Sermons on Various Subjects Volume 1, Sermon 4
SERMON IV.
The DUTY of Searching the SCRIPTURES.
JOHN v. 39.
Search the SCRIPTURES.
WHEN the Sadducees came to our Bleſſed LORD, and put to him the Queſtion, whoſe Wife a Woman ſhould be in the next Life, who had ſeven Husbands in this? He told them, they erred, not knowing the Scriptures.—And if we would know whence all the Errors that have overſpread the Church of CHRIST, firſt aroſe, we ſhould find they in a great Meaſure flowed from the ſame Fountain, viz. An Ignorance of the Word of GOD.
Our Bleſſed LORD, though he was the Eternal GOD, yet as Man, made it his conſtant Rule and Guide.—And therefore, when he was asked by the Lawyer, Which was the great Commandment of the Law? He referred him to his Bible for an Anſwer, What readeſt thou?—And thus, when led by the Spirit, to be tempted by the Devil, he repelled all his Aſſaults, with It is written.
A ſufficient Confutation this of their Opinion, who ſay, The Spirit only, and not the Spirit by the Word, is to be our Rule of Action.—If ſo, our Saviour, who had the Spirit without Meaſure, needed not always have referred to the written Word.
But how few copy after the Example of CHRIST? How many are there, who do not regard the Word of GOD at all, but throw the Sacred Oracles aſide, as an antiquated Book, fit only for unlearned and illiterate Men?
Such Men do greatly err, not knowing what the Scriptures are, and for what they are deſigned.
I ſhall therefore in the following Diſcourſe,
I. Firſt ſhew that it is every one's Duty to ſearch them. And,
II. Secondly, lay down ſome Directions how to ſearch them with Advantage.
By the Scriptures I underſtand the Law and the Prophets, and all thoſe Books which have in all Ages been accounted Canonical, and which make up that Book commonly called, The Bible.
Theſe are emphatically ſtiled The Scriptures, and in one Place, The Scriptures of Truth, as though no other Books deſerved the Name of true Writings or Scriptures in Compariſon of them.
They are not of any private Interpretation, Authority, or Invention, but Holy Men of old wrote them, as they were moved by the Holy Ghoſt.
The Foundation of GOD's revealing himſelf thus to Mankind, was our Fall in Adam, and the Neceſſity of our New Birth in CHRIST JESUS. And if we ſearch the Scriptures as we ought, we ſhall find the Sum and Subſtance, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and End of them, has no other Tendency but to lead us to a Knowledge of theſe two great Truths.
All the Threats, Promiſes, and Precepts, all the Exhortations and Doctrines contained therein, all the Rites, and Ceremonies, and Sacrifices appointed under the Jewiſh Law; nay, almoſt all the Hiſtorical Parts of Holy Scripture, ſuppoſe our being fallen in Adam, and either point out to us a Mediator to come, or ſpeak of him as already come in the Fleſh.
Had Man continued in a State of Innocence, he would not have needed an outward Revelation, becauſe the Law of GOD was ſo deeply written in the Tables of his Heart. But having eaten of the forbidden Fruit, he incurred the Divine Diſpleaſure, and loſt the Divine Image, and therefore without an outward Revelation could never tell how GOD would be reconciled unto him, or how he ſhould be ſaved from the Miſery and Darkneſs of his fallen Nature.
That theſe Truths are ſo, I need not refer you to any other Book than that of your own Hearts.
For unleſs we are fallen Creatures, whence come thoſe abominable Corruptions which daily ariſe in our Hearts? We could not come thus corrupt out of the Hands of our Maker, becauſe he being Goodneſs itſelf, could make nothing but what is like himſelf▪ Holy, Juſt and Good. And that we want to be delivered from theſe Diſorders of our Nature is evident, becauſe we find an Unwillingneſs within ourſelves to own we are thus depraved, and are always ſtriving to appear to others of a quite different Frame and Temper of Mind, than what we are.
