One Hundred and Ninety Sermons on Psalm 119

(3.) Because these truths are suitable to our necessities. To every man that hath a conscience, it cannot but be very pleasing to hear of a way how he may come to the pardon of sins, and sound peace of conscience, solid perfection, and eternal glory. Man is naturally under fears of death, Rom. 1. 32. and would be glad of a pardon; weak and unable to find out or attain to moral perfection, would be glad of an exact rule, and gropeth and feeleth about for an everlasting happiness, Acts 17. 27. So far as any thing is found to this purpose in the writings of men, they have a marvellous force and influence upon us. Any beam of this truth scattered in Plato or Socrates, of mans Reconciliation with a holy and just God, there is nothing in their writings; the then World was under perplexity. But yet of Moral Perfection, and an Eternal state of Blessedness, there were some glimmerings. Now when these are represented to the understanding with such evidence and satisfaction as they are in the Scriptures, where you have the only sufficient direction to true Happiness, no wonder if they are greedily catched at. Now this delight (though good) I speak not of, because it may be in Temporaries, who have a taste of the good word, to invite them to seek for more, Heb. 6. 4. and is a fruit of common illumination. The stony ground received the word with joy, Luke 8. 13. and though it may affect the heart, yet if not above all riches, it doth not prevail over carnal affections.

(3.) Because these truths are suitable to our necessities. To every man that hath a conscience, it cannot but be very pleasing to hear of a way how he may come to the pardon of sins, and sound peace of conscience, solid perfection, and eternal glory. Man is naturally under fears of death, Rom. 1. 32. and would be glad of a pardon; weak and unable to find out or attain to moral perfection, would be glad of an exact rule, and groapeth and feeleth about for an everlasting happiness, Acts 17. 27. So far as any thing is found to this purpose in the writings of men, they have a marvellous force and influence upon us. Any beam of this truth scattered in Plato or Socrates, of mans Reconciliation with a holy and just God, there is nothing in their writings; the then World was under perplexity. But yet of Moral Perfection, and an Eternal state of Blessedness, there were some glimmerings. Now when these are represented to the understanding with such evidence and satisfaction as they are in the Scriptures, where you have the only sufficient direction to true Happiness, no wonder if they are greedily catched at. Now this delight (though good) I speak not of, because it may be in Temporaries, who have a tast of the good word, to invite them to seek for more,