X. As our Lord Jefus Chrift was him- I mentioned citation, that it was not pertifelf the butt of many malicious reproaches nent, because it was a paffage cited out of that the wicked fpewed out, Matth. xii. 24. the Old Teftament, which to us under the and xxvii. 39. to 44. and was moft deeply New Teftament fhould have no weight; affected with the reproachful carriage of therefore he laboureth to remove this ob others, Luke xi. 41. 42. Matth xxiii. 37.;jection, and taketh occafion to fhew the fo he took a moft kindly heartfome lift of usefulness of the Old Testament fcriptures others lying under the guilt of reproaches, for us now who live under the gofpel; F, and other crying crimes; that he bore fays he, whatsoever things were written athem on his back, and, as it were, fled foretime, were written for our learning, &c. with them unto the wilderness, that they The Lord confulted our good and advantage might be remembred no more against them; in commiting these things which are regihe lifted them up, and carried them away, ftrated unto writing; and feeing the Lord by fatisfying juftice for them to the full; commited fuch things to writing for our thus the reproaches of fuch as reproached good, and particularly for our inftruction, God fell on him: He died even for fuch we may well make ufe of them for confinners. firming us anent the truth of fome useful and neceffary point, fuch as concerneth Chrift. Now, he pointeth forth two main comprehenfive ends of the Lord's giving us the Old Teftament fcriptures, (which agreeth unto the New Testament fcriptures alfo, as much, if not more;) and thereby fheweth their great usefulness. The first main end and advantage is, for our faith, information, and learning; the next is, for our chriftian carriage and deportment. Our life here is not a life of full enjoyment of the full crop, but a life of hope. Now, the fcriptures are good for both; both to help us to faith, by pointing forth the mind of God, and fo it is good for our learning or inftruction; and to help us to hope: And this it doth by helping us, 1. to patience, and 2. to comfort. Our life being a life of hope is accompanied with afflictions, and thefe occafion much forrow and grief, whereby our life of hope is mared; now the fcriptures lay out to us fuch grounds and examples, for stiring us up to patience and comfort, that thereby our life of hope is kept in; and all this is had through the doctrine of the fcrip. tures: That we through patience and comfort of the fcriptures might have hope. XI. Chrift Jefus his laying down his life chearfully and willingly, even for fuch finners as were guilty of reproaching his God and Father, and himself who was God equal with the Father, fpeaks out much of his wonderful condefcenfion, and his denying of himfelf; and doth abundantly fhew how he did not pleafe himself; for the apostle proves he did not please himfelf, because the reproaches of them that reproached God fell on him. XII. Chrift's fo compaffionating his very enemies, and enemies reproaching the God of heaven, as to bear and take a kindly lift of their tranfgreflions, and free them from the weight and guilt of them before God, fhould ftrongly engage us to bear with the infirmities of our weak brethren, and tenderly to deal with them; for thus he preffeth them to bear with the infirmities of the weak, because it is written of Chrift, The reproaches of fuch as reproach ed God fell on him. VERSE 4. For whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning; that we through patience and comfort of the fcriptures might have hope. B OBSERVATIONS. Ecaufe it might have been objected I. As in citing of fcripture we ought to against his making ufe of the fore-cite fuch as are pertinent, fo fhould we la bour bour to convince our hearers both of the pertinence and of the binding force of that fcripture which we make use of, that the deceitful heart may find no way of efcaping, but may be forced to fubmit unto the clear light of truth: for Paul, after his citing of that paffage out of the Old Teftament, to thew its pertinence and force, addeth, For whatfoever things were written aforetime, &c. II. Howbeit the Lord hath thought fit to augment the canon to us who live under the gospel, and enlarge the rule, for our further clearing; yet we should not lay afide the study of the Old Teftament fcriptures, feeing they are useful for the fame ends that the whole fcriptures are given for, 2 Tim. iii. 16. 17. and particularly able to clear and confirm us anent New Teftament truths, and anent the and anent the Meffias; for whatfoever was written aforetime, was written for our learning. III. Tho' there was a time wherein the Lord was pleased to communicate his mind unto his people by dreams, vifions, and more immediate intercourfe; yet he thought it fit at length, for the greater fecurity of his people against temptations, to commit his mind to writing, and fo give them a law among their hands, whereby they may always have occafion to acquaint themfelves with the mind of God, writing fomething of it with his own hand, Exod. xxxii. 16. and xxxiv. 4. Deut. x. 4. calling and acting others for that work, 2 Pet. i. 20. 