world. But if they speak not
"according to the law and to the testimony," saith Isaiah, "it is because
there is no light in them." Thus their new light is but an old darkness,
that could not endure even the darker light of the prophets. If they speak
not according to the word, it is because there is no spirit in them. Is it
not the Spirit the Comforter, which Christ promised to send to the
apostles, and all that should believe in his name through their word? For
that Spirit was a Spirit of truth, that should lead into all truth. And
lest men should father their own fancies and imaginations on the Spirit of
God, Christ adds, "he shall bring all things to your remembrance"--those
things that Christ hath spoken, and we have here written. The holy apostle
to the Colossians, chap. iii. when he reproves the works of the flesh, and
declares they had put them off, commends unto them, in opposition to
these, "let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching
one another in psalms and spiritual songs, with grace in your hearts to
the Lord," ver. 16,--the Spirit here, not casting out the word, but
bringing it in plentifully, and sweetly agreeing with it. The Spirit that
Christ sent, did not put men above ordinances, but above corruptions, and
the body of death in them. It is a poor and easy victory to subdue grace
and ordinances--every slave of the devil doth that. I fear, as men and
angels fell from their own dignity, by aspiring higher, so those that will
not be content with the estate of Christ and his apostles, but soar up in
a higher strain of spirit, and trample on that ministration as fleshly and
carnal,--I fear they fall from Jesus Christ, and come into greater
condemnation. It is true indeed, 2 Cor. iii. 6, "the letter killeth," that
is, the covenant of works preacheth now nothing but condemnation to men,
but the Spirit of the gospel giveth life, nay, even the gospel separated
from the Spirit of life in Jesus, is but a savour of death to souls. Shall
we therefore separate the Spirit from the gospel and word, because the
word alone cannot quicken us? David knew how to reconcile this,--"Quicken
thou me according to thy word," Psal. cxix. 25--"Thy Spirit is good, lead
me into the land of uprightness, quicken me, O Lord," Psal. cxliii. 10,
11. The word was his rule, and the Spirit applied his soul to the rule.
The word holds out the present pattern we should be conformed unto. Now if
there be no more, a man may