The Fountain of Life Opened Up

Number 2 He has dispensed his blessed light to the church gradually. The discoveries of light have been, in many parts or parcels, sometimes more obscure and cloudy. As to the Old Testament believers, by visions, dreams, urm, summons, vocal oracles, types, sacrifices, etc., which though they were comparatively but a weak, glimmering light and had no glory compared to that which now shines, 2 Corinthians 3, verses 7-11, yet were sufficient for the instruction and salvation of the elect in those times. But now is light sprung up gloriously in the gospel dispensation, and we all, with open face, behold, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord. It is to us, not a twilight, but the light of a perfect day, and still is advancing in the several ages of the world. I know more, saith Luther, than blessed Austen knew, and they that come after me will know more than I know. Number 3 Jesus Christ, our great prophet, has manifested to us the will of God plainly and perspicuously. When he was on earth he taught the people by parables, and without a parable he spake nothing. Matthew 13, 34 He closed sublime and spiritual mysteries in earthly metaphors, bringing them thereby to the low and dull capacities of men, speaking so familiarly to the people about them as if he had been speaking earthly things to them. John 3, 12 And so according to his own example would he have his ministers preach, using great plainness of speech. 2 Corinthians 3, 12 And by manifestation of the truth, commending themselves to every man's conscience. 2 Corinthians 4, verse 2 Yet he does not allow them to be rude and careless in expression, pouring out indigested, crude, immethodical words. No, a holy, serious, strict, and grave expression befits the lips of his ambassadors. And whoever spoke more weightily, more logically, or persuasively, than that apostle by whose pen Christ has admonished us to beware of vain affections and swelling words of vanity. But he would have us stoop to the understanding of the meanest, and not give the people a comment darker than the text. He would have us rather pierce their ears than amuse their fancies, and break their hearts than please their ears. Christ was a very plain preacher. Number 4 Jesus Christ dispensed truth powerfully, speaking as one having authority and not as the scribes. Matthew 7, 29 They were cold and dull preachers, their words did even freeze between their lips, but Christ spoke with power. There was heat as well as light in his doctrines, and so there is still though it be in the mouth of poor contemptible men. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10, 4 His word is still quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow. Hebrews 4, 12 The blessed apostle imitated Christ, and being filled with his spirit, spoke home and freely to the hearts of men. So many words, so many claps of thunder, as Augustine said of him, which made the hearts of sinners shake and tremble. All faithful and able ministers are not alike gifted in this particular, but surely there is a holy seriousness, and spiritual grace and majesty in their doctrine, commanding reverence from their hearers. Number 5 This prophet Jesus Christ taught the people the mind of God in a sweet, affectionate, and persuasive manner. His words made their hearts burn within them. Luke 24, 32 It was prophesied of him, He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard on high. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench. Isaiah 42, 2-3 He knew how to speak a word in season to the weary soul. Isaiah 50, 4 He gathered the lambs with his arms, and gently led those that were with young. Isaiah 40, 11 How sweetly did his words fall on the melting hearts about him. He drew with cords of love and with the bands of a man. He discouraged none, upbraided none that were willing to come to him. His familiarity and free condescensions to the most vile and despicable sinners were often made a matter of reproach to him. Such is his gentle and sweet carriage to his people that the church is called the Lamb's Wife. Revelation 19, 7 He revealed the mind of God purely to men. His doctrine had not the least mixture of error to debase it. His most enviously observant hearers could find nothing to charge him with. He is the faithful and true witness. Revelation 1, 5 And he has commanded his ministers to preserve the simplicity and purity of the gospel and not to blend and sophisticate it. 2 Corinthians 4, 2 He revealed the will of God perfectly and fully, keeping back nothing needful to salvation. So he tells his disciples, All things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. John 15, 15 He was faithful as a son over his own house. Hebrews 3, 6 Inference 1 If Jesus Christ, who is now passed into the heavens, be the great prophet and teacher of the church, we may justly infer the continual necessity of the gospel ministry. For by his ministers he now teaches us, and to that intent hath fixed them in the church by a firm constitution, there to remain to the end of the world. Matthew 28, 20 We pray you in Christ's dead. 2 Corinthians 5, 20 These officers he gave the church at his ascension, that is, when he ceased to teach them any longer with his own lips, and so set them in the church that their succession shall never totally fail. For so the Greek word he hath set, in 1 Corinthians 12, 28, plainly implies. They are set by