[2.] As to this taste, there is somewhat necessary as to the soul or faculty ; we must have a palate qualified for these delicates. Now there is a double qualification necessary to this taste — a hungry con- *science and mortified affections.
(1.) A hungry conscience. Without this, a man hath a secret loathing of this spiritual food, his taste is benumbed ; but to a hungry
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50 SERMONS UPON TSALM CXIX. [SeR. CIX.
conscience the word is sweet, when he is kept in a constant hungerini; after Chrint and his grace : Prov. xxvii. 7, ' The fnll soul loatheth the honeycomb, but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.' Cor- dials, they are nauseous things to a full stomach ; oh but how reviving, comfortable, and sweet are they to a poor broken heart ! The first time that we got this taste, it was when we were under the stings of a guilty conscience, then God came and tendered his grace to us ia Christ ; he sent a messenger, one of a thousand, to tell us he hath found a ransom, and that we shall be delivered from going down into the pit ; that he will spare us, and do us good in Christ Jesus, then the man's flesh recovers again like a child's, Job xxxiii. 25. When men have felt the stings of the second death, and God comes with a sen- tence of life and peace by Christ, how sweet is it then ! Now, though we have not always a wounded conscience, yet we must always have a tender conscience, always sensible of the need of gospel support ; we came to this first relish of the doctrine of eternal life and salvation by Christ when we lay under the sentence of eternal death.
(2.) The heart must be purged from carnal affections ; for until we lose our fleshly savour we cannot have this spiritual taste : Eom. viii. 5, ' They that are after the flesh, do savour the tilings of the flesh ; ' the word may be translated so. A carnal heart relishes nothing but carnal things, worldly pleasures, worldly delights ; now this doth exceedingly deaden your spiritual taste. Spiritual taste is a delicate thing, therefore the heart must be purged from fleshly lusts ; for when fleshly lusts bear sway, and you relish the garlic and onions and flesh- pots of Egypt, your aftections will carry you elsewhere, to the vanities of the world, and contentments of the flesh. Look, as sick men have lost their taste, and that which is sweet seems sour and ungrateful to a distempered appetite, so a carnal appetite hath not this taste from the word of God ; to a carnal heart it is no more savoury than the white of an egg ; yea, it is as gall to them, but now to others it is exceeding sweet, it is their joy, the life of their souls. Well, then, you see what is this spiritual taste, that relish which a renewed soul hath for spiritual comforts.
Use. To persuade you to get this taste ; and when once you have got it, take heed you do not lose it.
1. It concerns you very much to get this taste ; take these argu- ments : —
[].] It is a good evidence of the new nature ; it is a sign you have gotten that other heart, that new spirit, which must have new com- fort, new supports : 1 Peter ii. 3, 4, ' As new-born babes you desire the sincere milk of the work ; if so be you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.' Hereby we may know the new man, by his appetite and savour. Life is known by this, as much as by any one thing else.
[2.] This will give you a more assured knowledge of the truth and worth of spiritual and heavenly things, whereas otherwise we shall but talk of them by rote, until we experiment the comfort and sweetness of them in our own souls ; then we will see there is more than notions in promises, the word of God is not a well-devised fable and golden dream, for our taste will be our confirmation. The greatest demon- stration is from the senses, 1 John v. 10, the believer hath a testimony
VeR. 103.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 51
of the truth of religion within himself, in his own heart. Oh ! it is a great advantage to have our remedy there where our danger lies, in the heart ; where atheism and disbelief lurks, to have spiritual sense there : when you have a real experience of them, then Satan cannot have such advantage, and atheistical and unbelieving thoughts such advantage, for you have felt the benefit of spiritual things. It is a great advantage against temptation, when you have had a sense, when you do not only know by hearsay and guess that the word is sweet, but you have had a taste, as a man that hath been at the fire knows it warms ; when we can not only say with him, ' We have heard the kings of Israel are merciful kings,' but, with the men of Samaria, ' We have seen him ourselves.^
[3.] The life of grace mightily depends upon it ; all your liveliness in grace depends upon this taste, therefore get it. When you have no taste, you lose your appetite ; and when you lose your appetite, you lose your strength ; and when you lose your strength, all goes to ruin in the soul ; sin j)i'evails, and deadness increaseth upon the soul. All the strength, comfort, and vitality of your lives depend upon your taste.