86 :dn ExpofLion ofthe 2. Becau(e it wasto be very Cemprehenftve, it was to containdireQly or by confc- quence, oneway or other, the whole-Revelation ofGodunto us, and all our.Dutyunto him, both which aré marvelous, great, large and various : Now this could not have been done.in fo narrow a loom, but that every Part, of it , and all.the Concernment ofit, with its whole Order, wereto be tilledwith Myfteries, and Expreflions or in- timations ofthe Mind and Will of God. It could not hence be that any thingfit. perils/out fhould be put into it, or anything be in it, that fhould not relate to Teach-. mgand Inftru&ion. 3. It is that whichGod hath given untohis fervants, for their continual Exercife day and night in this world; And in their enquiry into it, he requires of them their ut- moft Diligenceand endeavours. This beingaffigned for their Daty, it was conveni- ent untoDivine Wifdom and Goodnefs to find them blel led and ufeful work in the whole Scripture, toexercife themfelves about : That every where they might meet with thatwhichmightfatisfie their Enquiry, and anfwer theirInduftry. There (hall never be anyTime or Strength-loft or mifpent,. that is laid out according to the Mind of God in and about his Word. The matter,the Words, the Order, the Contexture of them, the Scope, Defign and aim of the HolyGhofi in them, all, and every one of them, maywell take up the turnoff of our Diligence ; are all divine. Nothing is empty, unturnifhed, or unprepared for our fpiritual ufe, advantage and benefit. Let us then learnhence, I. To admire, and as one find ofold, to adore the fulneff of the Scripture, or of the Wifdom ofGod in it ; it is all full ofDivine Wifdom, . and calls for our Reverence in theConfideration of it. And indeed a confiant Aweof the Majefly, Authority and Holiuefs of Gód. inhis word, is the only teachable frame. Proud' and carelefs fpirits fee nothing of Heaven, or Divinity in the Word ; but the humble are made wife Mit. 2. To fire up and exercife our Faith andDiligenceto the utmofl in ourffudyand feareh of the Scripture. It is anendlefs flore-houle, a bottomlefs Tteafure ofD:vineTruth. Gold is in every fand; All the wife men in the worldmay every one for himfelf.learn fomewhat out of everyWord of it, and yet leaveenough 1h11 behind them for the luileuc`iion ofall thofe that (hall come afterthem. Thefountains and fprings OfWif- dom in itare endlefs, and will never bedry. We may have much truth and power out of aword, fometimes enough, but never All , that is in it. There.will Rill be enough remaining, to exercife and refrefh us anewfor ever. So that we tray attain aTrue finfé, but we can never attain the full fir**of Place; we can never exhauft the whole imprefl of infinite Wifdom that is on the Word. And how fhould this Ihr us up to be meditating in it day and night ; and many the like inferences mayhence be taken, Learn alto, 2., That it is lawful to draw eonfiquencet from Scripture Afrtions, and, filch çonfiquencei rightly deducedare infallibly tree, and de fide. Thus from the Name given unto Chriff,theApofile deduceth by jufl confequence his Exaltationand Prehemiuence ,above Angels. Nothing will.rightly follow fromTruth, but what isfo alto; and that of the fame naturewith the Truth from whence it is derived : So,ehat whatever by huff çonfequence is drawn from the Word ofGod, is it felfalfo the Word of God, and ofTruth infallible. And to deprive the churchof this liberty in the interpretationof the Word, is to deprive it of the chiefelt benefit intended by it. This is that on which the whole Ordinanceof Preaching is founded ; which makes that which is derived out of the Word, to have the Power, Authority and Efficacyof the Word ac- companying it. Thus though it be the proper Work and Efeet of the Word of .God to quicken, regenerate, fándifie and purifie the Eled, and the Word primarily and direQly is only that which is written in the Scriptures; yet we find all thefe et- fcQs produced in and by the preaching of the Wird, when perhaps not one fentence of the Scripture is verbatim repeated. -Acrd the Reafon hereof is, becaufe whatfoever is direQly deduced, and delivered according to the Mind and Appointment ofGod from the Word, is the Word of God, and hath" the Power, Authority and Efficacyof the Wordaccompanymgof it. , 3. The Declaration of Chriít to be the Son ofGad, is the Care and Work of the Father. He Paid it, he recorded it, he revealed it. This indeed is tobe made known by the :Preachingof the Gofpel; but that it (hall be done, theFather hath taken the care up- onhimfelf. It is thedefign of the (other in all things toglorifie the Son; that allmen may honour him even as they honour theFather ; This cannot be done, without the De- charat -4on CI3'AP. I.
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