*■ Acts ii. 30, 37. g Acts x. 43, 44.
1942.] THE NATURAL MAN's IGNORANCE. 93
corresponding with the truths themselves ; that is, a feeling of humiUation, or confidence, or joy, as the subject itself may require. Perhaps we may understand the matter yet more clearly, if we refer to the illustration before used, of a seal and the wax : the same seal is applied to both ; but the one, by reason of an invisible action of heat upon it, receives an impression ; whilst the other, by reason of its obduracy, remains unimpressed. Inquire then, I pray you, whether divine truth operate on your minds, to the production of peni- tential sorrow, of holy joy, of unreserved obedience. It is from its effects, in assimilating the soul to the Divine image, that you must judge of the source from whence your know- ledge flows. If it he from God, you may rest assured that it will lead you to God.]
2. How we may grow in all that is good — [If we can learn only from the Spirit of God, we must still continue to seek his heavenly teaching. Even after our eyes have been opened by the Spirit of God, the Scriptures will still be to us as a sealed book, unless He shine upon it from on high, and shine into our hearts also, to give us the knowledge of it^^ Remember, then, to seek, even to your latest hour, instruction from Him. If at any time you take up the Scriptures, to read them, forget not to pray, with David, " Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous thinos out of thy law." So also, when you come to hear the word, look up to the Holy Spirit for his gracious influence upon your soul : for if it come not home to you " in demonstration of the Spirit and of power," it will be only " as water spilt upon the ground, which cannot be gathered up again :" but if you rely simply upon him, and " receive it with meekness" as little children, you shall find it " mighty, through Him, to the pulling down of every obstruction," and shall experience its sufficiency to sanctify and save the soul.]
I' 2 Cor. iv. 6.