1. It rectifies all the powers of the soul —
[Self has usurped an entire dominion over the whole race of mankind. It has pervaded and debased all their faculties. The understanding is so blinded by it, as to be incapable of seeing any thing in its true light : and the judgment is so per- verted, that men universally " call evil good, and good evil ; they put darkness for light, and light for darkness; bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter c." The will is altogether indis- posed for exertion, except in that line where self may be gratified, and our own ease, or pleasure, or interest, or honour may be advanced. Even conscience itself is an unfaithful guide, having no sensibility at all, except in concurrence with the corrupt dictates of a perverted judgment and a carnal will.
But let love come into the heart, and assume that ascen- dency over it which God has ordained, and all these faculties will receive a new direction, — I had almost said, a new power. Now as soon as truth is proposed to the mind, its beauty and excellence shall be discerned, and its superiority to every adverse principle shall be acknowledged. Now also, notwith- standing the yet remaining bias of the corrupt nature towards what is evil, the prevailing and dominant inclination will be towards what is good ; the Divine nature within us counter- acting the motions of the old man, and not suffering it any longer to retain the mastery over us ; and the conscience con- tinually impelling us to greater measures of conformity to God's revealed will.
This process will be best seen by some examples placed before our eyes. The Apostle Paul, previous to his conver- sion, had all the advantages which a man could have for the improvement and direction of all his faculties : but yet every faculty of his soul was entirely engaged on the side of sin. Not having love in his heart, notwithstanding his fancied rec- titude, he was no better than a savage beast in his conduct towards the Christian Church : " he breathed out nothing but threatenings and slaughter against them," and thought all the while he was acting in the path of duty, and rendering to God an acceptable service*1. But when once he was converted to God, and brought under the influence of a principle of love, he condemned all which he had before approved e ; and was willing to die for those, whom he had just before laboured to destroy. We may behold the same effect in those who were converted on the day of Pentecost. Compare the state of their minds when they came together that morning, and when they separated, and our subject will have all the elucidation that can possibly be desired f.]
c Isai. v. 20. <i Acts xxvi. 9, 10. e 1 Tim. i. 13.
f Compare Acts ii. 13. with Acts v. 44, 45.