a sure establishment, a firm and unalterable constitution. And it is well they are, for how many adversaries in all ages have endeavored to shake the very office itself, pretending that it is needless to be taught by men, and resting such scripture as this to countenance their error? I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, etc. Joel 2, 28, 29 But if an Old Testament prophecy may be understood according to a New Testament interpretation, that prophecy no way opposes, but actually confirms the gospel ministry. How the apostle understood the prophecy may be seen in Acts 2, 17, where he applies it to the Spirit that was poured out on the day of Pentecost upon the apostles. God has given ministers to the church for the work of conversion and edification, till we all come in unity of the faith unto a perfect man. Ephesians 4, verses 11-13 So that when all the elect are converted, and all those converts become perfect men, when there is no error in judgment or practice, and no seducer to cause it, then and not till then will a gospel ministry be useless. Indeed, as one has well observed, there is not a man that opposes a gospel ministry, but the very being of that man is a sufficient argument for the continuance of it. 2. If Christ be the great prophet of the church, the weakest Christians need not be discouraged at the dullness and incapacity they find in themselves. For Christ is not only a patient and condescending teacher, but he can also, as he has often done, reveal that to babes which is hid from the wise and learned. Matthew 11, 25 The testimonies of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple. Psalm 19, verse 7 Yea, in such as you are, the Lord delights to choose, that his grace may be the more conspicuous in your weakness. 1 Corinthians 1, verses 26 and 27 While then be not discouraged, others may know more in other things than you, but you are not incapable of knowing so much, as shall save your souls, if Christ be your teacher. In other knowledge they excel you, but if ye know Jesus Christ and the truth as it is in him, one drop of your knowledge is worth a whole sea of their gifts. It is better in kind, the one being but natural, the other supernatural. From the saving illuminations and inward teachings of the Spirit, and so is one of those better things that accompany salvation. It is better in respect to its effects. Other knowledge leaves the heart dry, barren, and unaffected, but that little you have been taught of Christ sheds down its gracious influences upon your affections and slides sweetly to your melting heart. So that as one preferred the most despicable work of a plain-wrested Christian before all the triumphs of Alexander and Caesar, much more ought you to prefer one saving manifestation of the Spirit to all the powerless illuminations of natural man. 3. If Christ be the great teacher and prophet of the church, prayer is the proper means for the increase of knowledge. Prayer is the golden key that unlocks that treasure. When Daniel was to expound the secret contained in the king's dream, about which the Chaldean magicians had racked their brains to no purpose, what course did Daniel take? He went to his house and made the thing known to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, his companions, that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret. Daniel 2, verses 17 and 18 And then was the secret revealed to Daniel. Luther was wont to say, Three things make a divine, meditation, temptation, and prayer. Holy Mr. Bradford was wont to study upon his knees. Those truths that are learned by prayer leave an unusual sweetness upon the heart. If Christ be our teacher, it becomes all his saints to be at his feet. 4. If Christ be the great prophet and teacher of the church, we may then discern and judge of doctrines, and it may serve us as a test by which to try them. For such as Christ is, such are the doctrines that flow from him. Every error pretends to derive itself from him. But as Christ was holy, humble, heavenly, meek, peaceful, plain and simple, in all things alien, yea, contrary to the wisdom of the world and the gratifications of the flesh, such are the truths which he teaches. They have his character and image engraven on them. Would you know then whether this or that doctrine be from the spirit of Christ? Examine the doctrine itself by this rule, and whatsoever doctrine you find to encourage incontinent sin, to exalt self, to be accommodated to earthly designs and interests, to warp and bend to the humors and lusts of man. In a word, whatever doctrine soever makes them that profess it carnal, turbulent, proud, sensual, you may safely reject it and conclude this never came from Jesus Christ. The doctrine of Christ is after godliness. His truth sanctifies. There is a spiritual taste by which those that have their senses exercised can distinguish things that differ. The spiritual man judges all things. 1 Corinthians 2.15 His ear trieth words, as the mouth tasted meat. Job 34.3 Receive nothing, let it come never suspiciously, that hath not some relish of Christ in holiness in it. Be sure Christ never revealed anything to men that derogates from his own glory, or prejudices and obstructs the ends of his own death. 