in reference to all such moral attainments, that they are a rich "treasure;" since " godliness, with con- tentment, is great gain11."
I may further add, that this wisdom is a mine of spiritual wealth. Here I must bespeak your can- dour ; because, in bringing forth " the deep things of Godx," I may be led into a field not commonly ex- plored by the great and learnedy. But, without en- tering into this view of divine wisdom, I cannot do justice to my subject. I observe, then, that " the fear of God" opens, if I may so say, a new world to him in whom it is found. To speak of God as giving to his redeemed people a new sense, wrould doubtless be erroneous : for the spiritual man has no new faculty, but only a new application and use of the faculties he before possessed : but the Spirit of God, at the time of our conversion, does bring new objects to our senses ; and enables us, through faith, to dis- cern things which are altogether hid from the carnal man2. Nor let this appear strange. We all know the power of glasses to bring to our view things which, on account of their diminutiveness or distance, are incapable of being clearly discerned by our unassisted organs. We know, too, the power of light, which can render even the motes in the air visible to the naked eye, yea, and visible to one man, whilst they are hid from another who is close at his side. Now, such is the power with which the Spirit of God invests us, when he imparts to us " a spiritual discernment a." He brings to the eye of our minds " Him who is in- visible13;" and reflects such a light upon spiritual objects, as to give us a clear apprehension of them, and to make us as certain of their existence as if we beheld them with our bodily eyes. For instance, the man who is truly taught of God, sees God himself upon his throne as a reconciled God and Father ; and beholds also the Lord Jesus Christ at the right hand of God, perpetually interceding for him. He appre- hends, also, the love of God beaming in the Saviour's
" 1 Tim. vi. 6. * 1 Cor. ii. 10. y 1 Cor. i. 26—28.
z 1 Cor. ii. 9, 10, 14. a 1 Cor. ii. 9, 10, 14. b Heb. xi. 27.