SCRIPTURE LIGHT THE MOST

SURE LIGHT.

SERMON I.

ye do well

We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts."-2 PETER 1. 19.

In these words, ye have an exhortation to a great duty, namely, attention, or taking heed to the word of God in dark and dangerous times and places. The duty is commanded, and commended: "Ye do well that ye take heed," kaλw Tod, ye do well, or beautifully; this is your christian beauty and comeliness in the eyes of God. Now this duty is urged and amplified; urged by divers arguments: some taken from the excellency of the word itself. First, It is Moyoc pоÓητкoc, a word of prophecy, or a prophetical word, written by divine inspiration; the same that is spoken of in verse 20, called prophecy of Scripture. Secondly, It is Moyos BeßauτEpos, a more sure word. Some think the comparative is put for the superlative, as Acts xxv. 10, ws xl av kalλiov ettyivwokɛç, as thou very well, or best knowest: but I take it rather to be meant comparatively; for the word of God written, is surer than that voice which they heard in the mount, whereof he spake in the former verse. More sure is the word written, than that voice of revelation; not ratione veritatis, not in regard of the truth uttered, for that voice was as true as any word in the Scripture; but more sure, ratione manifestationis, more certain, settled and established. Secondly, Some arguments are taken from the usefulness of the word to us; for it is as a light shining in a dark place, and therefore it is good for us to take heed thereunto. But how long must we take heed to it? Even as long as we live, and whilst we are in the dark especially, even until the day dawn, and the sun shine in his full strength and brightness in your hearts; which is the second thing whereby this duty is amplified.

Some think that it is to be understood of a supernatural

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revelation and light which God doth set up in the soul, which when a man hath obtained, then he is to take heed to the written word no longer; but that cannot be, 1. Because the apostle doth here prefer the written word before a revelation. from heaven now if he do prefer it before a divine revelation, then it is not to give place to the dawning of some special light and revelation in the heart; for then he should destroy in the latter part of the verse, what he had affirmed and built up in the former part. 2. One Scripture is to be explained by another; but Isa. viii. 20, the Lord saith, "To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light (or morning) in them:" if therefore any man do pretend light, or the shining of the morning star in his soul, so as to lay by the word written, that light is no true light; and so this interpretation can be no true interpretation of these words. 3. This interpretation doth suppose, that the morning star did not shine in the apostles' time, and that then the apostles, with the saints of those times, had not this light within them; for the apostle saith, "We have a more sure word, and ye do well that ye take heed thereunto." All the saints and people of God, then, did walk by, and take heed unto the written word; yet they had light within them. This interpretation, therefore, is contrary to the sense of the apostle here.

Others think that these words are spoken to the believing Jews, in reference to the prophets of the Old Testament; as if the apostle should say, The glorious light of the gospel hath not yet fully conquered your hearts; and therefore until your gospel light be more clear, you shall do well to take heed to the prophets of the Old Testament, who do all testify with us of Christ. But this will seem to argue, that when gospel light doth more fully rise upon us, then we may lay by the prophets of the Old Testament.

Others think that this day dawning, and the day star arising, doth note that full and clear vision of God and Christ which is yet to come. Now, because the whole earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, in the latter days, in respect to which time it is promised, Rev. ii. 28, "I will give him the morning star;" and in chap. xxii. 16, Christ doth appear to the saints under that title, saying, "I am the bright and morning star."

Therefore it is conceived by some, that the apostle here doth relate to that time, and so the sense of the words should be this: Though now ye be in the dark, yet ye have the light of the Scripture to walk by; whereto ye shall do well that ye take heed, until ye be brought to, and under a more glorious and clear dispensation. But the word used for the morning star, Rev. ii. 22, is not the same that is here used, and translated the day star.

The Scripture shall not be out of date in the days of those glorious times; for the walls of that city, the new Jerusalem, which shall come down from heaven, hath twelve foundations, and in them, the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Rev. xxi. 14.

This interpretation doth suppose that the morning star, or the sun, for so the word may be rendered, as Suidas saith, Φωσφορος ο το φως ανατέλλων, ο ηλιος, doth not shine in our hearts now, and that it hath not shined already, whereas it is said, Luke i. concerning Christ's first coming, verse 78, "Whereby the Day-spring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness," &c. And the apostle Paul saith, The day is far spent; and ye are the children of light and of the day. Surely, therefore, the day had then dawned in those times; and therefore these words cannot only relate to the glorious times that are yet to come.

Others say these words do relate unto heavenly glory; and so the meaning of the words should be, That we are to take heed unto the written word, until we come into heaven; which thing is true: but where do we find in Scripture, that the glory of heaven is said thus to dawn, or shine in our hearts; or that Christ is said thus to shine in our hearts, in regard of heavenly glory?

Therefore I think the word until, is not to be taken exclusively, but as in other scriptures; Psalm cx. "Sit thou on my right-hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." Shall Christ sit on God's right-hand no longer? Shall he not sit there for ever? Yea, he shall sit there for ever, after all enemies are subdued. But the words shew what Christ shall enjoy and do whilst the enemies rage; he shall sit in power, judging, on the right-hand of God; not that he shall not sit there when they are subdued. So here," Ye do well (saith the apostle) that ye take heed to the word, until the

day dawn, and the day star arise, and shine in your hearts;" that is, until ye have more clear light; not that ye lay by the word then, but because ye are now in the dark, I will tell you, says the apostle, what ye shall do whilst ye are in the dark, even take heed to the word written. And so the doctrine from the whole verse is this:

Scripture light is our great and most sure light, whereunto we shall do well that we take heed, and that especially in our dark times and places.

For the opening and prosecuting whereof, four things will fall under your consideration:

First, That a good man may be in the dark, in a dark place, state and condition.

Secondly, Though he be in the dark, yet God hath not left him without Scripture light to walk by.

Thirdly, This Scripture light is the most excellent, safe and sure light.

Fourthly, It is the duty of all the saints to take heed thereunto, and to walk thereby, and that especially in their dark times and places.

First, It is possible that a good man may be in the dark, on a dark ground, and in a dark condition; yea, possibly a man may truly fear the Lord, yet he may walk in the dark, and see no light of comfort. Isa. 1. 10. Doth not the church complain in the Lamentations, saying, "He hath set me in dark places?" chap. iii. 6. Was not David in the dark, when he said, "The Lord will lighten my darkness?" 2 Sam. xxii. 29. Was not Job in the dark, when he said, "The Lord hath set darkness in my paths," Job xix. 8; and when he said, "I waited for light, and there came darkness?" chap. xxx. 26. And was not Heman in the dark, when he said, "Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit in darkness?" Ps. lxxxviii.6. Yea, was not Christ himself in the dark, when the hour and power of darkness came upon him? Luke xxii. 53. Surely, therefore, it is possible that a good man may be in the dark, upon dark ground, and in a dark condition; and it must needs be so: for,

A good man may live and dwell in a place or town where no means of grace are; in a poor, dark and ignorant corner of the world. Did not Job dwell in the land of Uz?

And

when David thirsted after ordinances, saying, "My soul