A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 9 (Question 2 cont.)
SERMON IX.
II. IT is required in a Rule that it be Full. Every Rule ought to be perfect in its kind and that wherein its perfection doth mainly conſiſt, is that it be adequate to the Art or Science which it teacheth. It is not an univerſal perfection that we are here conſidering, but particular. A thing is then perfect in its kind, when it anſwers fully to the end that it is to ſerve to: there are ſeveral Arts in the world, & every one hath it's diſtinct deſign; the Rule belonging to it, is that whereby that Praxis may be rightly performed; and it is then perfect, when there is nothing wanting in it, which belongs to the doctrine of ſuch an Art, tho' it have nothing in it belonging to the doctrine of another Science. That every Rule ought thus to be full or perfect, will appear if we conſider,
1. THAT the Rule is our proper directory by which we are to be guided in our Operation. Hence there can be no perfect Operation, without a perfect Rule: the Rule is that which points out the way to the end; and if in any one ſtep of it, that fail to give us direction, it leaves us at a loſs, it either makes us to ſtand ſtill, or expoſeth us to miſtakes; for where our Rule leave us, there we are in a labyrinth without a clue to lead us out: and that is one great reaſon of the vanity of humane Sciences, becauſe of the conjectural & imperfect Rules that man have to follow in the practice of them.
2. THAT the Rule is that by which only the Actions can be tryed. If a man would know whether his work be right, he muſt apply the Rule to it, and it is juſt ſo far approveable as it is commenſerate with it; if then it be not perfect, it will not be fit to weigh all Actions by; and conſequently there would be ſome of which no judgment could be made; and it cannot be known whether it be worthy of praiſe or blame… or whether it be leading to or diverting from the end.
3. THAT all imperfection is a coming ſhort of the Rule. This is the proper notion of a thing that is imperfect, for that which in all points anſwers its Rule, and in nothing comes ſhort of it, is a perfect work; if therefore the Rule ſhould be imperfect, it would be irregular, and what greater contradiction than this?
THAT this properly alſo belongs to the Scriptures, is that which is now to be made evident; which will further clear up it's ſufficienty, to direct us to our end. This is one of the commendations which David gives it, Pſal. 19.7. And that it is ſo will be very apparent to us, if we do but conſider theſe things,
(1.) THE Scriptures were given on purpoſe by God to be a Rule to man, to direct … to his chief end: They muſt therefore be every way ſuted to that purpoſe. It is good arguing from the perfection of the Author, to the perfection of his work: God is the Author of the Scriptures, this hath been already proved; He gave them to man for a Rule, that alſo hath been made evident; that therefore thay are perfect is a genuine conſequence; ſo he argues, Deut. 32 4. He is the rock, his work is perfect—. If God work, he muſt work like himſelf: if he intended to ſhew man his way in his word, he hath done it; for what ſhould hinder him? Not ignorance, for how ſhould he not know his own mind? Not deſign, for it was his very deſign, to give man a Rule in it. Mic. 6.8. He hath ſhewed thee, O man, what is good —?
(2.) EITHER the Scripture is a perfect Rule, or elſe God hath left fallen man without one. That he hath not ſo done, is evident, for if he hath, it is either becauſe he could not, or would not give him ſuch an one; not becauſe he could not, for if God was able, and knew how to reſtore the fallen creature to happineſs; if he could bring him back to the recovery of hi… end; he muſt then be able to lay out, & diſcover to him a way, after which it might be done. If God can ſave Apoſtate man, he can tell him how he may be ſaved: If God have an Idea of it in himſelf, he can give man an Exemplar of it; but there was no impoſſibility in this: not becauſe he could not, for the event proves the contrary: There is a company of this fallen Race that are reſtored to felicity, by attaining their end, and how they ſhould ſo do without a Rule, or how without a perfect Rule, is not be conceived: ſo that it is unqueſtionable that man hath ſuch an … given him: only the diſpute it, where we may find it, and I ſay, either the Scripture is ſuch an one, or there is none revealed: where is there one to be produced? Let all …em that are pretended to, be examined … tryed whether they have in them the perſe… …qui…. [1.] THE l… of na…re which was at firſt written upon the heart of man, cannot … it. For tho' it were adapted to the ſtate of man in innocency, and had an anſwerable perfection; yet to fallen man it cannot be a perfect Rule, becauſe it cannot give him life, Gal. ….21. It pointed him to a right exerciſe of his grace while he had it, but told him not how he ſhould recover it when he had loſt it, nay, that fair copy is loſt by the fall, and not recoverable but in the Scripture; for, [2.] THOSE Relicts or broken fragments of it, that are found in the hearts of men ſince the fall, can much leſs be it. They have indeed enough to leave then under condemnation, without excuſe; but to guide them to happineſs, is beyond them. There is nothing of the old Rule but what is imperfect, and the conceptions thereof miſerably intangled & crazy; and it hath nothing elſe in it, but ſome confuſed parcels of that, and muſt therefore be much more imperfect. Rom. 1.21. Becauſe that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vein in their