That we may be stirred up to seek divine truth in this way, let us consider, IL Its salutary influence when duly received —
" Discretion will preserve us, and understanding will keep us." This is the testimony of God himself. But it may be asked, ' If common knowledge be not elFectual to keep us, or even divine knowledge when
a jolin ix. 35, 3G. ^ Ps. cxix. 162.
received only into the head, how can the circumstance of receiving knowledge into the heart be productive of any such effect?' I answer, 'It is this very cir- cumstance which makes all the difference : divine knowledge, when it resides merely in the head, is speculative only ; whereas, when it enters into the heart, it becomes practical.
1. It rectifies the judgment —
[On every subject connected with the soul, the judgment of mankind is in direct opposition to the mind of God. In their eyes, the things of time and sense are of the first importance ; but in the sight of God they are all lighter than vanity itself: in his eyes, the concerns of the soul and of eternity are alone worthy of the care of an immortal Being. To the ungodly, even the Gospel itself, that unrivalled production of divine wisdom, is " foolishness;" but to an enlightened mind, it is " the power of God and the wisdom of God." To the stout-hearted infidel, to follow the commands of God is to " be righteous over-much : " but to one who is taught of God, obedience to God's commands appears his highest honour and felicity. But the truth is, he once was in darkness, but is now " brought into marvellous hght:" he once saw only through the distorting medium of sense ; he now beholds with the eye of faith, which brings him within the vail of the sanctuary, and discovers every thing as it is beheld by God himself. Nor should this appear strange to us. The difference made in the aspect of any object by its being viewed through glasses of different construction, may easily convince us how different an appearance every object must assume, according as it is viewed through the medium of sense, or by the penetrating eye of faith. The person who turns to God has the very law of God written in his heart ; and needs only to look within, and he will see the correspondence between the divine records and his own actual experience : so that he does not merely believe the divine testimonies to be true and good, but " has within himself a witness" of their transcendent excellence : or, as it is said in the verse before our text, '' he understands righteousness, and judgment, and equity, yea, every good path."]
2. It infuses sensibility into the conscience —
[The conscience of an unenlightened man is blind, partial, and in many respects seared ; since, in relation to the disposi- tions of the soul towards God, which is of far gi-eater importance than any thing else, it never reproves at all. But when divine wisdom has entered into his soul, a man will not be satisfied with a freedom from great and flagrant transgressions : he will