2 Tim, iii, 16.: Whatsoever was written aforetime, &c. IV. Not only is the written will of God ufeful and neceffary for new beginners in the way of Chriftianity, but even for the ableft Christian that steps, fo as none needs be fo mad as to imagine themfelves above its teaching; for the apostle reckoneth in himself among fuch for whofe inftruction and learning the scriptures are useful, and is fpeaking to the ableft and ftrongeft Christians in Rome: Whatfoever was written aforetime, was written for our learning. V. As all of us have need to be instructed in the ways of God, being moft ignorant by nature, and the best of us knowing but in part, 1 Cor. xiii. 9.; fo all the knowledge of God which we should study for, and endeavour after, fhould be drawn out of the rich mine of the word; feeing for this end it is that God hath given us fuch a standing rule, and for this end it fhould be daily fearched into: Whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning. VI. This canon is perfect and complete in all its parts, containing all things neceffary for us unto falvation, and every truth that is neceffary for us to know that we may reach life eternal, and fo able to make the man of God perfect, 2 Tim. iii. 17. ; it was written for our learning, and fo able to make us perfect in learning and underftanding, John xx. 31. and v. 39. Ifa. viii. 20. Pfalm xix. 8. 9. and fo nothing ought to be added to it, nor taken away from it, Rev. xxii. 18. 19. Deut. iv. 2. VII. By this ftanding rule ought we to try all the doctrines of men, and reject whatever is not confonant thereunto; for it was written to the end that we should learn and be inftructed in the truths of God, and so it is only able to acquaint us favingly with the mind of God; and whatfoever is contrary thereunto cannot be the mind of God, and fo fhould be laid aside by us: It is written for our learning. VII. As the written word of God is able to acquaint us with all things neceffary to be believed, and fo to inform our judg ments perfectly in the matters of faith; fo is it able to inftruct us in all things neceffary for a chriftian life, and to teach us completely how we shall walk in our chriftian converfe, fo as hope might be kept up, and we might not lofe a fight of heaven: Whatfoever things were written a foretime, were written that we might have hope." 1961 IX. All our study of, and infight in the fcriptures of God, fhould tend to practice, 4 A 2 and and to the bettering of us in our christian life of hope; their best days are but com. X. As the life of believers in this fide of time, is a life filled with troubles and afflictions of all kinds, fo as they are called to keep the grace of patience conftantly in exercife; fo hath God provided a mean whereby the hearts of his own may be keeped up from fainting, and has laid down fo many notable grounds in the fcriptures for bearing up the head of his exercifed people; fo that it is the ignorance, and not studying and right ufe-making of his word, where the outgate from, and the advantages which are to be had by the crofs, are fully laid out, which maketh his people droop fo fore under the load: There is here mention made of the patience of the fcriptures; through patience of the fcriptures. - XI. As forrow and fighing doth ordinarily attend an afflicted condition, and the Lord Knoweth that his people are oftentimes difcouraged, and ready to fit down in forrow, needing much confolation; fo hath he, in his wonderful goodness, provided a bundle of cordials, and hath put them all in a box, and put the box in their hands, that they may fuck out confolation from thence; and the not improving of this ftore-house of comfort maketh the difcouragements of his people grow daily Through patience and comfort of the fcrip tures. : XII. Notwithstanding of all the enjoyments, which God's people now and then win to here away, yet it is but as arles, and the firft-fruits unto the full crop that is coming; for all they get here, they muft live still in hope, and all their life is but XIII. The Lord faw that there would many clouds arife and darken our eyes, and hinder our fight of life and of the crown, and fo mar our hope, and fill us with quef tions, doubts, and perplexities anent our interest in life, and right to glory; and therefore, out of his fpecial goodnels, hath he provided a written word, unfolding the promises and faithfulness of God, as a fure and fettled ground for hope to ftay on: That we through comfort of the fcriptures might have hope. XIV. Where patience is exercifed upon fcripture grounds, in all afflictions fpiritual and temporal, and the foul comforted with a fight of the promises, and other grounds of confolation held forth in the word, there the life of hope will be kept in, and a foul will be helped to walk christianly in hope; and the hope that is not flowing from fcripture this way, and founded on faith in the word, is but a delufion and a dream: Whatfoever was written aforetime, was written for our learning; that we through patience and comfort of the friptures. might have hope. and oneness of judgment, as that which would help them to bear with, and heartily embrace one another, and banish away all ground and occafion of ftrife and contention. And he feteth down the end or advantage of this excellent favour, verfe 6. And this prayer of his he handfomely kniteth with his former purpofe, where he was fpeaking of the ufefulness of the written word of God for patience and comfort; now he leads them beyond the fcriptures for these things, and fo teacheth them to look upon the fcriptures but as a mean, and to look to God as the author; therefore he fays, Now the God of patience and confolation, that God that works patience and comfort in folk by the fcriptures, grant that you be like-minded, give you this precious gift of unanimity, and oneness of judgment: according to Chrift Fefus; I would not have you labouring for unanimity in a wrong caufe, or in an error, or for a wrong end, but in truth, as members of one head, Chrift, in fincerity, in a christian manner, fo as becometh Chriftians, minding to pleafe Chrift: Then, he addeth the end, That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, &c. that ye may be