imaginations, and their fooliſh heart was darkned. [3.] THE Book of nature, or of the works of Creation & Providence, is not a perfect Rule of Religion. The whole Rule of Phyſick is therein contained, but not ſo of Divinity: there is indeed a great deal to be there learnt, the Creature doth lead to the Creator. Rom. 1.19, 20. Becauſe that which may be known of God, is manifeſt in them; for God …th ſhewed it unto them. For the inviſible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly ſeen, being underſtood by the things that are made, even his eternal power & Godhead. Whence ſome men diſcourſe of natural Theology; but this is not able throughly to inform us in our way to Life, becauſe it hath this defect in common with the former; that is, that it gives us no account of man's Redemption, and the way in which we come to have it applied to us. This ſpecial Article of ſpecial Government, without the knowledge whereof there is no hope of Salvation, hath neither print no… footſtep to be found there. [4.] MUCH leſs is that imp…ſ… which natural men find upon their ſpirits directing & …ramp…ing them, a perfect Rule. Which is the thing that Enthuſiaſts plead ſo highly to, and boaſt of their great perfection in compliance with it: for, either we muſt ſay, that it is no Rule at all; for how can the perverſe inclinations of man's heart that is wholly corrupted, and become altogether filthy, be called a Rule? and if none, much leſs a perfect one; or if we call it a Rule, it muſt be abuſively, it is not a Rule of happineſs. Sin reigns, and Satan reigns in natural men; and theſe have their Laws, which they give by way of ſuggeſtion, and preſs upon men by a ſecret, and oftentimes a violent impulſe, and back them with carnal Reaſonings; and they have the efficacy of a Rule upon men, and ſtrangely command them, but will never lead them to Bliſs. It is certain, that Enthuſiaſts impulſes are carnal or diabolical and conſequently no divine Rule at all, much leſs one that is perfect and compleat. [5.] NOR yet is this Rule given to each man by immediate Revelation. Fallen man's Rule is indeed of Revelation, as formerly hath been aſſerted, but God ſpake it to ſuch as he made choice of, and by them imparted it to others, (2 Tim. 3.16.). 2 Pet. 1.21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of men: but holy men of God ſpake as they were moved by the holy Ghoſt. But ſince the Canon is perfected ſuch Revelation is ceaſed: Hence that, Gal. 1.8. But tho' we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other goſpel unto you, than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accurſed. And if none of theſe be it, either there muſt be ſome others which I know not of, or none, which cannot be, or the Scriptures muſt be it, to whoſe perfection I further argue.
(3.) THAT Rule which is able to make … perfect, muſt needs be … perfect Rule. That the Scripture is ſo, we have it aſſerted, 2 Tim. 3.16, 17. Reaſon tells us, that the vertue of the Cauſe muſt not be leſs than the vertue of the Effect: only this is to be interpreted of it, ſo far as a Rule is ſerviceable to it, and that is, that if the Rule be exactly attended, the man will be perfect, and the ground of it lies here, viz. becauſe there is nothing requiſite to direct man aright in this way to his great End, but it will rightly inform him about; and when this is proved, the perfection of Scripture will ſtand againſt all gainſayers.
TO make this good, let us conſider, that the Rule of Religion being to direct fallen men in the way to Eternal Life. Hence there are four things requiſite to render it compleat, all of which are to be found in the Scriptures, fully, and are therefore aſſerted concerning it, in the forecited, 2 Tim. 3.16. on account whereof he tells us that the m… of God is fully furniſhed, Ver. 17. viz.
1. IT contains in it the Doctrine of Faith And is therefore ſaid to be profitable for Doctrine. Faith is one eſſential part of fallen man's Religion. For his direction about it, it is need full that he be informed both about his Object and Act; he muſt know who is to be believed in, and after what manner. Faith is grounded upon knowledge; it is requiſite that we know him whom we truſt in; what an Object he is; what it is that renders him an Object ſutable for our Faith's reliance; how he co…e… to be one that may be truſted in by a ſinful Creature, what need there is that we come to him in Faith; in what way we may have confidence in believing in him; and how we may come by ſuch a Faith as is ſaving… and for this the Scripture is full; it ſufficiently acquaints us with all thoſe great truths, which concern the diſcovery of God to us in his back parts, his glorious Perfections; his Eſſence and Subſiſtence; his wonderful works of Creation and Providence; the integrity of man in his firſt ſtate; his woful Apoſtacy, and the ſinful & miſerable condition to which he and all his Poſterity were reduced by it; the Curſe and Condemnation lying upon men by reaſon of it; his incapacity of ſatisfying Juſtice, and delivering himſelf; the riches of grace diſcovered in the work of Redemption; the way how Juſtice came to be ſatisfied by Chriſt for us; the manner and way of the application of this Redemption to us; and the glorious privileges & benefits ariſing there from: All theſe doctrines are fully laid down here; and there is need of no more to be known about them, than what is left upon record in this Book. Hence that, 1 Jo…. 5.13. Theſe th… have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God: that ye …ay know that ye … eternal life, and that ye may believe on the … of the Son of God.
