"Jesus said unto him, It is written."--Matt. iv. 7.
We can not fail to be struck, in the course of the Saviour's public
teaching, with His constant appeal to the word of God. While, at times,
He utters, in His own name, the authoritative behest, "Verily, verily, I
say unto you," He as often thus introduces some mighty work, or gives
intimation of some impending event in His own momentous life, "These
things must come to pass, that _the Scriptures be fulfilled, which
saith_." He commands His people to "search the Scriptures;" but He sets
the example by searching and submitting to them Himself. Whether he
drives the money-changers from their sacrilegious traffic in the
temple, or foils his great adversary on the mount of temptation, he does
so with the same weapon, "_It is written._" When He rises from the
grave, the theme of His first discourse is one impressive tribute to the
value and authority of the same sacred oracles. The disciples on the
road to Emmaus listen to nothing but a _Bible lesson_. "He expounded
unto them in all _the Scriptures_ the things concerning Himself."
How momentous the instruction herein conveyed! The necessity of the
absolute subjection of the mind to God's written Word--making churches,
creeds, ministers, books, religious opinion, all subordinate and
subservient to this--"How readest thou?" rebuking the philosophy,
falsely so called, that would distort the plain statements of
Revelation, and bring them to the bar of proud Reason.
If an infallible Redeemer, "a law to Himself," was submissive in all
respects to the "_written_ law," shall fallible man refuse to sit with
the teachableness of a little child, and listen to the Divine message?
There may be, there _is_, in the Bible, what reason staggers at: "we
have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep." But, "_Thus saith the
Lord_," is enough. Faith does not first ask what the bread is made of,
but _eats_ it. It does not analyse the components of the living stream,
but with joy draws the water from "the wells of salvation."
Reader! take that Word as "the lamp to thy feet, and the light to thy
path." In days when false lights are hung out, there is the more need of
keeping the eye steadily fixed on the unerring beacon. Make the Bible
the arbiter in all difficulties--the ultimate court of appeal. Like
Mary, "sit at the feet of Jesus," willing only to learn of Him. How many
perplexities it would save you! how many fatal steps in life it would
prevent--how many tears! "It is a great matter," says the noblest of
modern Christian philosophers, "when the mind dwells on any passage of
Scripture, just to think _how true it is_." (_Chalmers' Life_).
In every dubious question, when the foot is trembling on debatable
ground, knowing not whether to advance or recede, make this the final
criterion, "What saith the Scripture?" The world may remonstrate--erring
friends may disapprove--Satan may tempt--ingenious arguments may explain
away; but, with our finger on the revealed page, let the words of our
Great Example be ever a Divine formula for our guidance:--"_This_
commandment have I received of my Father!"
"ARM YOURSELVES LIKEWISE WITH THE SAME MIND."
Ninth Day.