" They that seek the Lord understand all things." You will remember what our Lord has said : " If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God"." This is that which I have spoken of before : it supposes that there is in us that " honest and good heart," which alone receives the word aright, and alone enables us to " bring forth fruit with patience 1"." I would not depreciate books of human composition, and still less the Scriptures of truth : but we must never forget, that " though Paul should plant, and Apollos water, it is God alone that can give the increase i." In fact, this is the reason why many hear the Gospel for years without any saving benefit to their souls: they will not humble them- selves before God, and seek for mercy through Christ, and give themselves up unreservedly to God ; and therefore they remain for ever without any true understanding of the word, and any sweet experience of its power. You must first be melted by it ; and then you will be " poured into its mould," and attain, by means of it, that knowledge of God which is life eternal.]
2. How shall I manifest it to the world ?
[If" God have given you an understanding to know him''," shew it, not by a fond conceit of your own attainments, or a
contemptuous spurning of others as blind and carnal
but by a holy life and conversation, such as none but those who are taught of God can maintain. If you k7iow more than others, you should be prepared to answer that question, " What do ye more than others^?" "The tree must be known by its fruit:" and, if you have received a superior illumination in your mind, you must " walk worthy of that high distinction," and " shine as lights in a dark world." If the Lord, by his Spirit, have written his law upon your hearts, then must you shew forth that law in your lives, and be in the world as " epistles of Christ, known and read of all men*."]
0 John vii. 17. p Luke viii. 15. i 1 Cor. iii. 5 — 7.
r 1 John v. 20. s Matt. v. 47. * 2 Cor. iii. 2.