September 9

And unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding.—Colossians 2:2.

To hearts comforted, and knit together in love, the apostle adds as a third fruit of continuance in the truth of the gospel, the riches of the full assurance of understanding. For not only will they become more firmly bound together in love, but they will more abundantly increase in faith itself: for their faith will be triply augmented; in richness, in abundance, in intelligence or clear-sightedness. Riches refers to the matter embraced by faith; full assurance and intelligence, to the mode of embracing it.

First; The faith of Christians is augmented in richness when they who learnt only the principles and elements, as it were, of salvation, God blessing, and the Divine Spirit enlightening their minds more and more, proceed to farther attainments, and deduce from these principles many other particular propositions, and thus are enriched in a manner with new furniture in the knowledge of religion. For, as in other sciences, the principles are few, but in these few, innumerable conclusions lie virtually hid, which afterwards are drawn out by the intellect when it is employed on these principles; so in this science of Theology, some few principles, absolutely necessary to be known, and presented to tender minds just approaching the Christian faith; and afterwards a rich treasury of sacred knowledge is collected for every purpose of salvation, by assiduous meditation, and by hearing, and chiefly by internal operation and teaching of the Spirit. They, therefore, who constantly persevere in the doctrine of the gospel, thence obtain all riches. For "the Lord, who hath laid the foundation of this spiritual edifice, in his mercy daily builds it up until he finishes it." He who hath begun a good work in you will perform it. Hence spring forth various doctrines.

1. The laity themselves should not be content with an elementary knowledge in religious matters, but ought to press forward from easy principles to a particular and richer knowledge of those things which have more difficult explications and require a deeper research. Thus the apostle to the Hebrews, says, Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.

2. When these riches are sought, it is certain that the means also necessary to their attainment should be sought out. He who would have a treasure must dig in the earth. He who would have riches in the knowledge of divine things, must search the Holy Scriptures, carefully hear ministers, and perform all those other things ordained by God for the acquirement of these riches.

Secondly, I come now to full assurance and intelligence. Full assurance; by this is denoted that firm and certain adherence to what is believed, which springs from the internal operation of the Spirit illuminating the intellect, inclining the will, and, lastly, if I may so express it, firmly stamping the impress of the things believed upon the mind itself. And this full assurance is at length attained by those who remain firm in the doctrine of the faith; for as trees as soon as they are planted, are not so firmly fixed in the earth but that they are driven from side to side by the wind; so the faith of the godly at the commencement wavers with many doubts: but as the same trees in course of time fix their roots deeper, so faith also daily shoots its roots deeper into the mind, and at length, by the grace of the Spirit, acquires that steadiness which can not be overthrown by the craft of seducers, the violence of tyrants, or any other machination of the devil.

I remember to have read a little tale told by Gerson which is well adapted to illustrate this. He relates that he once knew a pious man, vexed and harassed by doubts, even in the article of faith; who, nevertheless, at the last, was led to such a light of truth and assurance, that no trace of wavering dwelt in his mind; nor indeed, did he doubt more of that than of his own existence. He adds, moreover, that this assurance did not spring from any new reasonings or demonstrations, but from humility, and the captivation of his intellect, and some wonderful illumination of God from the eternal hills. Worldly men do not believe that such illuminations do occur, and that such a full assurance is impressed on the minds of the faithful; but the godly, who constantly persevere in the gospel, have experienced them. The apostle requires this undoubting persuasion in the doctrine of faith, Ephesians 4:14, That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine.

The apostle adds, that they would not only have a full assurance, but a full assurance of understanding, that is, the understanding fully assured. The mind, therefore, is not only inclined firmly to adhere to what is believed by the power of the will when softened by grace; but the intellect, at the same time, is so brightened by supernatural light, that it can clearly contemplate the certain and indubitable truth of these things. To have a full assurance of the understanding, is, both to perceive the truth, and its Author. It appears from Scripture that this enlightened understanding is always joined with faith. Thus Eph.

23*

1. 17. The Father of glory may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened: that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. Hence we learn,

1. The faith of a Christian man ought not to depend upon others, but be settled in the believer by the efficacy of the Spirit; so that if prelates and ecclesiastics, nay, even the whole world, should depart from sound faith, yet should every one of the laity hold to the received faith. If we, or an angel from heaven should preach unto you any other gospel than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:9.

2. Their complaint is unjust, who aver, that we can not now arrive at assurance in matters of faith, since Christians are separated into different sects, and there are divisions and controversies everywhere. Notwithstanding this, the godly have this full assurance of gospel truth. Clemens rightly says, "Truth is to be found, by those who wish it, from a diligent search of the Scripture." And Lactantius asserts what is very much to our purpose: "We do not attain truth by thinking and disputing, but by hearing and learning from him who alone can both know and teach;" that is, as I interpret it, from the Holy Spirit, speaking outwardly in the Scriptures, and inwardly in the heart of each believer.

3. That it is not a divine but a brutal animal faith, which has no understanding or comprehension of those things which are believed. Such a faith Staphylus extols in the collier who professed that he believed what the church believed, and the church believed what he himself held, whilst he was ignorant all the time what either the church or he himself held. But the true faith has full assurance of understanding; this implicit and blind faith has not a grain of understanding.