apprehend the things of God in a spiritual manner: Ps. xxxvi. 9, 'In
thy light shall we see light.' There is no discerning spiritual things spiritually, hut in God's light. There may be a literal instruction which one man may give to another, but ' in thy light only shall we see light ; ' such a lively affective knowledge as disposeth the heart for the enjoyment of God. There is a seeing, and a seeing in seeing : Isa. vi. 10, ' Lest in seeing they shall see.' A man may see a truth rationally that doth not see it spiritually, Now, when we have the Spirit's light, then in seeing we see. Or, as the apostle calls it. Col. i. 6, ' A knowing of the grace of God in truth,' since you did not only take up the report, but feel it, and had some experience of it in your hearts. Again, (2.) God's teaching consisteth not only in enlighten- ing the understanding, but in moving and inclining the heart and the will ; for God's teaching is always accompanied with drawing : John vi. 44, ' No man cometh to me, except the Father draw him ;' which Christ proves, ver. 45, because ' they shall be all taught of God.' The Spirit's light is not only directive, but persuasive ; it is effectual to alter and to change the affections, and to carry them out to Christ and to his ways ; he works powerfully where he teacheth. When the Holy Ghost was first poured out ujion the apostles, there was a notable effect of it ; it came in the appearance of cloven tongues, like as of fire, Acts ii. 3, to show the manner of the Spirit's operation by the ministry ; not only as light, but as fire : it is a burning and a shining light ; that is, such a light as is seasoned with zeal and love, that affects the heart, that burns up our corruptions. And therefore, you know, when Christ would put forth a divine effect in his conference with his two disciples, it is said, ' Their hearts burned within them while he talked with them,' Luke xxiv. 32. There is a warmth and heat conveyed to the soul. Thus for the nature of this teaching.
Secondly, The necessity of this teaching will appear in several things.
1. If we consider the weakness of a natural understanding : 1 Cor. ii. 14, ' The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, because they are spiritually discerned.' They must be spiritually un- derstood. There must be a cognation and proportion between the object and the faculty. Divine things cannot be seen but by a divine light, and spiritual things by a spiritual light, else they shall have no savour and relish. Can sense, which is the light of beasts, trace the workings or the flights of reason ? Can you see a soul or an angel by the light of a candle ? There is no proportion between them. So, can a natural man receive the things of the Spirit? He receives them not. Why ? Because spiritual things must be spiritually discerned.
2. There is not only blindness, but obstinacy and prejudice. When we come to judge by sense and reason, the whole business of Chris- tianity seems to be a foolish thing to a carnal heart. To give up our- selves to God, and all our interests, and to wait upon the reversion of a happiness in another world, which is doubtful whether there will be any such thing or no, is a folly to him. To deny present lusts and interests, to be much in prayer, and be often in communion with God, is esteemed a like folly. When the apostle came to preach the gospel
VeR. 12.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 117
to the wits at Athens, they scojfFed at him ; they entertain his doctrine as fire is entertained in wet wood, with hissing and scorn. To do all, and suffer all, and that upon the account of a happiness to come, to a carnal heart this is hut a fancy and a mere imagination.
3. As blind and obstinate, so we are apt to abuse truth. Carnal hearts turn all to a carnal purpose. As spiders assimilate and turn all they suck into their own substance, so doth a carnal heart turn all, even the counsels and comforts of the word, to a carnal purpose. Or as the sea, whatever comes into it, the sweet rivers and droppings of the clouds, turns all into salt water : Hosea xiv. 9, ' Who is wise, and he shall understand these things ; prudent, and he shall know them ; but the transgressors shall stumble therein.' As right excellent and as notable as the doctrines of the word are, yet a carnal heart finds matter in them to stumble at ; he picks that which is an occasion of ruin and eternal perdition from the scripture ; therefore the apostle saith, Eph. iv. 21, ' If ye have learned of him as the truth is in Jesus.' We are never right, and truth never works us to regeneration, but it is only fuel for our lusts, until we have learned it as it is in Jesus. Carnal men undo themselves by their own apprehensions of the truths of God. Luther calls some promises bloody promises, because of the mistakes of carnal men by their perverse application. Therefore, that we may maintain an awe of God in our soul, we need to be taught of God.