I appeal to the Experience of the moſt learned Diſputer againſt Divine Revelation, whether he does not find in himſelf that he is naturally Proud, Angry, Revengeful, and full of other Tempers contrary to the Purity, Holineſs, and Long-Suffering of GOD.—And is not this a demonſtrable Proof that ſome Way or other he is fallen from GOD?—And I appeal alſo whether at the ſame Time he finds theſe Helliſh Tempers in his Heart, he does not ſtrive to ſeem Amiable, Courteous, Kind, and Affable; and is not this as manifeſt a Proof that he is ſenſible that he is Miſerable, and wants he knows not how, to be redeemed or delivered from it?
Here then GOD by his Word ſteps in, and opens to his View ſuch a Scene of Divine Love, and infinite Goodneſs, in the Holy Scriptures, that none but Men of ſuch corrupt and reprobate Minds as our modern Deiſts, would ſhut their Eyes againſt it.
For what does GOD in his written Word do more or leſs, than ſhew thee, O Man, how thou art fallen into that Blindneſs, Darkneſs, and Miſery thou feeleſt and complaineſt of? And at the ſame Time points out the Way to what thou deſireſt, viz. How thou mayſt be redeemed out of it,—by believing in, and copying after the Son of his Love.
For, as I told you before, ſo I tell you again, upon theſe two Truths hangs all Divine Revelation. It being given us for no other End but to ſhew us our Miſery, and our Happineſs; our Fall and Recovery; or, in one Word, after what Manner we died in Adam, and how in CHRIST, we may again be made alive.
Hence then ariſes the Neceſſity of ſearching the Scriptures. For ſince they are nothing elſe but the grand Character of our Salvation, a Revelation of a Covenant made by GOD with Man in CHRIST, a Light to guide them into the Way of Peace: It follows, that all are obliged to read and ſearch them, becauſe all are equally fallen from GOD, all equally ſtand in need of being informed what they muſt do to be reſtored to, and again united with him.
How fooliſhly then do the diſputing Infidels of this Generation act, who are continually either calling for Signs from Heaven, or ſeeking for outward Evidence to prove the Truth of Divine Revelation? Whereas what they ſo earneſtly ſeek for is nigh unto, nay, within them. For let them but conſult their own Hearts, they cannot but feel what they want.—Let them but conſult the lively Oracles of GOD, and they cannot but ſee a Remedy revealed for all their Wants, and that the written Word does as exactly anſwer the Wants and Deſire of their Hearts, as Face anſwers to Face in the Water.—Where then is the Scribe, where then is the Wi…, where is the Solidity of the Reaſoning of the Diſputers of this W… Has not GOD revealed himſelf unto t… … plain as their own Hearts could wiſh! … they require a Sign. But there ſhall no … be given them. For if they believe … Revelation every way ſo ſuited to their Wants, neither will they be perſuaded though one ſhould riſe from the Dead.
But this Diſcourſe is not deſigned ſo much for… them that believe not, as for them who both know and believe that the Scriptures contain a Revelation that came from GOD, and that it is their Duty, as being chief Parties concerned, not only to read, but ſearch them alſo.
I paſs on therefore, as was propoſed, in the ſecond Place, to lay down ſome Directions how to ſearch them with Advantage.
And Firſt, Have alſo in View, the End for which the Scriptures were written,—to ſhew … the Way of Salvation by JESUS CHRIST.
Search the Scriptures, ſays our Bleſſed LORD, for they are they that teſtify of me.—Look therefore always for CHRIST in the Scripture. For he is the Treaſure hid in the Field, both of the Old and New Teſtament,—In the Old you'll find … under Propheſies, Types, Sacrifices and Shadows; in the New, manifeſted in the Fleſh, to become a Propitiation for our Sin, as a Prieſt; and as a Prophet, to reveal the whole Will of his Heavenly Father.
Have CHRIST, and to become a Principle then of a new Life to our Souls, thus always in view when you are reading the Word of GOD, and this, like the Star in the Eaſt, will guide you to the Meſſiah, will ſerve as a Key to every Thing that is obſcure, and … to you the Wiſdom and Riches of all the …teries of the Kingdom of GOD.
