[2.] That we have great benefit by this enlightening.
(1.) We know things more clearly, and have a spiritual discerning, without which, being blinded by the delusions of the flesh, we put darkness for light, and light for darkness. We think our misery to be our happiness, and our true and solid happiness to be our misery and bondage. The curse of our corrupt estate is an injudicious mind, and the blessing of our spiritual estate is a spiritual discerning, 1 Cor. ii. 14. A judicious discerning of the worth of things is the work of grace: 2 Cor. v. 16, 17, ' We know no man after the flesh; for who- soever is in Christ, is a new creature.' Knowing things after the flesh is one thing, and after the spirit is another. A new creature hath a new sight of things, looketh upon all things with a new eye ; seeth more odiousness in sin, more excellency in Christ, more beauty in holi- ness, more vanity in the world, than ever before. When a man is changed, all things about him are changed. Heaven is another thing, earth is another thing. He looketh upon body and soul with another eye, and therefore hath another value and esteem of all things. His thoughts are changed about God, about self, about Christ, about sin, and misery by sin, and that superficial righteousness wherewith he contented himself before, and that true holiness which Christ requireth of him. He was wont to marvel why men did keep such a stir about sin ; what harm was in it for a man a little to enlarge himself, and gratify his flesh with some forbidden pleasure ? Misery out of Christ was another thing while he pleased himself in his counterfeit right- eousness : Kom. vii. 9, ' For I was alive without the law once ; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.' His estate seemed not so out of measure sinful, nor so intolerably dangerous ; nor did he see why men made such a talk about Christ, and such ado to go to heaven. But when he is enlightened by the Spirit, his judg- ment is marvellously changed : 2 Peter i. 9, ' But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off.' He can now look into eternity, and see that other things are to be minded more than back and belly
VER. 7.] SERMONS UPON THILIPPIANS III. 9
concerns. In short, he seeth his misery with other eyes, being anointed with spiritual eye-salve, Kev. iii. 17, 18 ; Mat. xiii. 9, ' For I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.' There is a sen- sible and awakening knowledge of our own great necessity. While we are heart-whole we care not for Christ. A true value and esteem of Christ as our remedy and ransom, not a cold and dead opinion : 1 Peter ii. 7, ' Unto you therefore which believe he is precious.' A true sight of the happiness and blessedness offered to us : Eph. i. 17, 18, ' That the God of our Lord Jesus, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him ; the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.'
(2.) We know things with more certainty and firm belief. With more certainty : Acts ii. 36, ' Let the house of Israel know assuredly,' aacpaXm, safely ; John xvii. 8, akyOm, surely ; ' And have known surely that I came from thee ; ' John vi. 69, ' And we believe and are sure that thou art Christ the Son of the living God.' Things work not till they be received with a firm assent : 1 Thes. ii. 13, ' For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh in them that believe.' God's authority breaketh in upon the heart with a con- vincing power.
(3.) We know things more seriously as we are awakened to a more attentive consideration. It is a great part of the Spirit's work, not only to enlighten the mind, but to awaken it: Acts xvi. 14. 'And a certain woman named Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened that she attended unto the things spoken by Paul' Many truths lie by, and are lost for want of consideration. Non-attendancy to spiritual and heavenly things is the ruin of the far greatest part of the world : Mat. xxii. 5, ' And they made light of it.' Men will not suffer their minds so long to dwell upon these things as to see what is true misery and happiness, what is gain, and what is loss ; and then in seeing they see not, and in hearing they hear not ; as when you tell a man of a business whose mind is taken up with other things. Many men have a sudden thought of their misery and happiness, but a glance cannot work a steady contemplation. When our sin is ever before us, when we have serious thoughts of Christ and his salvation, they work most powerfully with us. But most men are never their own selves ; have no time to think of God, and Christ, and heavenly things ; and discontinuing the use, they lose in time the desire. Too many acquaintance in the world make them strangers to God. If they never sit alone to consider the necessity and worth of these things, how can they affect their hearts ?