A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm

4. There are certain Means whereby the Revelation and discovery of this Mystery is made unto the souls of men. By these they do obtain it, or they obtain it not. The mystery it self was a secret, hidden in the Counsel of God from Eternity; ⟨p. 235⟩nor was there any way whereby it might be revealed, but by the Son of God. And that is done in the Word of the Gospel. If then you say you know it; Let us enquire how you came so to do? And by what means it hath been declared unto you? Hath this been done by a Word of Truth? by the Promise of the Gospel? Was it by preaching of the Word unto you, or by reading of it, or meditating upon it? Or did you receive it from and by some seasonable word, of, or from the Scriptures spoken unto you? Or hath it insensibly gotten ground upon your hearts and minds, upon the strivings and conflicts of your souls about sin, from the truth wherein you had been instructed in General? Or by what other ways or means have you come to that acquaintance with it, whereof you boast? You can tell how you came by your wealth, your Gold, and Silver; you know how you became learned, or obtained the knowledge of the mystery of your trade, who taught you in it, and how you came by it. There is not any thing wherein you are concerned, but you can answer these Enquiries in reference unto it. Think it then no great matter, if you are put to answer this Question also; by what way or means came you to the knowledge of forgiveness which you boast of; Was it by any of those before mentioned, or some other? if you cannot answer distinctly to these things, only you say, you have heard it, and believed it ever since you can remember, so those said that went before you, so they say with whom you do converse; you never met with any one that called it into question, nor heard of any, unless it were one or two despairing wretches; it will be justly questioned, whether you have any portion in this matter or no. If uncertain rumours, reports, general notions, lye at the bottom of your persuasion, do not suppose that you have any Communion with Christ therein.

4. There are certain Means whereby the Revelation and discovery of this Mysterie is made unto the souls of men. By these they do obtain it, or they obtain it not. The mysterie it self was a secret, hidden in the Counsel of God from Eternity; ⟨p. 235⟩nor was there any way whereby it might be revealed, but by the Son of God. And that is done in the Word of the Gospel. If then you say you know it; Let us enquire how you came so to do? And by what means it hath been declared unto you? Hath this been done by a Word of Truth? by the Promise of the Gospel? Was it by preaching of the Word unto you, or by reading of it, or meditating upon it? Or did you receive it from and by some seasonable word, of, or from the Scriptures spoken unto you? Or hath it insensibly gotten ground upon your hearts and minds, upon the strivings and conflicts of your souls about sin, from the truth wherein you had been instructed in General? Or by what other wayes or means have you come to that acquaintance with it, whereof you boast? You can tell how you came by your wealth, your Gold, and Silver; you know how you became learned, or obtained the knowledge of the mysterie of your trade, who taught you in it, and how you came by it. There is not any thing wherein you are concerned, but you can answer these Enquiries in reference unto it. Think it then no great matter, if you are put to answer this Question also; by what way or means came you to the knowledge of forgiveness which you boast of; Was it by any of those before mentioned, or some other? if you cannot answer distinctly to these things, only you say, you have heard it, and believed it ever since you can remember, so those said that went before you, so they say with whom you do converse; you never met with any one that called it into question, nor heard of any, unless it were one or two despairing wretches; it will be justly questioned, whether you have any portion in this matter or no. If uncertain rumours, reports, general notions, lye at the bottom of your perswasion, do not suppose that you have any Communion with Christ therein.