5 And as it will serve us for a test of doctrines, so it serves for a test of ministers. And hence he may judge who are authorized and sent by Christ the great prophet to declare his will to men. Surely those whom he sends have his spirit in their hearts, as well as his words in their mouths. And according to the measures of grace received, they faithfully endeavor to fulfill their ministry for Christ, as Christ did for his Father. As my Father has sent me, says Christ, so send I you. John 20.21 They take Christ for their pattern in the whole course of their ministration, and are such as sincerely endeavor to imitate the great Shepherd in the following respects. Jesus Christ was a faithful minister, the faithful and true witness. Revelation 1.5 He declared the whole mind of God to man. Of him it was prophetically said, I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart. I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation. I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. Psalm 40.10 To the same sense and almost in the same words, the Apostle Paul professed, I have kept back nothing that was profitable unto you. I have showed you all things. Acts 20.20-35 Not that every faithful minister in the course of his ministry anatomizes the whole body of truth and fully expounds and applies each particular to the people. But with respect to those doctrines which they have opportunity of opening, they do not out of fear, or to accommodate and secure base, low ends, withhold the mind of God, or so corrupt and abuse his words, as to subject truth to their own and other men's lusts. They preach not as pleasing men, but God. 1 Thessalonians 2.4 For if we yet please men, we cannot be the servants of Christ. Galatians 1.10 Truth must be spoken, though the greatest on earth be offended. Jesus Christ was a tender-hearted minister, full of compassion to souls. He was sent to bind up the broken in heart. Isaiah 61.1 He grieved at the hardness of men's hearts. Mark 3.5 He mourned over Jerusalem and said, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how oft would I have gathered thy children as a hen gathers her brood under her wings. Matthew 23.37 His bowels yearned when he saw the multitude of sheep having no shepherds. Matthew 9.36 This tender compassion of Christ must be in all the under-shepherds. God is my witness, says one of them, how greatly I long after you all in, or after the pattern of, the bowels of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1.8 Jesus shows a hard heart, unaffected by the dangers and miseries of souls, can never show a commission from Christ to authorize him for ministerial work. Jesus Christ was a laborious, self-denying minister. He put a necessity on himself to finish his work in his day, a work infinitely great in a very little time. I must work the works of him that sent me while it is day. The night cometh when no man can work. John 9.4 O how much work did Christ do in a little time on earth! He went about doing good. Acts 10.38 He was never idle. When he sits down at Jacob's well to rest him, being weary, presently he falls into his work, preaching the gospel to the Samaritan woman. In this must his ministers resemble him, striving according to his workings that worketh in them mightily. Colossians 1.28-29 Jesus Christ delighted in nothing more than the success of his ministry. To see the work of the Lord prosper in his hand, this was meat and drink to him. When the Seventy returned and reported the success of their first embassy, Lord, even the devils are subject to us through thy name, he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning falling from heaven. As if he had said, You tell me no news, I saw it when I sent you at first, I knew the gospel would succeed where it came. And in that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit. Luke 10.17,18,21 And is it not so with those sent by him? Do not they value the success of their ministry? My little children, saith Paul, of whom I travail again in birth, till Christ be formed in you. Galatians 4.19 Jesus Christ was a minister that lived up to his doctrine. His life and doctrine harmonized in all things. He urged to holiness in his doctrine and was the great pattern of holiness in his life. Learn of me, I am meek and lowly. Matthew 11.29 And such his ministers desired to approve themselves. What ye have heard and seen in me, do. Philippians 4.9 He preached to their eyes as well as ears. His life was a comment on his doctrine. They might see holiness acted in his life as well as hear it sounded by his lips. He preached the doctrine and lived the application. Jesus Christ was a minister that maintained sweet secret communion with God in all his constant public labors. If he had been preaching and healing all the day, yet he would redeem time from his very sleep to spend in secret prayer. When he had sent the multitude away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray and was there alone. Matthew 14.23 O blessed pattern! Let the keepers of the vineyards remember they have a vineyard of their own to keep, a soul of their own that must be looked after as well as other men's. Those that in these things imitate Christ are surely sent to us from him and are worthy of double honor. They are a choice blessing to the people. Chapter 10, page 113 Second Branch of Christ's Prophetical Office Illumination of the Understanding Then opened he their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures. Luke 24, verse 45 Knowledge of spiritual things is well distinguished as intellectual and practical. The first has its seat in