiſm and irreligion in the World ariſeth from men's neſcience of God, Pſal. 14. begin. The fool hath ſaid in his heart, There is no God. The Apoſtle chargeth all the wickeds carriage to Chriſt, upon their not knowing him, 1 Cor. 2.8, 9. Which n…ne of the princes of this world knew: for had they known is, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. For this ignorance of God, is declared to be deſtructive, Hoſ 4.6. My people are deſtroyed for lack of knowledge.
4. NATURE makes no ſuch diſcovery of God, as may furniſh us with a knowledge ſufficient for happineſs. Not the light of nature in men's hearts, for that was only adapted to the law of the firſt Covenant, which cannot give life to man that is dead in ſin. Gal 3.21. Is the law then againſt the promiſes of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteouſneſs ſhou… have been by the law. And the better part of it is alſo obliterated by the fall: and though there be ſuch an impreſſion indeleble upon every man's heart, as carries in it the conviction of a Deity; whereupon there is no nation but hath ſome Religion or other; yet their minds are ſo darkned, that they know not who or what manner of God he is; hence they have taken up with falſe gods, and falſe Worſhip. Nor yet the book of nature, the great and admirable works of God; for tho' there is never a leaf in this Book, but hath ſomething of God written legibly upon it, and many Characters of his Divine power, wiſdom and goodneſs there engraven; yet all this will leave a man ſhort of the ſaving knowledge of him; there is enough there for man's Condemnation, but not for their Salvation; to ſtop their mouths; but not to light them their way.
5. THE Scriptures reveal ſo much of God, as is neceſſary to be known to Salvation. Tho' they do not diſcover God in the utmoſt extent of his Being, yet they declare him as he is knowable by us, and ſo as may make us happy: not his face, but his back parts: there is enough of God there exhibited to make a man perfect, (2 Tim. 3.17.) Enough to light man the way to Eternal Life, (Jo…. 5.39.) In ſum, God is there revealed as a ſutable object of faith, for fallen man to truſt in for life; as one who can ſave us; and how we may come to obtain Salvation of him; to give men ſuch a knowledge as our Saviour ſpea… of Joh. 17.3. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jeſus Christ whom thou haſt ſent.
6. THAT knowledge of God which we obtain by … of the Scriptures, is called a knowledge of Faith by Divines. And the reaſon is, becauſe it is a knowledge which we come at by Revelation; and for this Cauſe, believing is in Scripture expreſſed by the knowing of God; not only becauſe a ſaving knowledge of God is an ingredient into true Faith, but alſo in that we are to come to the underſtanding and knowing of theſe things, by the report that is made of them to us in the word of God. Rom. 10.14, 17. How then ſhall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how ſhall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how ſhall they hear without a preacher? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. For a more full clearing of this point obſerve;
[1.] THAT in Faith there are two things inſeparable, viz. Aſſent & Conſent. The Scripture notion of true Faith, comprizeth both of theſe, the former in reſpect of the Underſtanding, the latter relating to the Will: the latter of theſe is not of our preſent conſideration, but will be conſidered under the Examen of the Nature of Faith, only let it be here remarked, that God is diſcovered to us, that he may be the Object of our truſt, and therefore as ſuch muſt our Faith entertain him in all the Revelations he makes of himſelf.
[2.] IN the Aſſent of Faith, there are two things to be obſerved diſtinctly, … needful to it.
(1.) AN Underderſtanding of the meaning of the Truths that are commended … us. For without this there can be no rational aſſent the underſtanding of Men doth not, cannot yield to the truth of a thing that it hath not entertained the notion of: For a Man to ſay that he believes as another believes, & mean while is Ignorant what the other's belief is, is a piece of pure nonſenſe. Aſſent is an act of reaſon, and there is no reaſon in aſſenting to that which we are ſtrangers to; Heb. 11.6. But with us faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe him: for he that cometh to God, muſt believe that he is, & that he is a rewarder of them that diligently ſeek him.
(2.) A credit that we give to thoſe things upon the Teſtimony of God. All Faith is a credit of a thing that we receive by report or hear-ſay, & it ariſeth from the good opinion we have of the witneſs that makes the report. Humane Faith is produced by the Authority of humane teſtimony. Divine Faith believes, becauſe God hath ſaid it. There are divers things in Divinity, that are above the Comprehenſion of our reaſon; and for us to aſſent to the Truth of the Scriptures, meerly upon our own reaſonings; or becauſe we ſee into the rational arguments to evince the Truth of them, is not Faith: nor is it Faith of the right ſtamp, to receive them upon the affirmation of any man or men. This was their Commendation, 1 Theſ. 2.13. — When ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God—. And indeed God's report is to be credited; for he hath all the properties of a credible witneſs tranſcendantly in him. He hath infinite Knowledge, perfect Fidelity, and unprejudiced Charity.