Secondly, Search the Scriptures with an humble Child-like Diſpoſition.
For whoſoever does not read them with this Temper ſhall in no wiſe enter into the Knowledge of the Things contained therein. For GOD hides the Senſe of them from thoſe that are wiſe and prudent in their own Eyes, and reveals them only to Babes in CHRIST, who think they know nothing yet as they ought to know, who hunger and thirſt after Righteouſneſs and humbly deſire to be fed with the ſincere Milk of the Word, that they may grow thereby.
Fancy yourſelves therefore when you are ſearching the Scriptures, eſpecially when you are reading the New Teſtament, to be with Mary ſitting at the Feet of the HOLY JESUS, and be as willing to learn what GOD ſhall teach You, as Samuel was, when he ſaid, Speak, LORD, for thy Servant heareth.
And Oh that the Unbelievers would pull down every high Thought and Imagination that exalts itſelf againſt the Revealed Will of GOD! Oh that they would, like new-born Babes, deſire to be fed with the pure Milk of the Word! then we ſhould have them no longer ſcoffing at Divine Revelation, nor would they read the Bible any more (with the ſame Intent the Philiſtines brought out Sampſon) to make Sport at it, but they would ſee the Divine Image and Superſcription written upon every Line of it. They would hear GOD ſpeaking unto their Souls by it, and conſequently be built up in the Knowledge and Fear of him who is the Author of it.
Thirdly, Search the Scriptures with a ſincere Intention to put in Practice what you read.
For a Deſire to do the Will of GOD is the only Way to know it, If any Man will do my Will, ſays JESUS CHRIST, He ſhall know of my Doctrine whether it he of GOD, or whether I ſpeak of myſelf. As he alſo ſpeaks in another Place to his Diſciples, To you, who are willing to practice your Duty, it is given to know the Myſteries of the Kingdom of GOD; but to thoſe that are without, who only want to raiſe Cavils againſt my Doctrine, all theſe Things are ſpoken in Parables, that ſeeing they may ſee and not underſtand, and hearing they may hear and not perceive.
For it is but juſt in GOD to ſend thoſe ſtrong Deluſions, that they may believe a Lye, and to conceal the Knowledge of himſelf from all ſuch as do not ſeek him with a ſingle Intention.
JESUS CHRIST is the ſame now as formerly. To thoſe who deſire to know from his Word, who he is that they may believe on and live by and to him, he will reveal himſelf as clearly as he did to the Woman of Samaria, when he ſaid, I that ſpeak to thee am he; or as he did to the Man that was born blind, whom the Jews had caſt out for his Name's ſake, He that talketh with thee is he. But to thoſe who conſult his Word with a Deſire neither to know him or keep his Commandments, but either merely for their Entertainment, or to ſcoff at the Simplicity of the Manner in which he is revealed, to thoſe, I ſay, he never will reveal himſelf, though he ſhould ſearch the Scriptures to all Eternity.—As he never would tell thoſe whether he was the Meſſiah or not, who put that Queſtion to him either out of Curioſity, or that they might have whereof to accuſe him.
Fourthly, In order to ſearch the Scriptures ſtill more effectually, make an Application of every Thing you read to your own Hearts.
For whatever was written in the Book of GOD, was written for our Learning. And what CHRIST ſaid unto thoſe aforetime, we muſt look upon as ſpoken to us alſo: For ſince the Holy Scriptures are nothing but a Revelation from GOD, how fallen Man is to be reſtored by JESUS CHRIST, all the Precepts, Threats and Promiſes, belong to us and to our Children, as well as to thoſe to whom they were immediately made known.
Thus the Apoſtle, when he tells us that he lived by the Faith of the Son of GOD, adds who died and gave himſelf for me, For it is this Application of JESUS CHRIST to our Hearts that makes his Redemption effectual to each of us.
And it is this Application of all the Doctrinal and Hiſtorical Parts of Scripture, when we are reading them over, that muſt render them profitable to us, as they were deſigned for Reproof, for Correction, for Inſtruction in Righteouſneſs, and make every Child of GOD perfect, thoroughly furniſhed to every good Work.