the mind, the latter in the heart. This latter, divines call, a knowledge peculiar to saints, and in the apostles' language, Philippians 3, verse 8, it is the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. And indeed there is but little excellency in all those petty notions which furnish the lips with discourse, unless by a sweet and powerful influence they draw the conscience and will to the obedience of Christ. Light in the mind is necessarily antecedent to the sweet and heavenly exercise of the affections. For the further any man stands from the light of truth, the further he must need be from the warmth of devotion. Heavenly quickenings are begotten in the heart while the sun of righteousness sheds the beams of truth into the understanding. Yet all the light of the gospel spreading and diffusing itself in the mind can never savingly open and change the heart without another act of Christ upon it described in the text. Then opened he their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures. In which words we have, number one, Christ's act upon their understanding. He opened their understanding. By understanding is not here meant the mind only in opposition to the heart, will and affections. But these were opened by and with the mind. The mind is to the heart as the door to the house. What comes into the heart comes in through the understanding. And although truth sometimes flow no further than the entry and never penetrate the heart, yet here this affect is undoubtedly included. Expositors consider this expression as parallel to that in Acts 16-14, Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened. And it is well observed that it is one thing to open the Scriptures, that is to expound them and give the meaning of them, as Paul is said to do, Acts 28-23, and another thing to open the mind or heart. There are, as a learned man truly observes, two doors of the soul barred against Christ, the understanding by ignorance and the heart by hardness. Both these are opened by Christ. The former is opened by the preaching of the Gospel, the other by the internal operation of the Spirit. The former belongs to the first part of Christ's prophetical office, opened in the foregoing discourse, the latter to that special internal part of His prophetical office, which is to be opened in this. That it was not a naked act upon their intellect, but that both their minds and hearts were touched by this act of Christ, is evident by the effects mentioned, verse 52 and 53. They returned to Jerusalem with great joy and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. It is confessed that before this time Christ had opened their hearts by conversion, and this opening is therefore to be understood in reference to those particular truths in which, till now, they were not sufficiently informed and so their hearts could not be duly affected with them. They were very dark in their apprehensions of the death and resurrection of Christ and consequently their hearts were sad and dejected about that which had befallen them, verse 17. But when He opened the Scriptures and their understanding and hearts together, things appeared with another face and they returned, blessing and praising God. Number two. Here is further to be considered the design and end of this act upon their understandings, that they might understand the Scriptures, where let it be marked, reader, that the teachings of Christ and His Spirit were never designed to take men off from reading and studying and searching the Scriptures, as some have vainly pretended. God never intended to abolish His Word by giving His Spirit, and they are true fanatics, as Calvin upon this place calls them, that think or pretend so. Hence we observe the opening of the mind and heart effectually to receive the truths of God is the peculiar prerogative and office of Jesus Christ. One of the great miseries under which fallen nature labors is spiritual blindness. Jesus Christ brings that eye salve which only can cure it. I counsel thee to buy of me eye salve that thou mayest see. Revelation 3, verse 18. Those to whom the Spirit hath applied it can say, as 1 John 5, verse 20, We know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding that we may know Him that is true. And we are in Him that is true even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. For the spiritual illumination of a soul it is not sufficient, says Reynolds, that the object be revealed, nor yet that man, the subject of this knowledge, have a due use of his own reason. But it is further necessary that the grace and special assistance of the Holy Spirit be superadded to open and mollify the heart and so give it a due taste and relish of the sweetness of spiritual truth. In explaining this part of Christ's prophetical office, I shall, as in the former, show what is included in the opening of their understanding and by what acts Christ performs it. Roman numeral 1. What is included in this act of Christ? 1. It implies the transcendent nature of spiritual things, far exceeding the highest flight and reach of natural reason. Jesus Christ must, by His Spirit, open the understandings of men or they can never comprehend such mysteries. Some men have strong natural parts and by improvement of them have become eagle-eyed in the mysteries of nature, who more acute than the heathen sages. Yet to them the gospel seems foolishness. 