The Gospel Revealed in Three Degrees

There are three degrees of revelation.
(1) There must be a revelation of the things themselves, by word, writing, speech, and the like. There must be a revelation of these things, or else we could never have devised how to reconcile justice and mercy by sending a mediator to procure peace, the God-man, to work our salvation. This is the first degree, that we may call revelation by Scripture, or by the doctrine of the gospel. Who could disclose those things but God himself?
(2) When they are revealed by the word of God, and by men that have a function to unfold the unsearchable riches of Christ by the ministry of the gospel, yet they are hidden riddles still to the company of carnal men. Suppose the veil be taken off from the things themselves, yet if the veil be over the soul, the understanding, will, and affections, there is no apprehension of them. There must be a revelation by the Spirit of God. Of necessity this must be as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:11, 'None know the mind of man but the spirit that is in man, so none know the mind of God but the Spirit of God.' What is the gospel, without the Spirit of Christ to disclose the mind of God to us? We know in general that such things are revealed in Scripture. But what is that to us if Christ be not our Saviour and God our Father. Therefore, you see a necessity of revelation by the Spirit.
(3) A higher revelation in heaven. That which is revealed here is but in part; and if we believe, we believe but in part. If our knowledge, which is the ground of all other graces and affections, be imperfect, all that follows must be imperfect also. John said, 'We know that we are the sons of God, but it appears not what we shall be’ (1 John 3:2). In heaven our eyes will see, our ears hear, and our hearts will conceive those things that now we neither can see, nor hear, nor understand.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
A Glance of Heaven, Works, vol. 4, p. 158-59
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