comprehend these things : they are a stumbling-block to him ; they are mere " foolishness" in his eyes.]
2. An opposition to our depraved appetites — [The Gospel calls upon us to " mortify our members
upon earth," yea, and to " crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts:" and to such an extent does it require the subju- gation of our corrupt aj)petites, that, if there be a thing dear to us as a right eye, it calls upon us to pluck it out, or a thing useful as a right hand, to cut it off". Now, how can such doc- trines as these be received by a proud, unmortified, and un- liumbled spirit ? It is not possible but that there should be the utmost repugnance to them in all who feel not the value of their own souls, and desire not above all things to obtain peace with God. In truth, the doctrines of Christianity are not a whit more offensive to the reason of the natural man, than the duties of it are to his corrupt affections; which, therefore, must be mortified, before he can acquiesce in them as good and right.]
3. An inconsistency with our worldly interests — [The instant we embrace the Gospel with our whole
hearts, the world will become our enemies. They hated and persecuted the Lord of glory himself: can we suppose that the disciple will be above his Lord, or that, if they called the Master of the house Beelzebub, they will not find some oppro- brious names for those also of his household ? We are taught by our Lord that we must be hated of all men for his name's sake ; and that, if we will not take up our cross daily, and follow him, we cannot be his disciples. Nay more ; if we be not willing to forsake all, and even to lay down our lives for liim, we cannot be partakers of his salvation. But what will an earthly mind say to this? Will not a faithful declaration of these things draw forth that reply which was given to our Lord, "This is a hard saying; who can hear it?" Many, when our Lord proclaimed these things, turned back, and walked no more with him : and this cannot but be the result with every carnal and worldly mind, when such sacrifices are required.
Hence, then, it is evident, that, unless a very great change be wrought in the heart of an unconverted man, he neither will, nor can, be in a state to receive truths to which his whole nature is so averse. If he really desired to do God's will, the film would be removed from his eyes, and he would be able to appreciate the things which are set before him in the Gospel : but, till he becomes thus " meek" and docile, he will be inac- cessible to the light, or rather, the light itself will only augment his blindness.]
That all may be encouraged to seek these neces- sary dispositions, I proceed to notice.
581. J mef:k docility inculcated. 153
III. The promise made to those who are possessed of them —
It has already appeared, that men, by the Fall, have suffered loss both in their intellectual and moral powers. And, in both respects, shall they be restored to a rich measure of their pristine dignity, if only they cultivate the dispositions which God re- quires.
1. God will " guide them in judgment" —
[They see at present through a dense and delusive medium : and hence every thing relating to God assumes, in their eyes, an odious and distorted shape. But God will rectify their views : he will enable them to discern every thing in its proper colours, and to see its bearings on the welfare of the soul. The excellency of salvation through a crucified Re- deemer, the blessedness of having all our corruptions mortified, and the wisdom of sacrificing all our worldly interests to the welfare of the soul ; these, and all other trviths connected with them, shall be brought home to the mind with an evidence which it cannot doubt, and with a power which it cannot withstand : or, to use the expressive language of the Psalmist, " In the hidden part God shall make them to know wisdom*^." In a word, he will bring the soul out of darkness into mar- vellous light; so that it shall no more call evil good, and good evil, but shall " be guided into all truth," and shall " have the very mind that was in Christ Jesus."]