2. This will appear if we consider the heart of man, which is natu- rally full of darkness, and oppressed by the prejudices of customs and evil habits : 1 Cor. ii. 14, ' But the natural man receiveth not the things of God ;' 2 Cor. iv. 4, ' The god of this world hath blinded their eyes.' This veil can only be removed by the S})irit of God. After grace received we know but in part, 1 Cor. xiii. 9, and much of the matter which beclouded the mind still remaineth with us ; and when our lusts are awakened by temptations, our old blindness returneth upon us, and we strangely forget ourselves and our duty for the pre- sent. Therefore we have need to go to God to be taught : 2 Peter i. 9, ' He that wanteth these things is blind, and cannot see afar off.'
3. If we consider the matter to be taught, it is the mysterious doc- trine that came out of the bosom of God. Every art hath its mystery,- which strangers cannot judge of : 1 Tim. iii. 16, ' All scripture is given by inspiration.' This was a secret which had not been known without a revelation. God hath his mysteries which no man knoweth, but by the Spirit of God ; Mat. xiii. 11, ' To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven ; but to them it is not given.' Those that have scriptures, yet have scales on their eyes, 1 Cor. ii. 14, they have not saving knowledge. How sharp-sighted soever graceless souls may be in things that concern the present world, yet they are blind in spiritual things, so as to be affected and engaged thereby seriously to turn to God. Yea, how accurately soever they e^n dis- course in the theory, and preach of Christ and his ways, yet they have no transforming light. God's mvsteries nuist be seen in his own light,
280 SERMONS UPON PSALM cxix. [Ser. CXXXVI.
or tliey make no impression upon us : Ps. xxxvi. 9, ' In thy light we shall see light/ The scri[)tures containing the sura of the Lord's mind, none can of themselves attain to the meaning of them ; it was not the device of man's brain. So none understand by their proper skill and invention. There are such knots as cannot be untied and loosed, but by imploring the help of the Spirit.
Use 1. To press us to be often with God for this teaching, and make it our great request to him. A gracious heart would fain learn the right way to heaven : Ps. xliii. 3, ' 0 send out thy light and thy truth.' Direction how to carry ourselves is a great blessing.
2. The blindness of our understandings should make us more earnest with God. We are apt to mistake our way, thi-ough the natural weakness of our understandings, especially when lusts and interests interpose : Jer. x. 23, ' Lord, the way of man is not in himself ; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.' As man undcrstandeth not events, so easily mistaketh present duties.
3. Our present estate. The world is a dark place, 2 Peter i. 19; compared with the light of glory, it is but like a light that shineth out of a room where a candle is, and a room where a candle is not seen, the glimmerings of the antichamber of eternity. Our own reason, the coimsel and exam])le of others, will easily misguide us. So the more we depend upon God, the more he will undertake to teach us, Prov. V. 6. Those that make their own besoms their oracle, God is dis- engaged from being their guide : they need Jiim not ; but the snares they run into will soon show them how much they need him.
4. How unapt we are to see conclusions in the promises, and to apply general rules to particular cases and times ; which most Chris- tians cannot do, iv BLa\oyiau.ol<i avTMv, in their inferences : Piom. i. 21, ' Are vsin in their imaginations, have their foolish hearts darkened.'
5. To bind all upon the heart, and to lie under the conscience of our duty, maketh the difficulty the greater; many imprison the truth iii unrighteousness. Well, then, beg the constant direction and illumi- nation of God's Holy Spirit; cast yourselves upon him in the sense of your weakness, and see if he will refuse you ; say, I am blind and ignorant; Lord, guide me. It is dangerous to be left in any part of our duty to ourselves.
Secondly, If we consider the words with respect to the context. And first tlie remoter context, where David speaketh like a man under trouble and oppression, ver. 121, 122, ' Let not the proud oppress me,' &c. Lord, show me what to do in this time of my oppression.
Boot. Direction how to carry ourselves in ti'ouble, till the deliver- ance Cometh, is a great mercy, and should be earnestly sought of God.
lleason 1. Prom the parties oppressing. They that opi)ress watch for our halting, as Jeremiah complained, Jer. xx. 10. They accused the prophet unto the rider, and so to work \ns ruin, if they coidd find him trii)ping in anything. Now when we are watched we need special direction, that God would teach us to walk warily and safely : Ps. xxvii. 11, ' Teach me thy way, 0 Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies ; or, those which observe me, they watch to get some advantage : therefore that they may have no advantage against us, we bliould not trust to our own single wisdom.