4. We are apt to abuse our knowledge. Saving knowledge makes us more humble, but carnal knowledge more proud. Where it is in gift rather than in grace, there men are puffed up. The more we Icnow God or ourselves by a divine light, the more humble we shall be : Jer. xxxi. 18, 19, ' When I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh ; I was ashamed, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.' The more light we have from God, the more we look into a vile heart. When Adam's eyes are opened, he runs into the bushes ; he was ashamed. So when God opens the eyes, and teacheth a Christian, this makes him more humble.
5. There needs God's teaching, because we arc so apt to forsake when we have known the things of God : Ps. cxix. 21, ' The proud do err from thy commandments.' What is the reason David was so stead- fast in the truth ? He did not take it up from the teachings of man, but from the teachings of God. When a man leads us into any truth, another man may lead us out again. But now, when God hath taught us, and impressed truth upon the heart, then it is durable. What is the reason believers are not as fickle as others, and not led away by the impure Gnostics, and like those libertines now among us ? 1 John ii. 20, ' Ye have an unction from the Holy One, and 3'c know all things.' They had an unction which came down from Jesus Christ upon their hearts ; and then a man is not led away by every fancy, but begins to grow stable in spirit.
6. We cannot tell how to master our corruptions, nor restore reason to its dominion again. It is not enough to bring light into the soul, but we must have power and efficacy, or true conversion will not follow. Man's reason was to govern his actions. Now, all literal instruction is weak, like a March sun, which draweth up the vapours, but cannot
118 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XIV.
scatter them ; it can discover sins, but cannot quell them : Eom. vii. 9, ' When the commandment came, sin revived, and I died/ He could not tell how to bridle his lusts ; he found them more outra- geous : ' Tlie good that I would do, I do not ; and the evil which I would not, that I do.'
Thirdl)^ The benefit and utility of God's teaching. When God teacheth, truth cometh upon us with more conviction and demonstra- tion, 1 Cor, ii. 6, and so hath a greater awe and sovereignty. Those that have made any trial can judge between being taught of God and men. Those that are taught of men, the charms of rhetoric may sometimes stir up some loose affection, but it doth soon vanish and wear away again ; but the work of God makes deep impression upon the soul, and truths are then more afiPective. Man's knowledge is sapless, dry, and unsavoury : 2 Peter i. 8, ' For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.' There may be an empty belief, and a naked and inactive apprehension of Christ, which stirs up no affection ; but the light which comes from God enters upon the heart, Prov. ii. 10 ; it affects the whole soul. It doth not only stay in the fancy, float in the brain, but affect the heart. And then it is renewing. Man's light may make us more learned but God's light more holy. We are ' changed by beholding the glory of God into the same ima_ge,' 2 Cor. iii. 18.
SERMON XIV.
With my lips have I declared all the judgments oftliy mouth. —
Ver. 13.
For the coherence of these words, you may refer them either to the 11th or 12th verse. If to the 11th verse, there he speaks of hiding the word in his heart, and now it breaks out in his tongue. First it must be in the heart, and next in the tongue. First in the heart. It is but hypocrisy to be speaking and "talking of good things, when we have not been refreshed and warmed by them ourselves. Chris- tianity is not a religion to talk of, but to live by. There are many rotten-hearted hypocrites that are all talkers ; like the moon, dark in themselves, whatever light they give out to others ; or like negroes, that dig in rich mines, and bring up gold for others, when themselves are poor. The power of grace in the heart is a good foundation for grace on the lips. This is the method and order wherein David expresseth it : ' I have hidden thy word in my heart ;' and then, ' With my lips have I declared,' &c. And as it must be first in the heart, so next in the tongue. John vii. 38, Christ speaks of ' him that believeth in him, that out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.' By the belly is meant the heart. When there is true grace in the heart, the sweet influences thereof will flow forth in their common discourse for the refreshing of others ; as a spring sendeth forth the streams to water the ground about it. If the heart be full.