One Hundred and Ninety Sermons on Psalm 119

And whilst they are disputing of the natures and offices of Christ, and the nature of Justification and Sanctification, others enjoy what they speak of, and have a greater relish and savour, and power of these Truths upon their hearts. For ever it was a truth, and ever will be, Rom. 8. 5. They that are after the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh; and they that are after the spirit, the things of the spirit. Nature can go no further than it self, than a fleshly inclination moveth it. They have not this transforming light, and that sense of Religion which is prevalent over lusts and worldly interests.

The next reason is, because they must be spiritually discerned: that is, to know them inwardly, throughly, and with some relish and savour, there must be an higher light, there must be a cognation and proportion between the object and the faculty. Divine things must be seen by a divine light, and spiritual things by a spiritual light. Sense, which is the light of beasts, cannot trace the workings or flights of Reason in her contemplations. We cannot see a Soul or an Angel by the light of a Candle; so fleshly wisdom cannot judg of divine things. The object must be not only revealed, but we must have an answerable light; so that when you have done all, you must say, How can I understand without an Interpreter? Acts 8. 31. And this Interpreter must be the Spirit of God; Ejus est interpretari cujus est condere. To discern so as to make a right judgment and estimate of things, dependeth upon Gods help.

4. When this blindness is in part cured, yet still we need that God should open our eyes to the very last. We know nothing as we ought to know. David a regenerate man, and well instructed, prayeth to have his eyes opened; for we need more light every day,