in a capacity to join together with heart and tongue to fing the praffes of God; which is amplified by this, that he is the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift. OBSERVATIONS. I. It is not enough for ministers, to be preffing points of duty upon people; but moreover, knowing how little effectual all their planting and watering will be, without the increase be given of God, 1 Cor. iii. 7. they must be wrestling with God, for the dew of his bleffing; therefore he fends up this prayer to God, Now the God of patience and of confolation, grant, &c. II. It is commendable in all, to be fo going out their callings, in a world, and efpecially, in minifters, to be fo discharg❘ ing their duty in the miniftry, particularly in preaching, and unfolding the mind of III. Tho' we be allowed to use the means, which God hath allowed us to make ufe of, for patience and confolation, o any other gift or bleffing; yet we must not relt upon the means, but muft look over thefe to God, the only author of every good gift and donation, and thence only expect the bleffing; and yet withal we muft not lay afide the ufe of means altogether as needlefs, but both must be joined together, the ufing of the means, and resting on Jehovah for the bleffing: He spoke before of the fcriptures as a mean to patience and confolation, faying, patience and comfort of the fcriptures; and now, he points them to the principal caufe, saying, The God of patience and confolation. IV. Howbeit men may win to a needforced patience, which looks rather like ftupidity and fenfelefsnefs under an affliction, than true patience; yet, none can win to that true christian, faving fort of patience, but these upon whom God is pleafed to bestow it; and this patience is a fpecial gift of God, whence he is called, The God of patience: V. The right fort of comfort, and heart rejoicing, is that which is wrought in the foul, by the hand of God, and from that airth it cometh, and from none lower; it is God's prerogative to speak comfort to the fad and troubled foul; he is the God of comfort, or confolation. See 2 Cor. i. 3.4.. VI. Unity of judgment and affection, at all times, but especially in a time of abounding offences and divifions, thro' diverfity of judgment, is lovely and most defirable; and as minifters should endeavour all that lieth in their power, to unite the hearts of diffenters among the flock; fo fhouldi VII. It is not enough that we labour for unity of judgment, but we fhould alfo endeavour to have this unity and concord runing in a right channel; this urity fhould be in gofpel truth, in fincerity and truth, and fought for in a christian manner, propofing Christ as our pattern and example, and looking to him as our common head, and on it as a piece of honour to our head Jefus, and as only becoming the members of fuch a body whereof Chrift is head: It must be according to Christ. VIII. Tho' many means may be effayed to bring fuch as are of different judgments to an harmonious concord, and many motives used to prefs them to it, and much pains taken for the effectuating of it; yet all will be in vain, if God put not to his hand: It is a work of his right hand, who hath the hearts and judgments of people in his own hand; for Paul fends up his prayer to God for this bleffing of being of one mind: The God of patience grant that ye be like-minded. IX. As God is most glorious and excellent in himself, fo ought he to be extolled, and proclaimed as glorious and matchlefs, by all his children, tho' he need not their proclamation to fet him forth, nor will any increase of glory arrive to him thereby; yet it is their duty, to be trumpeters of his praifes: That we might glorify God. See Pfal. xxvii. 23. and I. 15. Ifa. xxiv. 15. 1 Cor. vi. 20. 1 Pet. iv, 16. henfions of his greatnefs and tranfcendent excellency, when they are about to extol and glorify this great God: That with one heart and mouth ye may glorify God, &c. XI. As it is the duty of Christians to be magnifying the Lord apart, fo it is their duty to be doing it jointly with others, in a harmonious melodious manner, finging forth the praifes of him that liveth for ever; this is the end, why he wisheth fo earnestly for unity among them, viz. That with one heart and mouth they might glorify God. XII. Where there is diverfity of judgment in things practicable, and debates arifing thereupon hotly profecuted, it much mars and obftructs that joint harmonious concuring in the praifes of God that is called for, and maketh a foul difcord, maring the beauty of that excellent and neceffary fervice; for where there is not one mind, they cannot with one heart and mouth glorify God: that they might thus harmoniously glorify God, he prayeth that God would grant, that they might be of one mind. XIII. So lovely and defirable, should the exercife of harmonious praifing and extoling of God be unto believers, that to the end this might be attained, they fhould feriously defire, earneftly endeavour after, and heartily intreat God for unity and concord; this moved Paul to defire and beg fo earnestly at the hand of God, that they might be of a like mind, viz. That they might glorify God with one heart and mouth. XIV. In our worshiping and glorifying of God we fhould labour to take up this God, the object of our worship, aright, and look upon him, 1. As one God in effence, in more perfons, begeting by eternal generation, the Son, having the fame effence with the Father. 2. As the fountain, principal cause and author of our falvation, being the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, commiffionating him for the work, and fending him forth as Prophet, Prieft and King. And, 3. As one who must be ap proached |