1 Corinthians 1.18 Austen confesses that before his conversion he often felt his spirit swell with offense and contempt of the gospel. In despising it, he said, I scorned to become a child again. Bradwardian professes that when he read Paul's epistles, he condemned them because he found not in them metaphysical subtleties. Surely it is possible a man may, with Vernerius, be able to dispute on every point of knowledge to unravel nature, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop on the wall, and yet be blind in the knowledge of Christ. Yet it is possible a man's understanding may be improved by the gospel to a great ability in the literal knowledge of it, so as to be able to expound the scriptures correctly and enlighten others by them. As we find, Matthew 7.22, that the scribes and Pharisees were well acquainted with the scriptures of the Old Testament, and yet notwithstanding, Christ truly calls them blind sides. Matthew 23.16 Till Christ opened the heart, we know nothing of Him or of His will as we ought to know it. So experimentally true is it that the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. Neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 1 Corinthians 2 verses 14 and 15 The spiritual man can judge and discern the carnal man, but the carnal man wants a faculty to judge of the spiritual man. As a man that carries a dark lantern can see another by its light, but the other cannot discern him. Such is the difference between persons whose hearts Christ hath or hath not opened. 2 Christ opening the understanding implies the insufficiency of all external means, however excellent they are in themselves, to operate savingly upon men, till Christ by His power opens the soul and so makes them effectual. What excellent preachers were Isaiah and Jeremiah to the Jews! The former spoke of Christ more like an evangelist of the new than a prophet of the Old Testament. The latter was a most convincing and hypothetical preacher, yet the one complains, Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? Isaiah 53 verse 1 The other laments the ill success of his ministry. The bellows are burnt, the lead is consumed of the fire, the founder melteth in vain. Jeremiah 6 29 Under the New Testament, what people ever enjoyed such choice helps and means as those that lived under the ministry of Christ and the apostles? Yet how many remain still in darkness? We have piped to you, but ye have not danced. We have mourned unto you, but ye have not lamented. Matthew 11 17 Neither the delightful airs of mercy nor the doleful tones of judgment could affect or move their hearts. And indeed, if ye search into the reason of it, ye will be satisfied that the choicest of means can do nothing upon the heart until Christ by his Spirit open it, because ordinances work not as natural causes do. For then the effect would always follow unless miraculously hindered, and it would be as wonderful that all who hear should not be converted, as that the three children should be in the fiery furnace so long, and yet not be burned. No, it works not as a natural, but as a moral cause, whose efficacy depends on the gracious concurrence of the Spirit. The wind bloweth where it listeth. John 3 verse 8 The ordinances are like the pool of Bethesda. John 5 verse 4 At a certain time an angel came down and troubled the waters, and then they had a healing virtue in them. So the Spirit comes down at certain times in the word and opens the heart, and then it becomes the power of God to salvation. So that when you see souls daily sitting under excellent means of grace and still remaining dead, you may say, as Martha did to Christ of her brother Lazarus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, they had not remained dead. If thou hadst been in this sermon, it had not been so ineffectual to them. Number 3 It implies the impotency of man, unaided, to open his own heart, and thereby make the word effectual to his own conversion and salvation. He that it first said, Let there be light, and it was so, must shine into our hearts, or there will never be savingly enlightened. 2 Corinthians 4 verses 4 and 6 Fallen man, so far from opening his own heart without aid from on high, cannot know the things of the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2.14 Believe, John 6.44 Obey, Romans 8.7 Do a good act, John 15.5 Speak a good word, Matthew 12.34 Or think a good thought, 2 Corinthians 3.5 Hence conversion is in Scripture called regeneration, John 3.3 A resurrection from the dead, Ephesians 2.5 A creation, Ephesians 2.10 A victory, 2 Corinthians 10.5 Number 4 Christ's opening the understanding imports his divine power, whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself. Who but God knows the heart, who but God can unlock and open it at pleasure. No mere creature, no, not the angels themselves, can command or open the heart. We may stand and knock at men's hearts till our own ache, but no opening till Christ come. He can fit a key to all the cross wards of the will, and with sweet efficacy open it, and that without any force or violence to it. Romans 2 In the next place, let us see by what acts Jesus Christ performs this work, and what way and method he takes to open the hearts of sinners. Number 1 He does so by his word. To this end was Paul commissioned and sent to preach the gospel, to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God. Acts 26.18 The Lord can, if he pleases, accomplish this