Let me, then, go on to shew, II. Whence their want of proficiency proceeds —
Many more reasons might be assigned for it than we shall have time to notice. All the different classes which we have mentioned may trace their ignorance to causes in some respect peculiar to the class to which they belong. On the other hand, there are some causes common to them all, which therefore it will be more proper for me to specify.
Men come not to the knowledge of the truth,
1. Because the obstacles to knowledge are not removed from their minds —
[The love of this world, and of the things thereof, casts a thick veil over the human mind, and incapacitates it for the reception of divine truth. It is like a film over the eyes, which either distorts objects, or renders the vision of them very indistinct. Our blessed Lord says, " How can ye believe who receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh of God onlys?" In the parable of the Sower, the cares and pleasures of life are represented as choking the word, and rendering it unfruitful"^: and, till the ground has been in a measure cleared from thorns and briers, it is in vain to hope that any instruction can avail for the renovation and salvation of the soul.]
2. Because the means of attaining it are only par- tially used —
[Men will hear the Gospel with an almost insatiable avi- dity : but if you follow them to their own homes, you will not find them meditating upon what they have heard, with an application of it to their own souls ; nor praying to God to render it eflectual for the ends for which it has been delivered. When they have heard the word, they think they have done their duty : but meditation and prayer are not a whit less neces- sary for the improvement of the mind, than either written or oral instruction. This is particularly noticed by Solomon, who tells us, that we must add prayer to study ; and not only search, but " lift up our voice for understanding," if ever we would attain it*: and if we will not use every effort to im- prove what we have heard, it is no wonder that the instruction we have received fails of conveying any saving benefit to our souls.]
g John v. 44, " Matt. xiii. 22. * Prov. ii. 1— G.