One Hundred and Ninety Sermons on Psalm 119

2. Receive it in the love of it: The Apostle makes that to be the ground of Apostasy, 2 Thes. 2. 10. Because they received not the truth in the love of it, &c. O let it soak into the Affections; if it lye only in the tongue, or in the mind only to make it a matter of talk and speculation, it will be soon gone. The seed which lies upon the surface, the fowls of the air will peck it up. Therefore hide it deeply, let it get from the ear into the mind; from the mind into the heart; let it soak further and further. First men have a naked apprehension of truth, then it gets into the Conscience, and then it lies in the heart, then 'tis laid up. But when we suffer it only to be made matter of speculation, it is soon lost. Know this, a man may receive a thing in the evidence and light of it, when he doth not receive it in the love of it. When it rests in naked speculation, then he receives a thing in the evidence and light of it; but when it hath a prevailing sovereignty in the heart, then we receive it in the love of it. When it is dearer than our dearest lust, then it will stick by us. When we are willing to sell all for the pearl of price, Mat. 13. 46. We are often put to it what we will part with, our lusts or the truth. When it breaks in upon the heart with evidence and power, you cannot keep both. Therefore let it soak into the affections, and hide the word in your hearts, that you may not sin against God.

2. Receive it in the love of it: The Apostle makes that to be the ground of Apostasie, 2 Thes. 2. 10. Because they received not the truth in the love of it, &c. O let it soak into the Affections; if it lye only in the tongue, or in the mind only to make it a matter of talk and speculation, it will be soon gone. The seed which lies upon the surface, the fowls of the air will peck it up. Therefore hide it deeply, let it get from the ear into the mind; from the mind into the heart; let it soak further and further. First men have a naked apprehension of truth, then it gets into the Conscience, and then it lies in the heart, then 'tis laid up. But when we suffer it only to be made matter of speculation, it is soon lost. Know this, a man may receive a thing in the evidence and light of it, when he doth not receive it in the love of it. When it rests in naked speculation, then he receives a thing in the evidence and light of it; but when it hath a prevailing soveraignty in the heart, then we receive it in the love of it. When it is dearer than our dearest lust, then it will stick by us. When we are willing to sell all for the pearl of price,