immediately. But though he can do it, he will not do it ordinarily without means, because he will honor his own institutions. You may observe that when Lydia's heart was to be opened, there appeared unto Paul, a man of Macedonia, who prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia and help us. Acts 16.9 God will keep up his ordinances among men, and though he hath not bound himself, yet he hath bound us to them. Cornelius must send for Peter. God can make the earth produce corn, as it did at first, without cultivation and labor. But he that shall now expect it in the neglect of means may perish for want of bread. Number 2 But the ordinances in themselves cannot do it, and therefore Jesus Christ hath sent forth the Spirit, who is his vice-regent, to carry on this work in the hearts of his people. And when the Spirit comes down upon men in the administration of the ordinances, he effectually opens the heart to receive the Lord Jesus by the hearing of faith. He breaks sin upon the understanding and conscience by powerful convictions and compunctions, as those words, John 16, verse 8, import, He shall convince the world of sin, convinced by clear demonstration, such as in forces of sin, so that the soul cannot but yield it to be so. And yet the door of the heart is not opened till he has also put forth his power upon the will, and by a sweet and secret efficacy overcome all its reluctance, and the soul is made willing in the day of his power. When this is done, the heart is opened, saving light now shines in it, and the Spirit in the soul is a new light, in which things appear far otherwise than they did before. The names Christ and sin, the words heaven and hell, have another sound in that man's ears than formerly they had. When he comes to read the same Scriptures, which possibly he had read a hundred times before, he wonders he should be so blind as he was to overlook such great, weighty, and interesting things as he now beholds in them, and saith, Where were mine eyes, that I could never see these things before? It is a very affecting light, a light that hath heat and powerful influences with it, which makes deep impressions on the heart. Hence they whose eyes the great prophet opens are said to be brought out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2.9 The soul is greatly affected with what it sees. Did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us, and opened to us the Scriptures? And it is a growing light, like the light of the morning, which shines more and more unto the perfect day. Proverbs 4.18 When the Spirit first opens the understanding, he does not give it at once a full sight of all truth, or a full sense of the power, sweetness and goodness of any truth. But the soul in the use of means grows up to a greater clearness day by day. Its knowledge grows extensively in measure and intensively in power and efficacy. Thus the Lord Jesus by his Spirit opens the understanding. Inference No. 1 If it be the work and office of Jesus Christ to open the understandings of men, hence we infer the misery of those men whose understandings Jesus Christ has not opened, of whom we may say as Deuteronomy 29.4 To this day Christ hath not given them eyes to see. Natural blindness, whereby we are deprived of the light of this world, is sad, but spiritual blindness is much more so. See how dolefully their case is represented. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost, whose eyes the God of this world hath blinded, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 2 Corinthians 4.3-4 He means a total and final concealment of the saving power of the word from them. What is their condition? Truly no better than lost men. It is hid from them that are to perish, or be destroyed. More particularly, because the point is of deep concern, let us consider the judgment inflicted, spiritual blindness. A sore misery indeed. Not a universal ignorance of all truth. Oh no! In natural and moral truth they are oftentimes acute and sharp-sighted men. But in that part of knowledge which leads to eternal life, John 17 verse 2, they are utterly blind. As it is said of the Jews upon whom this misery lies, that blindness in part has happened to Israel. Again consider the subject of this judgment, the mind. If it fell upon the body, it would not be so considerable. It falls immediately upon the soul, the noblest part of man, and upon the mind, the intellectual, rational faculty, which is to the soul what the natural eye is to the body. Now the soul being ever active and restless, always working, and its leading directive power blind, judge what a sad and dangerous state such a soul is in. Just like a fiery, high-metalled horse whose eyes are out, furiously carrying his rider upon rocks, pits, and precipices. I remember Christosom speaking of the loss of a soul. Says, if a man lose an eye, ear, hand, or foot, there is another to supply its want. God has given us those members double, but he has not given us two souls, that if one be lost, yet the other may be saved. Surely it were better for thee, reader, to have every member of thy body made the subject of the most exquisite, wracking torment, than for spiritual blindness to befall thy soul. Moreover, consider that this judgment is unperceived by those on whom it lies. They know it not, more than a man knows that he is asleep. Indeed, it is the spirit of a deep sleep. Isaiah 29, verse 10. This renders their