it is that alone which will prove a sufficient antidote to temptation, or become a perennial source of holi- ness in the life.
In confirmation of this sentiment, I will shew,
I. What reception divine truth should meet with —
The heart is the proper seat of divine knowledge — [Other knowledge is seated in the head : it is acquired only by deep study, and by force of intellect : nor, in what- ever degree it be attained, does it at all sanctify and renew the soul. But the truth of God " enters into the heart .•" there is that " incorruptible seed " deposited ; and from thence is it brought forth into life and action. I mean not to say, that the understanding is not to be exercised, or exercised deeply, in relation to divine truth ; for, beyond all doubt, every truth must so far approve itself to our judgment, as e\adently to appear worthy of God, and suited to our condition : nor should any man give an unrestrained scope to his imagination or afiections : for, if he were implicitly to follow them, he would of necessity be led away from the solid maxims of the Gospel: but when once he is convinced of any truth of God, then is he to deliver up his affections to be moulded and directed by it.
To make this clear, let me state what I mean by divine knowledge. The word of God teaches us that sin is an evil of extreme malignity ; that, to every soul in which it reigns, it is defiling, debasing, damning. It teaches us that we are altogether incapable of cancelling its guilt, or of subduing its power ; and that if we find not a Saviour who is able to effect these things for us, we must inevitably and eternally perish. It teaches us yet further, that the Lord Jesus Christ is precisely such a Saviour as we want, and that he is both " able and willing to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by him." Still further, it teaches us the beauty of holiness, and the blessedness of serving and enjoying God. But of what use are these things, as a mere theory ? It is only by their being actually experienced in the soul that they can be productive of any solid benefit. But, when truly received into the heart, they set in motion all the affections of the soul, and call into activity our fears and our hopes, our sorrows and our joys.]
It should be received there with supreme delight — [Truth of any kind is pleasing to the mind, as all who are accustomed to the investigations of science can attest. But divine truth should generate the sublimest joy ; or, as my text expresses it, should be "pleasant to the soul." It should be to us what light is to the wanderincr and benio-hted traveller : he pants tor it; and congratulates himself on the very first appearance of its orient dawn. To him it comes as a remedy
755.1 riETY A PRESERVATIVE FROM EVIL. 11
that is suited to his most urgent necessities. Conceive of the Israelites, when pressed with hunger, or perishing with thirst ; with what interest must they have beheld the manna that was showered about their tents ! and with what avidity must they have bowed down to drink of the streams that issued from the rockl Or, if it be said that these things are objects of sense, and therefore inapplicable to the point in hand, take the in- stance of the brazen serpent, which was exhibited to iheix faith. They felt themselves dying of the wounds which had been inflicted by the fiery serpents : they were perfectly conscious that no physician on earth could help them : and they were informed, that, by God's appointment, a brazen serpent had been erected, in order that, by looking to that, they might be restored to health. Would they hear of that with sceptical indifference, or behold it with an uninterested curiosity ? No : it would be to them a matter of hfe and death : the very first tidings of such an instrument would make them eager for the exposiu'e of it to their view ; and when they saw or heard others attesting its efficacy, they would look to it with a desire to experience in themselves its healing power. Now this is the way in which divine truth should be viewed by us. To the ungodly world it ismostunwelcome, because it bears testimony against them, and against all their ways : hence " they hate the light, and will not come to it, lest their deeds should be reproved." But to us it should be an object of ardent desire and supreme delight. We should look to it, not for the pur- pose of critical discussion, but of grateful application to the soul. Our spirit should be precisely that of the blind man whom Jesus had healed. Our Lord put the qviestion to him, " Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" To which he replied, " Who is he. Lord, that I might believe on him ^ ?" Here he finds no disposition to speculate upon the subject, as on a matter of mere critical inquiry ; but shews a readiness to admit the truth the moment it should be revealed to him, and to embrace it as the one ground of all his future conduct. Such should be the disposition of our minds also. And when we have attained clearer views of divine truth, we should " rejoice as one that findeth great spoil ^."]