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

Fifthly, As the Memory wanted not its share of depravity, it is also bettered by regenerating grace. The memory is weakened with respect to those things that are not worth their room therein; and men are taught to forget injuries, and drop their resentments, Mat. v. 44, 45. Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you,—That ye may be (i. e. appear to be) the children of your Father which is in heaven. It is strengthened for spiritual things. We have Solomon's receipt for an ill memory, Prov. iii. 1. My son, saith he, forget not my law. But how shall it be kept in mind? Let thine heart keep my commandments. Grace makes a heart-memory, even where there is no good head-memory, Psal. cxix. 11. Thy word have I hid in mine heart. The heart truly touched with the powerful sweetness of truth, will help the memory to retain what is so relished. Did divine truths make deeper impressions on our hearts, they would thereby impress themselves with more force on our memories, Psal. cxix. 93. I will never forget thy precepts, for with them thou hast quickened me. Grace sanctifies the memory. Many have large, but unsanctified memories; which serve only to gather knowledge, whereby to aggravate their condemnation; but the renewed memory serves to remember his commandments to do them, Psal. ciii. 18. It is a sacred storehouse, from whence a Christian is furnished in his way to Zion: for faith and hope are often supplied out of it, in a dark hour. It is the store-house of former experiences; and these are the believer's way-marks, by noticing of which he comes to know where he is, even in a dark time, Psal. xlii 6. O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, &c. It also helps the soul to godly sorrow and self-loathing, presenting old guilt anew before the conscience: and making it bleed afresh, tho' the sin be already pardoned, Psal. xxv. 7. Remember not the sins of my youth. And where unpardoned guilt is lying on the sleeping conscience, it is often employed to bring in a word, which in a moment sets the whole soul assi••: as when Peter remembered the words of Jesus,—be went out and wept bitterly,