^ Qu. 'notions' ? — Ed.
VeR. 27.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 257
passages of his life in every relation according to the will of God. The narrow way of obedience is hardly found, hardly kept, and easily mistaken, especially where prejudices, lusts, and interests, are apt to pervert us. Therefore prudence to apply the rule is necessary : Ps. cxix. 33, ' Teach me, 0 Lord, the way of thy statutes, that I may keep it to the end ;' not only in the general points of faith and godliness, but that it may season all our actions, that we may be made partakers of the sweet refreshments that flow from it ; such a knowledge as endeth in a taste : 1 Peter iii. 2, 3, ' As new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby, if so be ye have tasted,' &c. So Ps. xix. 8, ' The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart ;' when we do so approve and follow the Lord's directions that we experience the sweetness, and are acquainted with the peace and joy in the Holy Ghost ; such an understanding as begets judgment and feeling, or maketh us to find power and comfort in the word.
Secondlv, The children of God think this can never be enough asked of God. Why ?
1. Because of the excellency of knowledge : ' Light is comfortable, and it is a pleasant thing to behold the sun,' much more the light of the gospel shining in upon our minds. Oh, what a pleasant thing is that, when all clouds vanish, and the truths of God are fully cleared up to the soul ! None knoweth the sweetness of it but he that hath experienced it: Prov. xxiv. 13, 14, 'My son, eat thou honey because it is good, and the honeycomb which is sweet to thy taste ; so shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto th}- soul, when thou hast found it.' The more perfect the operation of any faculty of the soul is, the greater the contentment. The conscience in the feeling of God's love, the heart when it findeth liberty in the ways of God, and the understanding upon the sight of the truth, cause all doubts and scruples to vanish. Therefore certainly they that know anything of God will be pressing to know more of his nature and will ; one degree draweth on another. Moses desireth God, ' Tell me thy name,' Exod. iii. 13, 14. Then ' Show me thy glory,' Exod. xxxiii. 18. ' And he said, I beseech thee show me thy glory.' And Hosea vi. 3, ' Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord.' They are not cloyed, but desire more. The more men know the things of God, the more they admire them ; the more they admire them, the more they love them ; and tlie more they love them, the more they desire to know of them. And therefore do they insist so much upon this request, * Make me to understand the way of thy precepts.'
2. Because of the vastness and latitude of it. Knowledge is a grow- ing thing ; religion cannot be taken up all at once. "We receive a little now, and a little anon ; as narrow-mouthed vessels take in things drop by drop. We read of Jesus Clirist, that he grew in knowledge : we do not read that he grew in grace : Luke ii. 52, ' He increased in wisdom and stature;' as his body increased in stature, so his soul in wisdom. And still Christians are growing in knowledge, and under- stand more of the mysteries of the gospel. Though speculative know- ledge may be at a stand, and a man may see round about the compass of revealed truths, yet practical knowledge is never at a stand. Direc- tive, affective, operative knowledge is never at a stand, but increaseth
VOL. VI. R
258 SERMONS UPON PSALM cxix. [Ser. XXVIIL
daily. And therefore the apostle saith, ' He that thinketh he knoweth anything, knoweth nothing as he ought to know/ 1 Cor. viii. 2. Many think they know as much as can be taught them ; surely they have no experience.
3. Natural blindness is an obstinate disease, and hardly cured ; therefore again and again we had need to pray, Open mine eys, teach me thy statutes, make me to understand the way of thy precepts. Our ignorance is great when it is cured in part. The clouds of temptation and carnal affection cause it to return upon us, so that we know not what we know. Therefore ' open my eyes, cause me to understand,' Yea, the more we know, the more is our ignorance discovered to us : Prov. XXX. 2, 3, ' Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man : I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy ; ' Job xlii. 5, ' I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee.' Alas ! a poor little hearsay knowledge availeth not. They abhor themselves when they have more intimate acquaintance ; none so confident as a young pro- fessor that knoweth a few truths, but in a weak and imperfect manner. The more we know indeed, the more sensible we are of our ignorance, how liable to this mistake and that, that we dare not trust ourselves for an hour.