The truly blessed man, or, The way to be happy here, and forever being…

5. That men need the help of Application as much as of Doctrine. For, not only is our understanding dark, and for that end needeth Illumination; erroneous; and therefore needs to be better informed; but our hearts also are corrupt, our wills dead, and our affections disordered; yea, and our practical understanding is indisposed to draw particular inferences from general truths; so that these need to be roused, quickened and drawn to their work; there is an indisposition in all the parts, and they need to be excited: the Apostle thought it necessary to inculcate known truths, for this end, 2 Pet. 1. 12, 17.

5. That men need the help of Application as much as of Doctrine. For, not only is our understanding dark, and for that end needeth Illumination; erronious; and therefore needs to be better informed; but our hearts also are corrupt, our wills dead, and our affections disordered; yea, and our practical understanding is indisposed to draw particular inferences from general truths; so that these need to be roused, quickned and drawn to their work; there is an indisposition in all the parts, and they need to be excited: the Apostle thought it necessary to inculcate known truths, for this end, 2 Pet. 1. 12, 17.

6. Hence the Word of God is suited for this end. God hath not only delivered the Rule of Religion in general precepts, as men use to do in the Systems of other Arts, but hath accommodated the Scriptures to the ends of practical Holiness, and we are told the usefulness of them, 2 Tim. 3. 16, 17. The perfection there intended, consists in an universal respect to the will of God, and conforming of the life according thereto, this was it that David gained by the Word of God, Psal. 19. 11.