2. IT contains all the Rules of Obedience. This is the ſecond part of our Religion, and it is that wherein our faith is to exerciſe it ſelf; for faith w…rketh by …ove, Gal. 5.6 Now Obedience is properly a conforming our ſelves in our thoughts, words, and deeds to the revealed will of God, or his command, and that which comes up fully to anſwer this will of God in all points, is perfect Obedience; and that we may do the will of God it is requiſite that we know it; and what God reveals to us is the bound or limit of our Obedience. Deut. 29.29. The ſecret things belong unto the Lord our God: but thoſe things which are revealed, belong unto us, and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. Now God hath revealed his whole will in this reſpect in his word. Rom. 10.6, 7, 8. There needs no new revelation; let men but mind what the word ſaith, and that will be a lamp to their feet, and a light to their path. Hence it is ſaid to be profitable for inſtruction in righteouſneſs. There are a great many duties incumbent upon man, with reſpect to God and to men; many relations that they bear to God, to themſelves, to them that bear a particular relation to them, to all men; and there are ſpecial Evangelical Duties enjoyned them; and there is the right manner of performing them: but there is nothing on this account, but this word inſtructs us in: nor doth God expect any more of us, than what he hath here required, Mic. 6.8.
3. IT contains in it ſufficient Refutation of all the Errors that are oppoſite to the doctrine of faith. It is a Rule by which all Doctrines may be tried & diſcovered, whether they be …ound or falſe. And it is ſo ſaid to be profitable for reproof. The word is uſed to ſignifie a refutation of falſe Opinions, and that by evidence; and ſo it is tranſlated evidence, Heb. 11.1. Satan and his Emiſſaries endeavour to pervert men from the truth, and draw them to follow doctrines of Devils; the Rule is not perfect, unleſs it be fit to try & diſcover theſe by: But if all the Hereſies in the world be laid by the Scripture, they will fall before it. A ſtraight Rule will make that which is crooked be ſeen to be ſo: there are many plauſible pretences uſed to ſet off errors by; but the Scripture plainly manifeſts the vanity of them all. This doubtleſs was the ſquare the Church of Epheſus made uſe of, Rev. 2.2. — Thou haſt tryed them, which ſay they are A…ct his, and are not; and haſt found them liars. We are commanded not to believe every ſpirit, but to try them, 1 Joh. 4.1. and it is by the word this proof is to be made, Iſai. 8.20.
4. IT alſo contains in it enough to rectify all our ſwerving from the Rule of Obedience. If we are fallen into any erroneous practices, or tempted to do any thing that is diſpleaſing to God, here we may be inſtructed how to reform them. Thus it is ſaid to be profitable for C…ction: the word ſignifies a reducing of things that are amiſs, to their former rectitude. We are exceeding apt through the deceitfulneſs of our own hearts and the cunning inſinuations of Satan, to … ſide to the right or left hand; but here we may be rightly helped to reform Pſal. 119.9. Wherewith ſhall a young man cleanſe his way? by taking …and thereto according to thy word. It is that light which reproves evil deeds, and tells us when we do amiſs. Joh. 3.19. …nd this is the condemnation, that …ight is come into the world, and men loved darkneſs rather then …ight, becauſe their deeds were evil. David. was admoniſhed by it; Pſal. 19.11. And if we are willing to receive the information of it, we need never be at a loſs to know whether our ways be right or wrong: for it diſcovers all the works of darkneſs: and what can there be more required in a Rule to make it perfect? It muſt needs be a full Rule that hath all this compleatly in it, the word of God therefore is ſo: Only let theſe two things be here obſerved,
(1.) THAT the great & fundamental Principles of Faith & Obedience are ſet down expreſsly in the Scriptures. There are ſome Principles belong to the Rule, which as they have diverſe others depending upon, and reſulting from them, ſo they are not deducible from others, being themſelves prime Truths, and ſo, except they had been declared in terms, they could never have been diſcovered to us, or inferred from others; ſuch in ſpecial are the myſteries of Redemption, and the Doctrines of faith in Chriſt: of theſe the Scripture gives us a diſtinct and full account.
