the Will of God for our Salvation, which Chrift reveals, is meant, the whole Will of God in all Things concerning our Edification and Salvation : John xv. 15. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the fervant knoweth not what his lord doth : but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you. Acts xx. 32. And now, brethren, " I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are fanctified.' John xx. 31. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jefus is the Chrift, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his name.' We could never of ourselves have discovered the Will of God for our Salvation: John i. 18. No man hath feen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bofom of the Father, he hath ' declared him.' Chap. iii. 13. 'And no man hath afcended up to heaven, but he that came down 'from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.' But our Redeemer was fit to reveal it to us, in that, as he was God, he was from Eter nity privy to the whole Counfel of God, and as he was Man, the Spirit, who fearcheth the deep Things of God, refted upon him: John i. 18. above cited. I. xi. 2. And the fpirit of the Lord ⚫ fhall rest upon him, the fpirit of wifdom and understanding, the fpirit of counsel and might, the fpirit of knowledge, and of the fear of the Lord.' I Cor. ii. 10. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.' He reveals to us the Will of God for our Salvation, externally

externally by his Word, and internally by his Spirit: John xx. 31. But thefe are written, that ye might believe that Jefus is the Chrift, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his name.' Chap. xiv. 26. But the "Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the 'Father will fend in my name, he fhall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, 'whatsoever I have faid unto you.' And by his fo executing his prophetical Office, he redeems or refcues us from the Power of fpiritual Darkness, or Ignorance: Col. i. 13. [The Father] hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath trans'lated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.' Alts xxvi. 18. To open their eyes, and to turn them 'from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgivenefs of fins, and inheritance among them which " are fanctified by faith that is in me.' So Chrift hath redeemed none by Power, but those who are rescued from the Power of their natural Darkness: Matth. iv. 16. The people which fat in darkness, 'faw great light and to them which fat in the region and fhadow of death, light is fprung up.' Eph. v. 8. For ye were fometimes darkness, but 6. now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children 'of light.' His Word is the Scripture of the Old and New Teftament: Col. iii. 16. Let the word of Chrift dwell in you richly in all wifdom; 'teaching and admonishing one another in pfalms, and hymns, and fpiritual fongs, finging with " grace in your hearts to the Lord.' And the Scripture is his Word, in that it was written by the Infpiration of his Spirit: 2 Tim. iii. 16. All ⚫ fcripture is given by infpiration of God.' 1 Pet.

:

i. 11.

Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Chrift which was in them did fignify, when it teftified beforehand the fufferings

of Chrift, and the glory that fhould follow.' He reveals to us the Will of God for our Salvation, externally by the Word; giving us the Scripture, wherein we may fee it, and the Preaching of the Word, wherein we may hear it: John v. 39. Search the fcriptures, for in them ye think ye "have eternal life, and they are they which teftify of me.' Rom. x. 18. But I fay, Have they not heard? Yes, verily, their found went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.' We ought then to look upon our having of the Bible among us, and the Preaching of the Word to us, by his Servants, as Christ's executing his prophetical Office among us: Heb. xii. 25. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh: For if they escaped not who refused him that fpake on earth, much more shall not we efcape, if we turn away from him that speaketh 'from heaven.' Col. iii. 16. forecited. Luke x. 16. He that heareth you, heareth me: and he that defpifeth you, defpifeth me: and he that de. fpifeth me, despiseth him that sent me.' But the external Revelation of the Will of God for our Salvation, by the Word, is not fufficient to redeem or refcue us from the Power of our fpiritual Darkness: Deut. xxix. 4. The Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to fee, and ears to hear unto this day.' 2 Cor. ii. 16. To the one we are the favour of death unto death; and to the other, the favour of life unto life: and who is fufficient for these things?" Chap. iii. 6. The letter killeth, but the spirit gi

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• veth

veth life.' Becaufe, when it is externally revealed, we cannot favingly know it, without an internal Illumination: 1 Cor. ii. 14. But the na⚫tural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit ' of God; for they are foolishness unto him: nei<ther can he know them, because they are fpiri'tually difcerned.' Acts xxvi, 18. forecited. Chrift then doth redeem or rescue us from the Power of our spiritual-Darkness, by joining an internal Revelation by his Spirit, with the external Revelation by his Word: 1 Cor. ii. 10. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit fearcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.' verf. 12. Now we have received, not the fpirit of the world, but the Spi'rit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.' 2 Cor. iii. 6. The letter killeth, but the fpirit giveth life.' verf. 17. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is • liberty.?

6

We are to receive Chrift as our Prophet, renouncing our own Wisdom, and wholly giving up ourfelves to him, to be taught in all Things, by his Word and Spirit: Matth. xvi. 24. Then faid Jefus ' unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, 'let him deny himself, and take up his crofs, and follow me.' Acts iii. 22. For Mofes truly faid unto the fathers, A prophet fhall the Lord your God raise up unto you, of your brethren, me; him fhall ye hear in all things 'whatfoever he fhall fay unto you.' We are to make use of him, as our Prophet, daily applying and trufting to him, for Light, Inftruction, and Direction, in all Things: Pfal. cxix. 18, Open

thou

thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.' Prov. iii. 5. 6. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto ⚫ thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.'

Queft. 25. How doth Chrift execute the Office of a Prieft?

Anf. Chrift executeth the Office of a Priest, in his once offering up of himself a Sacrifice, to fatisfy Divine Juftice, and reconcile us to God; and in making continual Interceffion for us.

EXPLICATION.

The Office of Priests was to offer Sacrifice, and pray, for the People: Heb. v. 1. For every high priest taken from among men, is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may ' offer both gifts and facrifices for fins. Num. vi. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. And the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his fons, faying, On this wife ye shall bless the chil'dren of Ifrael, faying unto them, The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; the Lord make his face 'fhine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.' Compared with Mal. i. 9. And now, I pray you, befeech God that he will 'be gracious unto us; this hath been by your means will he regard your persons ? faith the 'Lord of hofts.' And the Lord Jefus Chrift, as

cur