7. THE matter of this Faith is, what is to be Believed concerning God. For if God be the only Object of our Faith, then all the matters, or the truths to be believed muſt center in him: Humane Faith extends to other matters; but Divine Faith is reſtrained hither. It is true, there are a great many Articles in Chriſtian Religion, many of which do nextly concern the Creature, as mans integrity, apoſtaſy, and recovery, &c. but all are reducible to God, and are to be referred to him, as belonging unto his Government: So that all matters of Faith are to be brought hither, and lead us to this Object, viz. the Being of God, his Sufficiency, his Attributes, his Subſiſtences, his Efficiency, his Decree, and Works of Creation and Providence, his Preſerving, and Governing the World, diſpoſing all the affairs of man in particular, ſo that we are to come to the knowledge of ourſelves in the knowing of God; which things will follow afterwards to be look't into.
II. THE Scriptures do alſo teach us what Duty God requires of Man. Obſervance or Obedience to God, is the ſecond part of the Chriſtian Religion: God is the firſt cauſe and the laſt end of all things; all things therefore that are from him, are alſo for him, and every ſort of being is to be ſo for him, as the nature that he put into it, is capable. Here then for the opening of this, take theſe Concluſions:
1. THAT man was made for the active ſerving of God. He was a Reaſonable Creature, and was therefore to pay to God a reaſonable Service; a moral Creature and therefore he owed to him a moral Obedience: he was to ſhew forth God's praiſe; and this duty being moral, was therefore perpetual: though his fall diſenabled him from doing; yet it did not loſe or diſſolve his Obligation, but it ſtill abides; yea tho' the New-Covenant hath taken off the Curſe of diſobedience from the Believer, and laid it upon Chriſt; and hence he is not now as before, under a ſentence of Death for the leaſt defect in this Duty, yet moral Duty continues to ly upon men as … debt which they owe to God; and indeed, it was ſo accommodated to his nature, that his formal happineſs conſiſts in it: Iſa. 56.2. Bleſſed is the man that doeth this, and the ſon of man that layeth hold on it: that keepeth the ſabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand … in doing any evil. The Obedience of Chriſt … not given his people a diſcharge from their perſonal Obedience; but hath made way that their ſincere, though imperfect Obedience, may find acceptance with God; for which reaſon the Goſpel lays the ſtrongeſt ties upon men to ſerve God. 1 Cor. 6.20. For ye are bought with a pri…e: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your ſpirit, wh… are God's.
2. THAT man muſt have, a Rule made known to him, whereby he may be directed to ſerve God. We have already heard, that the Creature cannot attain it's end, without a Rule to guide it. The reaſonable Creature being to perform a reaſonable Service to God, muſt not only have a Rule, but be acquainted with it. It is enough for ſuch beings as are to be guided to their end by inſtinct, that he who ſo guides them, do know the Rule according to which they are to be led: but ſuch as are to ſave God voluntarily, muſt know they Rule, it muſt therefore be ſome way or other publiſhed, or declared to them: There needs not only the Counſel of God's Decree, but of his Law too, to guide them aright; for if their miſſing of their Duty, be chargable upon them for Sin, they muſt needs be advantaged to the knowing of it; ſo that if they are alſo ignorant, that alſo muſt be their own blame. Hence that, Mic. 6.8. He hath ſhewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do juſtly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
3. THAT this Rule, for the Subſtance of it, was at the firſt written in Tables of fleſh: When God made man, he engraved upon his heart the Rule of his ſerving him; he wrote it upon his practical Underſtanding or Conſcience, where he was able by reflecting upon himſelf, and looking upon thoſe regiſters, to take right meaſures in all his …pans… the Renovation of man … God ma…es ſuch a Promiſe, Jer. 31.33. But this ſhall be the covenant that I will make with the houſe of Iſrael, After thoſe days, ſaith the Lord, I will put my law in their …nward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they ſhall be my people.
4. THAT a great part of this Rule is obliterated by the fall of man. This is no little part of the miſchief which befell man by his Apoſtaſy, that he brake thoſe fair Tables of the Law, and defaced that inſcription; ſo as that there are but a few broken fragments that remain: and his underſtanding alſo being darkned, and his heart blinded, (Eph. 4.18.) there is ſcarce one full Sentence, that he can truly ſpell out of all: So that though this Ignorance is befaller him by his own fault; yet it is certain, that if ever he be reſtored to a capacity of ſerving God aright, he muſt be new informed in what is his duty, or elſe he will ly under endleſs miſtakes; and muſt be taught by God, for none can teach as he doth.