And I dare appeal to the Experience of every Spiritual Reader of Holy Writ, whether or no if he conſulted the Word of GOD in this Manner, he was not at all Times and at all Seaſons as plainly directed how to act, as though he had conſulted the Urim and Thummim which was upon the High Prieſt's Breaſt.
For this is the Way GOD now reveals himſelf to Man: Not by making new Revelations, but by applying general Things that are revealed already, to every particular ſincere Reader's Heart.
And this, by the Way, anſwers an Objection made by thoſe that ſay, the Word of GOD is not a perfect Rule of Action, becauſe it cannot direct us how to act, or how to determine in particular Caſes, or what Place to go to when we are in Doubt, and therefore the Spirit, and not the Word, is to be our Rule of Action.
But this I deny, and affirm on the Contrary, that GOD at all Times, Circumſtances and Places, though never ſo minute, never ſo particular, will, if we diligently ſeek the Aſſiſtance of his Holy Spirit, apply general Things to our Hearts, and thereby, to uſe the Words of the Holy JESUS, will lead us into all Truth, and give us the particular Aſſiſtance we want: But this leads me to a
Fifth Direction how to ſearch the Scriptures with Profit. Labour to attain that Spirit by which they were wrote.
For the natural Man diſcerneth not the Words of the Spirit of GOD, becauſe they are ſpiritually diſcerned, the Words that CHRIST hath ſpoken they are Spirit, and they are Life, and can be no more underſtood, as to the true hidden Senſe and Meaning of them, by the mere natural Man, than a Perſon who had never learnt a Language can underſtand another ſpeaking in it. The Scriptures therefore have not unfitly been compar'd by ſome to the Cloud which went before the Iſraelites, they are dark and hard to be underſtood by the natural Man, as the Cloud appeared dark to the Egyptians, but they are Light, they are Life to Chriſtians indeed, as that ſame Cloud which ſeem'd dark to Pharaoh and hi… Hoſt, appeared bright and altogether glorious to the Iſrael of GOD.
It was the Want of the Aſſiſtance of this Spirit that made Nicodemus, a Teacher of Iſrael, Ruler of the Jews, ſo utterly ignorant in the Doctrine of Regeneration: For being only a natural Man. he could not tell how that Thing could be. It was the Want of this Spirit that made our Saviour's Diſciples, tho' he ſo frequently converſed with them, daily miſtake the Nature of the Doctrines he delivered; and it is becauſe the natural Veil is not taken off from their Hearts, that ſo many who pretend to ſearch the Scriptures, yet ſee no farther than into the bare Letter of them and continue entire Strangers to the hidden Senſe, the Spiritual Meaning, couched under every Parable, and contained in almoſt all the Precepts of the Book of GOD.
And indeed how ſhould it be otherwiſe; for GOD being a Spirit, he cannot communicate himſelf any otherwiſe than in a ſpiritual Manner to the Hearts of Men; and conſequently i… we are Strangers to his Spirit, we muſt continue Strangers to his Word, becauſe it is altogether like himſelf Spiritual. Labour therefore earneſtly to attain this bleſſed Spirit, for otherwiſe your Underſtandings will never be opened to underſtand the Scriptures aright; and becauſe Prayer is one of the moſt immediate Means to get his Holy Spirit,
Sixthly, Let me adviſe you before you read the Scripture, to pray that CHRIST, according to his Promiſe, would ſend his Spirit to guide you into all Truth; interſperſe ſhort Ejaculations whilſt you are engaged in Reading, pray over every Word and Verſe if poſſible, and when you cloſe up the Book moſt earneſtly beſeech GOD, that the Words which you then have read … be inwardly engrafted into your Hearts, and bring forth in you the Fruits of Good Living.
