Ver.6. the i7th Chapter of St. J O H N. 6 üfe. Let us biefs God for the Word, and take heed unto it, as to a Light fhining in a dark Place. What would be our Condition, if we had not the Scriptures a- mong us ? We Ihould be no better than Salvages in the Wildernef, or as the Body without the Soul, the Earth without the Sun. God might immediately have revealed himfelf to Man ; he that made the Heart, can inftamp it with the Knowledg of his Will : But he would ftate his Doctrine into a felled Courte, that we might not coin Oracles to our felves, or obtrude Fancies on others.- We have, 1`óyou peparózse_91 more Jura word of Prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as to a Light that fbineth in a dark place, 2 Pet. r. 19. He knoweth to what Liberty we incline in preaching Divine Things. No more ./r.Tv mils t'y sroNtiTeçac,s of thofe divers Ways and Manners, wherewith God fpake in times pafi to our Fathers by the Prophets, Heb. After the cloung of a perfe& Canon, there needed nothing but ordinary Revelation. This is fufficient to Salvation, if there were no Book elfe ; if the World were full of Books, and this only were wanting, there were no certain way nor Rule to Heaven. Here is God's Heart difcovered to us, and our Hearts to our felves ; it is a ray of the Face of God in Chrift. John 1. 18. No Man bath feen God at any time 5 the only be- gotten Son of God, that lay in the Bofom of the Father, he bath declared him. Satan bath been ever maligning this Light, that he might more fecurely domineer in the World. Chrift undertook he would declare God's Name to his Brethren, and here he hath done it. O let it it come with Divine Authority upon your Hearts, in all the Precepts, Promifes, Threatnings of it, that you may come to a nearer fight of God and your felves ! 4. Obferve ; The Neceffity o/' a Divine Light, before we can Yndtyjland the Things of God. I have manifeffed thy Name, &e. J. There muff not only bean outward lure Rule of Do &rine, but an inward Light. We can have no favory Apprehenfions of the Things of God, till Chrift himfelf be- come our Teacher ; the Son of God mull always be the Interpreter of his Father's Will : He is the Word that fpeaketh to the Heart. All Men by Nature are ignorant of the Name of God, without any faving - Knowledg. Ephef 5. 8. Te were fome- times Darknefs; not only in the Dark, but Darknefs it felf: but now ye are Light in the Lord, that is, enlightned by his Spirit : This is proper to the Ele &, thofe who are given to him. The Church is Chril }'s open School, the Scriptures our Book, the Mi- nifters are the Ufhers, and Chrift is the inward Teacher. Some are only taught by the Minifters, others are taken aCde and taught by Chrift himfelf in private : His Pub - lick Leaures are read to all Hearers, but the Elea are taught of God. John 6. 68.. Lord, to whom (ball we go ? thou haft the Words of Eternal Life. Others may hear the Word, but they perilla in their own biindnefs and unbelief. Some play the Truants in Chrift's School, they will not hear, they pars Judgment on themCelves. A &s 13. 48: Is many as were ordained to Eternal Lift, believed. The whole City was met to hear, but none believe but the Elea; and the Apoflle doth not fay, Is many as believed, were ordained to Eternal Life, but as many as were ordained, believed. It is not given to all, Muth. 13.1s. It is given to you to know the Myfferies of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not given. All the Difference is in the Will of God; fo that the Scholars in this kind, are the Called according to his Purpofe. Chrift's teaching is of no larger extent, than his Father's Ele &ion. Some School - mailers, befades their com- mon Care, do teach fuch Children a-part, as they love moll, they take them, and point with the Finger : So doth Chrift manifeft himfelf to thofe that are given him out of the World, by the inward Work of his Grace. Moral Suafion is common to all, but he taketh force afide and worketh on their Hearts. 2. For the manner of this Teaching, it is accompanied with Force and Power, There is always an Operation, that goeth alongwith this teaching, John 6. 44, 45. No Man can come to me, except the Father that path font me draw him. It is written in the Prophets, they (hall be all taught of God. There is Teaching and Drawing i The Infpira- tion, and the Impreffaon go together. He is an incomparable Teacher, he giveth the Leffon, and an Heartto learn it; with Information he teformeth 3 and with the Know - ledg of our Duty, he giveth a Will and Power to do it. He teacbeth the Promifet fo as to make us believe it the Commandment, fo as to make us obey it. The Soul is God's Eceho, Pfal. 27.8. When thou fayeft, Seek ft my Face, my Heart fold unto thee, Täß
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