A treatise of delighting in God from Psal. xxxvij. 4. Delight thy self also…

It is very possible those things may be distinctly understood, which the more we understand, the more we disbelieve them through their apprehended inconsistency with themselves or some certain truth. The delectable things of God, his own discovery procures at once, by one and the same radiation of light, both to be clearly understood, and effectually believed. Others have the word of faith without the spirit of faith. The faith therefore which they have is a carcass; Not a weak only (which imports but diminished power) but a dead thing. And which hath no power at all to determine the soul and compose it to that delightful rest which such things, duly believed, would certainly infer. The most delectable truths of God and such as most directly tend (in this apostate lapsed state of man) to give us the sweet and refreshing relishes of a just and rational joy and pleasure, are such as are contained in the Gospel of Christ. The things that concern our reconciliation, friendship and communion with God in him. And which are therefore wholly of immediately divine and supernatural revelation, and to be received by faith. Therefore one Apostle prays for some they might be filled with joy and peace [in believing]. ¹And another says of others that [believing] they rejoiced with joy unspeakable and full of² ⟨p. 33⟩glory. The external Revelation in the Gospel is an apt means, to beget that Faith (which it is said comes by hearing): But the very notion of means importing what intervenes to the effect, between that and the Principal Agent, necessarily supposes such an Agent. And that what is only means, cannot work the effect alone. That Agent, viz. (in this case) God himself, or the Spirit, besides the means which he uses, and makes effectual, must have his own influence whereby he makes them so. If a pen be a fit means or instrument to write with, it doth not therefore follow, that it can write alone, without an hand to move and guide it, in order whereto a motive and directive influence is imparted. In the present case, The influence is the inward enlightening overpowering communication, whereof we speak. The efficacy whereof is such, as to give the Soul that peaceful rest in believing, which is also most pleasant and delightful, according as the things are found to be so, which are believed.