5. THERE are additional duties lying upon man under the Goſpel, which were not expreſſed in the law of the firſt Covenant. It is true, that the Law carried in it an Obligation to all that God ſhould poſitively command; but yet poſitives are not to be picked out of the law, but depend altogether upon Revelation: ſuch were thoſe about the firſt Sacraments given to Adam, and ſuch is every duty that is purely Evangelical; ſuch therefore muſt be otherwiſe declared to him.
6. THERE are other Conſiderations put upon Moral Obedience in the New-Covenant, which were not in the firſt. There man was to obey by a Concreated power of his own; here he is to derive all his ſtrength from another, viz. Jeſus Chriſt, the head of Influences: there he was to have earned his happineſs by his doing; here he is to reſolve all his hopes for Salvation into the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt; and to ſay of his own works, when he hath done all, that he is unprofitable: there the leaſt defect brought him under Condemnation; here Uprightneſs & Integrity will be accepted of him: and none of theſe things had ſo much as the leaſt hint of diſcovery … law and light of nature, but are purely poſitive, and of revelation.
7. THESE are all commended to us in the Scriptures. The whole concern of Evangelical Obedience is there ſet down. There are both the Duties themſelves. Mic. 6.8. He hath ſhewed thee, O man, whas is good: and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do juſtly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? And the Way in which they are to be done; and the Fountain, whence ſtrength is to be fetched; and the precious Encouragements to engage us in ſerving of God, to be found. Rom. 10.6, 7, 8. But the righteouſneſs which is of faith, ſpeaketh on this wiſe, Say not in thine heart, Who ſhall aſcend into heaven? (that is to bring Chriſt down from above) Or, who ſhalt deſcend into the deep? (that is to bring up Chriſt again from the dead) But … ſaith i…? … …ven in thy …outh and in …pans… is the word of faith which we preach. And thus are they able to make the man of God perfect. (2 Tim. 3.17.) We are therefore directed hither in all Caſes. Iſai. 8.20. To the law and to the teſtimony; if they ſpeak not according to this word, it is becauſe there is no light in them.
USE. THESE things well conſidered, will ſerve to commend to us the excellen…y of the ſtudy of the Scriptures, and may be a quickning motive to prevail with all, particularly Young Perſons to devote themſelves to the reading, and meditating in thoſe ſacred writings. Oh how precious a thing is the BIBLE, that is filled with ſuch Teachings, as theſe are: Here is the true Wiſdom to be found; here delight and profit do moſt entirely meet together. What ſhould commend any Book to us to be preferred before another, but only the excellency of the matter it contains? And for this, the Book of Scriptures is ſurpaſſing all the Volumns that are in the World. Let me then plead with you for this, from the preſent conſideration. Be perſwaded to be in love with the holy Scriptures; and that love will engage you to be much in converſing with them. Conſider then,
1. WOULD you know much of God? Why, here he hath made the moſt glorious diſcoveries of himſelf. There is indeed much of him to be ſeen in the works of Creation & Providence; but in his word he hath more fully made himſelf known. There is he to be ſeen as a God of Power, and Wiſdom, and Goodneſs, and Sovereignty; but here is he known as a God of Grace, and Salvation. He is here diſcovered in the face of Jeſus Chriſt. And how happy a thing is it ſo to know God, and be acquainted with him! This is the knowledge that leads to Eternal Life, the perfection of this is that which makes the Beatifical Viſion; and Paul counts he ſhall then be perfectly happy, when he ſhall come to know as he is known. The Scriptures are the cleareſt glaſs, in which he is at preſent to be ſeen.
2. WOULD you know how to Live; how you may order your Converſation ſo as to ſee God's Salvation? Here you may be inſtructed about it; here are to be had thoſe unerring directions, by which you may be led in the right way. You want Wiſdom to direct you; you are apt to wander by reaſon of your blindneſs, here is a light and a law; here you may find the true Wiſdom & Underſtanding. Hear what direction the Spirit of God gives to you Young men, Pſal. 119.9. Wherewith ſhall a young man cleanſe his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. And to you Children, Pſal. 34.11. Come ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. The Devil would fain deceive you with his falſe ſuggeſtions; your vain companions would fain cheat you with their crafty inſinuations; your own hearts are ready to impoſe upon you with their fooliſh imaginations. Except you keep to the Word of God, you are gone: but keep to that, and it will ſhew you better. Romances and Play-books will but ſtir up your carnal Luſts; but this will help to ſuppreſs them.— And now, that you may read the word profitably, Beſure to ask of God his Spirit; and apply you minds to enquire of every portion you read, What of God, or what of my own duty doth this diſcover to me? And accordingly improve it; ſo ſhall the Scriptures become ſerviceable to bring you to the enjoyment of Life Eternal.
[NOVEMBER 6. 1688.]