A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm

Thirdly, It is Practical. It is not seated only in the speculative part of the mind, hovering in general notions; but it dwell's in the practical understanding, which effectually influenceth the Will and Affections. Such an Apprehension as from which sorrow and humiliation are inseparable. The acts of the practical understanding, do so necessarily produce, together with them suitable acts of the Will and Affections, that some have concluded that those are indeed proper acts of the Will, which are usually ascribed to the Understanding. It is so in the mind, as that the whole soul is cast into the mould and likeness of it, humiliation, sorrow, self-abhorrency, do live and dye with it.

Thirdly, It is Practical. It is not seated only in the speculative part of the mind, hovering in general notions; but it dwel's in the practical understanding, which effectually influenceth the Will and Affections. Such an Apprehension as from which sorrow and humiliation are inseparable. The acts of the practical understanding, do so necessarily produce, together with them suitable acts of the Will and Affections, that some have concluded that those are indeed proper acts of the Will, which are usually ascribed to the Understanding. It is so in the mind, as that the whole soul is cast into the mould and likeness of it, humiliation, sorrow, self-abhorrency, do live and dye with it.

Fourthly, It hath in the first place, respect unto the Law of God. There can be no due consideration of sin, wherein the Law hath not its place. The Law calls for the sinner, and he willingly gives up his sin to be judged by it. There he sees it to be exceeding sinful, Rom. 7. 17. Though a Believer be less under the power of the Law than others, yet he knows more of the Authority and nature of it than others. He sees more of its spirituality and holiness. And the more a man sees of the excellency of the Law, the more he sees of the vileness of sin. This is done by a soul in its first endeavour for a recovery from the entanglements of sin. He labours throughly to know his disease, that he may be cured. It will do him no good, he knows, to be ignorant of his distemper, or his danger. He knows that if his wounds be not searched to the bottom, they will stink and be corrupt. To the Law then he brings himself and his sin. By that, he sees the vileness of the one, and the danger of the other. Most men lye still in their depths, because they would willingly escape the first step of their rising. From the bottom of their misery, they would fain at once be at the top of their felicity. The soul managed in this work by the Holy Ghost doth not so. He converseth with the Law; brings his sin unto it; and fully hears the sentence of it. When the sin is throughly condemned, then he farther takes care of the sinner. As ever you desire to come to rest, avoid not this