3. It is said to be written, that it might be as a thing legible to God, to others, and to our selves. 1. To God, he writes it that he may read it, and take notice of it; he exceedingly delights himself in the graces of his own Spirit: and therefore the Spouse after this writing, after the planting of his grace in her,1 she desires him to come into his Garden, and eat his pleasant Fruits; q. d. Come, read what thou hast written; come, and delight thy self in the graces of thy own Spirit: the only delight that God has in the world is in his Garden, a gracious soul; and that he might more delight in it, he makes it fruitful: and those fruits are precious fruits; as growing from plants set by his own Hand, relishing of his own Spirit, and so fitted for his own taste. 2. The Law is written that it might be legible to others. So Paul tells the Corinthians, 2You are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ: How manifestly declared? why, known and read of all Men. As we are able to read Letters graven in stone, so may others read and see the fruits and effects of this Law written in our Hearts. And good reason; for wheresoever God works the principles of grace within, it cannot but show it self in the outward life and conversation: it is Gods promise, first I will put my Spirit within them, 3and then I will cause them to walk in my statutes; and it is Gods truth, Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. What the mind thinketh, the hand worketh. 3. The Law is written that it may be legible to our selves; a gracious heart is privy to its own grace and sincerity, when it is in a right temper: if others may read it by its fruits, How much more we our selves, who both see the fruits, and feel that habitual disposition infused into us? Nor is this without its blessed use; for by this means we come to have a comfortable evidence both of Gods Love to us, and of our Love to God. You see now what we mean by this writing of the Law within us.
3. It is said to be written, that it might be as a thing legible to God, to others, and to our selves. 1. To God, he writes it that he may read it, and take notice of it; he exceedingly delights himself in the graces of his own Spirit: and therefore the Spouse after this writing, after the planting of his grace in her,1 she desires him to come into his Garden, and eat his pleasant Fruits; q. d. Come, read what thou hast written; come, and delight thy self in the graces of thy own Spirit: the only delight that God has in the world is in his Garden, a gracious soul; and that he might more delight in it, he makes it fruitful: and those fruits are precious fruits; as growing from plants set by his own Hand, relishing of his own Spirit, and so fitted for his own taste. 2. The Law is written that it might be legible to others. So Paul tells the Corinthians, 2You are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ: How manifestly declared? why, known and read of all Men. As we are able to read Letters graven in stone, so may others read and see the fruits and effects of this Law written in our Hearts. And good reason; for wheresoever God works the principles of grace within, it cannot but shew it self in the outward life and conversation: it is Gods promise, first I will put my Spirit within them, 3and then I will cause them to walk in my statutes; and it is Gods truth, Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. What the mind thinketh, the hand worketh. 3. The Law is written that it may be legible to our selves; a gracious heart is privy to its own grace and sincerity, when it is in a right temper: if others may read it by its fruits, How much more we our selves, who both see the fruits, and feel that habitual disposition infused into us? Nor is this without its blessed use; for by this means we come to have a comfortable evidence both of Gods Love to us, and of our Love to God. You see now what we mean by this writing of the Law within us.
- 1Cant. 4.6.
- 22 Cor. 3.2, 3.
- 3Ezek. 36.27. Mat. 12.34.
