satisfaction, their divine origin : for none but God could have conceived things so remote from human apprehension, yet so glorious in themselves, and so harmonious in all their parts ; harmonious with the perfections of the Deity, and with the necessities of fallen man.]
2. In an apprehension of its import —
[In " an honest and good heart," such as alone is fit for the reception of the heavenly seed, there is such a correspondence with divine truth as makes the reception of it easy. To such an one sin appears hateful, and therefore he acquiesces at once in all that is said in condemnation of it : and holiness appears delightful, and therefore he feels no inclination to lower the requirements of the Gospel. He would gladly, if he could, " be holy as God is holy," and " perfect as God is perfect." Hence the things which are stumbling-blocks and rocks of offence to a carnal mind, are most acceptable to him, inasmuch as they accord with the convictions of his own mind, and with the desires of his own soul. In a word, the whole plan of salvation, in all its parts and in all its bearings, is such as fills him with delight. He would not but be humbled in the dust : he would not wish to rob Almighty God of his glory in any one parti- cular : " Not unto us, not unto us, O Lord, but unto thy name, be the praise ! " is the very language of his soul : and all that is spoken in Scripture respecting God's free and sovereign dis- posals of his grace and mercy, so far from being offensive to him, finds a complete counterpart in the dispositions of his mind : and he is then most pleased, when God is most glorified.]
Hence, then, we may see,
1. Whence it is that the word of God produces so little effect in the world —
[It is not regarded as the word of God. Men sit in judg- ment upon it ; and, instead of taking it with meek submission as a rule of their faith and practice, satisfy themselves with making it a theatre for the display of their own ingenuity and learning. At best, the generality of men give but a feigned assent to it as the inspired volume : they will, perhaps, even contend for it as a whole, and yet dispute against it in relation to all its most important parts. Thus men contrive to evade its force : but when it comes fully upon the heart and con- science, " it is like fire, or like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces." Let it once reach the heart of man, and it will prove " sharper than any two-edged sword d," and " bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ e."]
d Heb. iv. 12. e 2 Cor. x. 4, 5.