(2.) THAT there are other truths concerning Religion, that tho' they are not in ſo many words there written, yet are contained therein, and to be thence concluded by juſt & neceſſary Conſequence. It is true, many leſſer Rules are there alſo expreſſed; but God hath leſt ſome things to be ſought out, and found by ſearch, that ſo our underſtandings may be exerciſed, and our rational faculties employed about ſpiritual things. Man is a reaſonable Creature, is able to draw inferences from inferences; and our Saviour Chriſt hath taught us how to argue. So, Matth. 22.31. But as touching the reſurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was ſpoken unto you by God, ſaying, &c. And thereby he aſſures us that Scripture conſequence is Scripture: and thus there is nothing that is needful to point in any caſe to the glorifying of God, or the enjoying him for ever, but is here to be had. And for this reaſon we are ſo ſolemnly forbidden to add any thing to the word of God, for, becauſe to that which is perfect nothing can be added, therefore every addition which is made to the Rule, is if a Tacit, yet a real imputation of Imperfection to it, which reflects great reproach upon God.
USE, LET the conſi…eration of the Scriptures perfection, be a f…rt… perſuaſive to as all, and particularly …y…ng …s, to be very converſant with there: And it yields powerfull incentives hereunto. Conſider then,
1. HERE … may have … Satisfaction in year way. The work of a Chriſtian is a great work, and the conſequence is of everlaſting moment; and what can be more ſatisfying to a man than to have a Rule before him, by which …e may regulate himſelf in all …, and need not to be left at a loſs in any: …ere can be no duty in which you are concerned, and would do it aright, no doubt by which you are perplexed, and are deſirous to be reſolved in, but if you bring it hither you may be fully informed about it; and the more you ſtudy the Scripture, the more will you be able to ſatisfy your ſelves about every thing.
2. THIS will be the way for you to attain i… high degrees of ſpiritual Wiſdom. Wiſdom conſiſts in the right underſtanding of a Rule; and the beſt wiſdom is in knowing the Rule of Religion, becauſe the practice of it is the beſt and moſt happy trade: and ever, the more perfect the Rule is that we ſtudy, the more likely are we to attain this Wiſdom; and this is the Scripture; and the more you read and meditate in it, and pray over it to God for an underſtanding heart, and that he would give you entrance into his word, the more wiſe you are like to be If you ask David how he came to ſuch meaſures of Wiſdom as ſurp…ſſed his teachers, and the ancients among whom he lived, he will tell you he g…t them by ſuch a courſe as this. Pſal. 119.99. I have more underſtanding than all my teachers: for thy teſtimonies are my meditation. But neglect this perfect Rule, and it is certain that you will never be better than fools. Study that, and that will be the way to be always in a readineſs for practice of duty, and ſhunning the cunning temptations to ſin, that you are continually in danger of.
3. HERE is enough in the Scripture to make you happy now, and forever. This perfect Rule is your life, and that Argument the wiſe Man uſeth with his Son, Prov. 4.13. Take faſt …old of inſtruction, let her not go; keep her, for ſhe is thy life. The word of God is the Rule of life, and all that concerns life and godlineſs is to be found in it; every Rule in it, is a Rule of life, and it points to grace and glory. So alſo Moſes, Deut. 32.46, 47. And he ſaid unto them. Set your hearts unto all the words which I teſtify among you this day; which ye ſhall command your children to obſerve to do, all the words of this law. For it is not a vain thing for you: becauſe it is your life. And it is not a dying life, but life Eternal which is here to be had, Joh. 17.3. And this is life eternal, that they might know th…e the only true God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom thou had ſent. And this is the thing which you are led to by the Scriptures. Joh. 5.39. Search the ſcriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which teſtify of me. There is no knowledge beyond the Scriptures, of ſpiritual things; you are ſhort of perfection; here is in them enough to employ you, a mine that you may always find n…w treaſures in, and in which you may reſt with greateſt ſafety. Let this then be your daily converſe, if you would be perfect, let this perfect Rule be your Counſel…, that will tell you how you may ſo be: be much with it, Morning and Evening in particular: you may ſee an end of all other perfection, but here is none of this. …ove it then, and let that love put you upon following the Advice of God by Moſes, Deut. 11.18, 19, 20. Therefore ſhall ye lay up theſe my words in your heart, and in your ſoul, and bind them for a ſign upon your …nd, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye ſhall teach them your Children, ſpeaking of them when thou ſitt…ſt in thy houſe, and when thou walkeſt by the way, when thou lieſt down, and when thou riſeſt up. And then ſhalt write them upon the d…-p…ſts of thine h…ſe, and upon thy gates.
[SEPTEMBER, 11. 1688.]