what holy reverence, humility, and universal subjection of soul to the word doth this require? In this representation,

2. There is also love. In the economy of the blessed Trinity, about the work of our salvation, that which is eminently and in an especial manner ascribed to the Father is love, 1 John iv, 9, 10, 16. "God," that is, the Father, "is love." To be love, full of love, to be the special spring of all fruits of love, is peculiar to him as the Father. It is out of love, infinite love, mercy, and compassion, that God would at all reveal his mind and will to sinners. He might for ever have locked up the treasures of his wisdom and prudence, wherein he abounds towards us in his word, in his own eternal breast. He might have left all the sons of men to that woful darkness, whereunto by sin they had cast themselves, and kept them under the chains and power of it, with the angels that sinned before them, unto the judgment of the great day. But it was from infinite love that he made this condescension to reveal himself and his will unto us. This mixture of authority and love, which is the spring of the revelation of the will of God to us, requires all readiness, willingness, and cheerfulness in our reception of it, Besides these,

3. There is also care peculiarly discoverable in it. The great care of the church is eminently in the Father. He is the husbandman that takes care of the vine and vineyard, John xv, 1, 2. And thence our Savior, who had a delegated care of his people, commends them to the Father, John xvii; as to whom the care of them did principally and originally belong, Care is proper to a father as such, and especially to God as a Father. Care is inseparable from paternal love.

§27. As for the dispensers of the word, let them take heed of pursuing that work negligently, which hath its spring in the authority, love, and care of God, see 1 Tim. iv, 13-16. Let them know to whom to look for support, ability, and encouragement in their work, Ephes. vi, 19, 20. And let them not be discouraged whatever opposition they meet with in the discharge of their duty, considering whose work they have in hand, 2 Cor. iv, 15, 16. Let them learn how they ought to dispense the word so as to answer the spring from whence it comes; namely, with authority, love to, and care for the souls of men. And, let them consider to whom they are to give an account of the work they are called to discharge, and the talents with which they are entrusted, Heb. xiii, 7.

$28. And for them to whom the word is preached, let them consider,

With what reverence and godly fear they ought to attend to the dispensing of it, seeing it is a proper effect and issue of the authority of God, Heb. xii, 25. How they will escape if they neglect so great a salvation declared to them from the love and care of God, Heb. ii, 3. And, with what holiness and spiritual subjection of soul to God they ought to be conversant with all his appointed ordinances of worship, Heb. xii, 28, 29.

$29. Obs. 2. The authority of God speaking by the inspired penmen, is the sole foundation of our assenting to the scriptures, and what they contain, with Divine faith. He once spake in them, he still continues to speak by them, and therefore is their word to be received, 2 Pet. iii, 21, 22.

$30. Obs. 3. “God's gradual revelation of his mind and will to the church, was a fruit of infinite wisdom and care towards his elect." "These are parts of his

ways, says Job, but how little a portion is heard of him?" Job xxvi, 14. Though all his ways and dispensations are ordered in infinite wisdom, yet we can but stand at the verge of the ocean, and admire its glory and greatness. Little it is that we can comprehend; yet what may be instructive to further our faith and obedience is not hidden from us. And the following things are evident in this matter:

(1.) That he did not overfill their vessels; he administered light as they were able to bear it: though we know not perfectly what their condition was, yet this we know, that as they needed no more light than they had in their respective generations for the discharge of the duty God required of them; so more light would have unfitted them for somewhat or other, that was their incumbent duty.

(2.) He kept them continually dependent upon himself, waiting for their rule and direction from his sovereign pleasure, which, as it tended to his glory, so it was exceedingly suited to their safety to keep them in an humble, waiting frame.

(3.) He so gave out the light and knowledge of himself, as that the great work which he had so accomplished, which lay in the stores of his infinitely wise will, might not be impeded. He gave light enough to believers to enable them to receive the Redeemer, and not so much, as to hinder obdurate sinners from crucifying him.

(4.) He did this work so, that the pre-eminence of a full and ultimate revelation might be reserved for him, in whom all things were to be "gathered unto an head." And

(5.) There was tender care joined to this infinite wisdom. None of his elect in any age were left without that instruction which was needful for them in

their respective circumstances and generations: and this was so dispensed to them, as that they might have fresh consolation and support as their occasions required. Whilst the church of old was under this dispensation, they were still hearkening in hopes to hear new tidings from heaven for their teaching and refreshment. And if any difficulty befel them, they were sure not to want relief in this kind; which appears to have been a procedure equally proper and necessary, before the final hand was set to the work.

And this discovers the woful state of the present Jews. They maintain that Divine revelation is not perfected; and yet, notwithstanding all their miseries, darkness, and distresses, they dare not pretend that they have heard one word from heaven these two thousand years! that is, from the days of Malachi; but (awful state!) they still labor to keep the veil upon their eyes.

§31. Obs. 4. "We may see hence the absolute perfection of the revelation made by Christ and his apostles, as to every end and purpose whatever, for which God ever did or ever will reveal himself to mortals." For as this was the last way and means that God ever designed for that interesting purpose, so the person by whom he accomplished this work makes it indispensably necessary, that it be also absolutely perfect; from which nothing can be taken, and to which nothing must be added, under the penalty of that extermination threatened to all that will not attend to the voice of that prophet.

§32. Obs. 5. "The Lord Jesus Christ who is the great prophet of his church under the New Testament, the only revealer of the will of the Father, as the Son and wisdom of God, made the worlds and all things contained in them." And herein we have,

An illustrious testimony given to the eternal Godhead and power of the Son of God, for "he who made all things is God," as the apostle elsewhere affirms; and, to the equity of his being made heir, lord, and judge of all. No creature can decline the authority, or wave the tribunal of him that made them all. And a firm basis for faith, hope, patience, and contentment is administered to the saints in all dispensations. He who is their Redeemer, he who bought them with his blood, hath all that interest in all the things wherein they are concerned, that the sovereign right of creation can afford him; besides that grant which is made to him for this very end, that they may be disposed of for his own glory to their advantage, Isaiah iv, 4, 5. From this order of things, that Christ as the eternal Son of God, having made the worlds, hath them and all things in them put under his power as mediator and head of the church; we may see in what subserviency to the interest of the saints of the Most High, the whole creation is placed. And, hence we learn the way of obtaining a sanctified interest in, and a right use of all created things; namely, not to receive them merely on the general account as made by the Son of God, but on the more special account of their being granted him as mediator of the church.

$33. Obs. 6. "From the apostle's design in this whole discourse we may farther learn, that God in infinite wisdom ordered all things in the first creation, so as that the whole might be subservient to the glory of his grace in the new création by Jesus Christ." By the Son he made the world in the beginning of time, that in the fulness of time he might be the just heir and Lord of all. The Jews have a saying, that, "the world was made for the Messiah;" which is thus far true, that all things were originally made and ordered, so that God

VOL. II.

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