Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses

Thus was darkness over the face of the world, when CHRIST the true Light came into it: and so is darkness over every soul, till he, as the Day-star, arise in the heart. The former is an evidence of the latter. What, but the natural darkness of men's minds, could still thus wear out the light of external revelation in a matter upon which eternal happiness did depend? Men did not forget the way of preserving their lives: but how quickly did they lose the knowledge of the way of salvation of their souls; which are of infinite more weight and worth! when patriarchs and prophets teaching was ineffectual, men behoved to be taught of GOD himself; who alone can open the eyes of the understanding. But, that it might appear, that the corruption of man's mind lay deeper than to be cured by mere external revelation; there were but very few converted by CHRIST's preaching, who spoke as never man spoke, John xii. 37, 38. The great cure on the generation remained to be performed, by the Spirit accompanying the preaching of the apostles; who, according to the promise, (John xlv. 12.) were to do great works. And if we look to the miracles wrought by our blessed Lord, we will find, that by applying the remedy to the soul, for the cure of bodily distempers, (as in the case of ⟨p. 49⟩the man sick of the palsy, Matth. ix. 2.) he plainly discovered, that it was his main errand into the world to cur• the diseases of the soul. I find a miracle wrought upon one that was born blind, performed in such a way, as seems to have been designed to let the world see in it, as in a glass, their case and cure, John ix. 6. He made clay, and anointed the eyes of the blind man, with the clay. What could more fitly represent the blindness of men's minds, than eyes closed up with earth? Isa vi. 1 shut their eyes; shut them up by anointing or casting them with mortar, as the word would bear. And Chap. xliv. 18. he hath shut their eyes; the word properly signifies, he hath plastered their eyes; as the house in which the leprosy had been, was to be plastered, Lev. xiv. 42. Thus the Lord's word discovers the design of that strange work; and by it shows us, that the eyes of our understanding are naturally shut. Then the blind man must go and wash off this clay in the pool of Siloam; no other water will serve this purpose.