As I might show in all these, Paul is blameless, yet far enough from having sin mortified by Christ, and hence professeth, We did serve divers Lusts, Tit. 3. 3. The Israelites cry out, they will do what God will have them: Yet Oh that there were such an heart! Deut. 5. 29. They in Heb. 6. were enlightened and tasted, yet fell. He therefore adds, We are persuaded (v. 9.) better things of you. They did prophesy in Christs Name, Mat. 7. Yet depart from me you workers of iniquity. But see it more particularly, Mark 12. 33. Saith the Scribe to him, To love the Lord, oh 'tis better than all burnt Offerings. Some Jews did rest there, but neglected the inward work; but this man, the inward work was prized in his judgment, he had both profession and some affection: And was he now entered into the Kingdom of God? No. Here was his wound, he fell short of it some degrees. Hence its said, thou art not far from the Kingdom of God. So the Israelites, Why did not they enter? Was not the Land good? Oh yes! That report the worst of the Spies brought: But their hearts were not taken with the goodness of it, as Calebs and Joshua's were. And hence they were shut out, Numb. 13. 27. & 14. 7, 8, 24. So it is here. So an unsound heart may be enlightened, as 'tis there, Heb. 6. 4, 5. But there is a marvellous light which they never have, they have not such a degree, 1 Pet. 2. 9. And hence, Deut. 29. 2, 3, 4. The Lord hath not given you eyes to see to this day. Did the Lord give them no eyes to see, no hearts to be affected with what they did see? Why came they then out of Egypt? Why did they sing when they saw Pharaoh drowned? Why they had not such eyes and such hearts as Moses had, not unto that day.
As I might shew in all these, Paul is blamelesse, yet far enough from having sin mortified by Christ, and hence professeth, We did serve divers Lusts, Tit. 3. 3. The Israelites cry out, they will do what God will have them: Yet Oh that there were such an heart! Deut. 5. 29. They in Heb. 6. were enlightened and tasted, yet fell. He therefore adds, We are perswaded (v. 9.) better things of you. They did prophesie in Christs Name, Mat. 7. Yet depart from me you workers of iniquity. But see it more particularly, Mark 12. 33. Saith the Scribe to him, To love the Lord, oh 'tis better than all burnt Offerings. Some Iews did rest there, but neglected the inward work; but this man, the inward work was prized in his judgment, he had both profession and some affection: And was he now entred into the Kingdome of God? No. Here was his wound, he fell short of it some degrees. Hence its said, thou art not far from the Kingdom of God. So the Israelites, Why did not they enter? Was not the Land good? Oh yes! That report the worst of the Spies brought: But their hearts were not taken with the goodness of it, as Calebs and Ioshuahs were. And hence they were shut out, Numb. 13. 27. & 14. 7, 8, 24. So it is here. So an unsound heart may be enlightened, as 'tis there, Heb. 6. 4, 5. But there is a marvellous light which they never have, they have not such a degree, 1 Pet. 2. 9. And hence, Deut. 29. 2, 3, 4. The Lord hath not given you eyes to see to this day. Did the Lord give them no eyes to see, no hearts to be affected with what they did see? Why came they then out of Egypt? Why did they sing when they saw Pharaoh drowned? Why they had not such eyes and such hearts as Moses had, not unto that day.
