November 11

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. - 2 Timothy 3:16.

WHAT a proof is this comprehensiveness, and adaptedness of Scripture, of the divinity of the Bible itself. What other book of the same size could bear, from age to age, to have thousands of persons always examining it, always discussing it, and yet always finding something fresh and suitable, and never exhausted. Then we may observe the diversity of the topics, and the comparative superiority and importance of some truths over others.

Every thing equally true is not equally important; there are essential truths, and there are circumstantial truths; and all these things are made plain in proportion as they are important. They are all available, and all “were written aforetime for our learning, that we, through faith and comfort of the Scripture, might have hope.” As therefore nothing is useless, the separation or concealment, or neglect of any part of it must be to hinder a benefit and a blessing.

Partial knowledge will sometimes be found to injure more than entire ignorance. Indeed, what in fact is all error but some truth pushed too far, or not far enough; some truth taken out of its place; or some truth taken alone, without other truths, which would qualify and explain it, and render it not only safe but useful. The Apostle therefore says to the Ephesians that the ministry of the word is intended for the “perfecting of the saints and the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come to the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the son of God unto the perfect man” (that is in knowledge), “unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” And then, as a consequence of it, he says, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine;” or, as he tells the Hebrews, “with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace;” that is, with the truths of the gospel.

And as these partialities and preferences injure the gospel, so they mar its beauty. This arises from the connection and harmony of the whole. “As to cloth,” says Lord Bacon, “a small pattern may enable us to judge fairly and safely of the whole piece; but the Bible is like a fine arras tapestry, which, though a remnant, may assure us of the colours and the richness of the stuff; yet the hangings never appear to their true advantage but when displayed in their full dimensions, and seen together.” So, however mysterious to our reason, however mortifying to the pride of our hearts, however it may reprove or censure us, we should open our bosoms to the admission of the admonitions, reproofs, and instructions of the Holy Scriptures. And so in hearing the word preached.

We are not to hang down our heads, and go away dissatisfied, because we have not been comforted. Is comfort everything we want in the Divine life? We are not to say, I have had no new information. Is knowledge all we want? If the subject be not so adapted to our case, it may be the very subject another wants; if we are familiar with it, another in the assembly may never have heard it before. If we retain the truth, and repetition be irksome, we should remember there are others who are forgetful, and who need to have their minds stirred up by way of remembrance.

And we should therefore, instead of wishing to limit the preacher, encourage him to go through the land of revelation in the length and breadth of it; encourage him not only to plant, but water; not only to lay the foundation, but to build.