spiritual things we arc all by nature blind, and need, the learned as well as the unlearned, to have our understandings opened to understand them8. We all "lack wisdom" exceedingly: and to all equally would I address those words of Solomon, " Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding: in all thy ways acknowledge him; and he shall direct thy paths*" ]
2. Those who are discouraged by their want of wisdom —
[If you look either to the greatness of your difficulties, or your own insufficiency to meet them, you may well faint and fail : but if you look to God, there is no ground for dis- couragement at all. For, can he not " ordain strength in the mouths of babes and sucklings11?" And " does he not put his treasure into earthen vessels on purpose that the excellency of the power may be seen to be of Himx?" Sec how he re- proved Jeremiah for his desponding thoughtsy: and be con- tent to be " weak, that his strength may be perfected in your
weakness2 " See how he reproved Peter alsoa ; and be
careful how you admit a doubt. If you are doubting, he warns you plainly, that " you must not expect to receive any thing of the Lordb:" but, if you will believe, according to your faith it shall be unto youc ]
s Rev. hi. 17, 18. Luke xxiv. 45. l Prov. hi. 5, 6.
u Ps. viii. 2. x 2 Cor. iv. 7. >r Jer. i. 6, 7.
z 2 Cor. xii. 9. a Matt. xiv. 30, 31. b ver. 7.
c Matt. ix. 29.