Do this, and you will with an holy Violence draw down GOD's Holy Spirit into your Hearts, and you will experience his gracious Influences, and feel him enlightning, quickening and inflaming your Souls by the Word of GOD; you will then not only read, but mark, learn, and inwardly digeſt what you read, and the Word of GOD will be Meat indeed and Drink indeed unto your Souls; you then will be as Apollos was, powerful in the Scriptures, be Scribes ready inſtructed to the Kingdom of GOD, and bring out of the good Treaſures of your Heart, Things both from the Old and New Teſtament, to entertain all you converſe with.
One Direction more; which ſhall be the laſt, Seventhly, Read the Scripture conſtantly, or to uſe our Saviour's Expreſſion in the Text, Search the Scriptures, dig in them as for hid Treaſure, for here's a manifeſt Alluſion to thoſe who dig in Mines, and our Saviour would thereby teach us that we muſt take as much Pains in conſtantly reading his Word, if we would grow thereby, as thoſe who dig for Gold and Silver. The Scriptures contain the Deep Things of GOD, and therefore can never be ſufficiently ſearch'd into by a careleſs, ſuperficial, curſory Way of Reading them, but by an induſtrious, cloſe and humble Application.
The Pſalmiſt therefore makes it the Property of a good Man that he meditates on GOD's Law Day and Night: And this Book of the Law, ſays GOD to Joſhua, ſhall not go out of thy Mouth, but thou ſhalt meditate therein Day and Night, for then thou ſhalt make thy Way proſperous, and then thou ſhalt have good Succeſs. Search therefore the Scriptures not only devoutly but daily, for in them are the Words of eternal Life; wait conſtantly at Wiſdom's Gate, and ſhe will then, and not till then, diſplay and lay open to you her Heavenly Treaſures; … that are rich are without Excuſe if you do not▪ and you that poor ought to take heed that little Time you have; for by the Scriptures you are to be acquitted, and by the Scriptures you are to be condemned as the Laſt Day.
But perhaps you have no Taſte for this deſpiſed Book; perhaps Plays and Romances, Books of polite Entertainment, ſuit your Taſte better; but if this be your Caſe, give me leave to tell you, your Taſte is vitiated, and unleſs corrected by the Spirit and Word of GOD, you ſhall never enter into his heavenly Kingdom; for unleſs you delight in GOD here, how will you be made meet to dwell with him hereafter.—Is it a Sin then, you will ſay, to read uſeleſs impertinent Books, I anſwer, yes: And that for the ſame Reaſon, as it is a Sin to indulge uſeleſs Converſation, becauſe both immediately tend to grieve and quench that Spirit by which alone we can be ſealed to the Day of Redemption; but you may reply, How ſhall we know this ? Why, put in Practice the Precept in the Text, … the Scriptures, in the Manner that has … …mmended, and then you will be convinced of the Danger, Sinfulneſs, and Unſatisfactorineſs of reading any other than the Book of GOD, or ſuch as are wrote in the ſame Spirit; you will then ſay, When I was a Child, and ignorant of the Excellency of the Word of GOD, I read other, what the World calls harmleſs Books, as other Children in Knowledge, though old in Years, have done, and ſtill do; but now I have taſted the good Word of Life, and come to … more perfect Knowledge of CHRIST JESUS my LORD; I put away theſe childiſh trifling Things, and am determined to read no other Books but what lead me to a Knowledge of myſelf and CHRIST JESUS. Search therefore the Scriptures, my dear Brethren; taſte and ſee how good the Word of GOD is, and then you will never leave that Heavenly Manna, that Angel's Food, to feed on thoſe dry Huſks, that light Bread, thoſe trifling, ſinful Compoſitions, which Men of falſe Taſte delight themſelves in; no, you will then diſdain ſuch poor Entertainment, and bluſh that yourſelves once were fond of it. The Word of GOD will then be ſweeter than Honey and the Honey-Comb, and dearer than Gold and Silver; your Souls by reading it will be filled, as it were, with Marrow and Fatneſs, and your Hearts inſenſibly moulded into the Spirit of its bleſſed Author; in ſhort, You will then be guided by GOD's Wiſdom here, and conducted by the Light of his Divine Word into Glory hereafter.