misery the more remedyless, because you say, We see, therefore your sin remaineth. John 9, 41. Once more, consider the tendency and effects of it. What does this tend to but eternal ruin? For hereby we are cut off from the only remedy. The soul that is so blinded can never see sin, nor a Savior. But like the Egyptians, during the palpable darkness, sits still, and moves not after its own recovery. And as ruin is that to which it tends, so in order thereto it renders all, the ordinances and duties under which the soul comes, altogether useless and ineffectual to its salvation. He comes to the word and sees others melted by it, but to him it signifies nothing. Did you but understand the misery of such a state, if Christ should say to you, as he did to the blind man, What wilt thou that I should do for thee? You would reply, as he did, Lord, that my eyes may be opened. Matthew 20, verses 32 and 33. Number 2. If Jesus Christ be the great prophet of the church, then surely he will take special care both of the church and the under-shepherds appointed by him to feed them. Else both the objects and instruments upon and by which he executes his office must fail, and consequently this glorious office be in vain. Hence he is said to walk among the golden candlesticks, Revelation 1, verse 13, and to hold the stars in his right hand, Revelation 2, verse 1. Jesus Christ instrumentally opens the understandings of men by the preaching of the gospel, and while there is an elect soul to be converted, or a convert to be further illuminated, means shall not fail by which to accomplish it. Number 3. Hence you that are yet in darkness may be directed to whom to apply yourselves for saving knowledge. It is Christ that hath the sovereign eyesalve that can cure your blindness. He only hath the key of the house of David. He openeth, and no man shutteth. O that I might persuade you to set yourselves in his way under the ordinances and cry to him, Lord, that my eyes may be opened. Three things are exceedingly encouraging for you to do so. God the Father hath put him into this office for the cure of such as you are. I will give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. Isaiah 49, verse 6. This may furnish you with an argument to plead for a cure. Why do you not go to God and say, Lord, didst thou give Jesus Christ a commission to open the eyes of the blind? Behold me, Lord, such in one am I, a poor, dark, ignorant soul. Didst thou give him to be thy salvation to the ends of the earth? Are no place nor people excluded from the benefit of that light? And shall I still remain in the shadow of death? O that unto me he might be a saving light also. It is encouraging to think that Jesus Christ hath actually opened the eyes of them that were as dark and ignorant as you are. He hath revealed to babes those things that have been hid from the wise and prudent. Matthew 11, verse 25. The law of the Lord is perfect, making wise the simple. Psalm 19, verse 7. And if you look among those whom Christ hath enlightened, you will not find many wise after the flesh, many mighty or noble, but the foolish, weak, base, and despised. These are they on whom he hath glorified the riches of his grace. 1 Corinthians 1, verses 26 and 27. And is it not yet further encouraging to you that hitherto he hath mercifully continued you under the means of light? This Reformation audio track is a production of Stillwater's Revival Books. SWRB makes thousands of classic Reformation resources available free and for sale in audio, video, and printed formats. Our many free resources, as well as our complete mail-order catalog containing thousands of classic and contemporary Puritan and Reform books, tapes, and videos at great discounts is on the web at www.swrb.com We can also be reached by email at swrb.com by phone at 780-450-3730 by fax at 780-468-1096 or by mail at 4710-37A Ave. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6L 3T5 You may also request a free printed catalog. And remember that John Calvin, in defending the Reformation's regulative principle of worship, or what is sometimes called the scriptural law of worship, commenting on the words of God, which I commanded them not, neither came into my heart, from his commentary on Jeremiah 731, writes, God here cuts off from men every occasion for making evasions, since he condemns by this one phrase, I have not commanded them, whatever the Jews devised. There is then no other argument needed to condemn superstitions than that they are not commanded by God. For when men allow themselves to worship God according to their own fancies, and attend not to his commands, they pervert true religion. And if this principle was adopted by the papists, all those fictitious modes of worship in which they absurdly exercise themselves would fall to the ground. It is indeed a horrible thing for the papists to seek to discharge their duties towards God by performing their own superstitions. There is an immense number of them, as it is well known, and as it manifestly appears. Were they to admit this principle, that we cannot rightly worship God except by obeying his word, they would be delivered from their deep abyss of error. The prophet's words, then, are very important, when he says that God had commanded no such thing, and that it never came to his mind. As though he had said that men assume too much wisdom when they devise what he never required, nay, what he never knew.