4. In this sealing God's truth there are many things implied which most christians want. It implieth spiritual evidence, experience, and confidence in temptations to the contrary, and enforceth practice.
[1.] It implieth spiritual evidence. None can receive Christ's testi- mony without a work of the Spirit; spiritual things must be spiritually discerned : 1 Cor. ii. 14, ' The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.' To sight there must 'be not only ohjectum perspicuum, but organum bene affectum. Besides the perspicuity of the object, there must be a clear eye. A blind man cannot see at noonday, nor he that hath the strongest sight at midnight, Eph. i. 17, 18. Now most christians have not the Spirit of Christ. God revealeth these things and giveth us eyes to see them. [2.] Some experience of the power of this truth in comforting and changing the heart. A report of a report is never judged valuable ; you cannot say to others, God is true, till you have felt somewhat of it in your own hearts: 1 John i. 1, 2, 'That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the Word of life (for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us) ; that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us ; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his son Jesus Christ.' Experience is above all dispute : Phil. i. 9, ' This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all judgment ;' to have some impression of the truth upon our hearts.
A SERMON" ON JOHN' III. 33. 393
[3.] It discovereth itself by confidence in temptations to tlie con- trary, either from inward troubles or outward. Inward troubles or agonies of conscience : The faith of a weak christian bringeth more honour to God than the love of a strong christian. Upon the en- couragement of Christ's testimony he casts himself upon God's mercy, when he feeleth him as an enemy: Job xiii. 15, ' Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.' So in outward troubles ; when in the midst of deep afflictions, you can comfort yourselves in the promises, and rejoice with joy unspeakable and glorious. This is to honour God, to put to your seal that God is true ; as the martyrs are said to seal it with their blood. Faith is but a notion before.
[4.] It enforceth holiness. When your lives are swayed by these principles, and you are full of that lively diligence which becometh christians, then you declare plainly that you think God is true. All these are exemplified in the church of the Thessalonians : 1 Thes. i. 5-7, ' For our gospel came not to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance ; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake ; and ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost. So that you were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.' So that you see there is need of pressing you to believe, that you may put to your seal that God is true.
SERMONS ON MICAH VI. 8.
SERMON I.
He hath shoioed thee, 0 man, what is good ; and lohat doth the Lord require of thee, hut to do justly, and love mercy , and walk humbly with thy God f — Micah vi. 8.
In the context you have — First, A question to which the text is an answer. The question is in vers. 6, 7. The sinners would know what would please God, vers. 6, 7. Their question teacheth us —
1. That ceremonial observances will not compensate a neglect of substantial duties.
2. That hypocrites will give anything rather than give up them- selves to the Lord ; rivers of oil, thousands of rams, their own children, so they may not part with their own wills. Quid qucprit a te nisi te?
3. That it is not the costliness of the sacrifice, but the godliness of the sacrifice which God looketh at.
Secondly, The answer is in the text, ' He hath showed thee, 0 man, what is good ; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God?' The pertinency of this answer must be vindicated.
1. The question was not a scruple or case of conscience about the true satisfaction or way of appeasing God's justice, but a contentious cavil of them that stood much upon their outward sacrifices, and were willing either to continue that vv-ayor to add more, if this would please God and they might thereby avoid his wratli. Now, these did in vain pretend ignorance when the rule of their duty was plain and easy.