Imatges de pàgina
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VOL. all other beings, if he were but known. And

I. then,

2. SINCE an object so excellent in himself, and beneficent towards us, must have been loved by us, if there were not fome defect in our felves, therefore it plainly appears that there is a defect; and it is owing to this, that sense has got dominion over us, and the ruling fway within us. For if he be not loved by any one, it must proceed from hence, that thofe lively apprehenfions are wanting, which fenfe is the inftrument of with reference to visible objects. This is in it self most plain, that fuch an object as the bleffed God is, could not but attract our love, if there were not fome great defect in our felves, or if fenfe had not the power and dominion over us. And that it has fuch power and dominion, may be seen by comparing these two things together to wit, that generally the objects of fenfe do make great impreffions upon us; but the things that fall not within the reach thereof, or exceed its sphere, ufually make little or none at all.

THE things of fenfe, I fay, in the first place, do ufually make a great impreffion upon us, and are the things that have the deepest influence and operation upon the minds of men, fo long as they are deftitute of the grace of GoD. Hence it is, that men, who are yet in an unregenerate state, are said to be in the flesh. And a wicked man is fpoken of as one, that is loft in the flesh; fo that there is nothing comes near him, nothing affects the

Rom. vii. 5

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II.

the foul, nothing reacheth his heart, but what fome SER M. way or other doth slide in upon him, through the mediation of his external fenfes. It is true, fenfe is the inftrument of conveying to us the knowledge of many things that are not the objects thereof. But when any are spoken of under this character, of being in the flesh, it befpeaks the degeneracy of man while unrenewed to be fo great, that he is a creature so wrapt up in the flesh, as that nothing can come at him, but what is fenfible. And therefore of such persons it is faid, They favour the things of the flesh. While this is the ftate and cafe of any man, it is no wonder that things, which are not the objects of fight, fhould move his heart but little. It is evident to all that make any obfervations upon themselves, how mighty a power fenfible things have upon them. A danger that we fee, how do we start at it? Without using any intervening thoughts, as foon as we see it we dread it. How apt are we also to be amused, by the variety of fenfible objects? How apt to be infnared and inticed by them? Therefore fuch as have a due care of themselves, what a watch and guard do they fet upon their fenses? For this purpofe holy Job is faid to make a covenant with his eyes . And we alfo read of a Heathen philofopher, that would outdo Job, by putting out his eyes, that he might be able to contemplate the better; acting herein agreeably to this Arabian proverb, Shut the windows, that the house may be light. Thus it is evident how great

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VOL. great a power fenfe has over us, to draw us this way and that. And,

I.

On the other hand, it is alfo obvious to experience, how little power in general those things have ufually over us, which fall not under the fenfes. Not only the objects of our love, but of our other affections fignify nothing, make no impreffion if they be invifible. Therefore it is spoken of as a characteristical note of the faints, that they look not at the things that are seen, which are but temporal, but at the things that are not feen, and are eternal. We read particularly of Noah, who being warned of GoD of things not feen as yet, moved with fear, and through faith prepared an ark for the faving of bis boufe. Do but confider; here was one man, and only one in a whole world, that was actually moved by the discovery and report of things not feen as yet, who when he was warned by GOD of fuch and fuch things coming, though unfeen at prefent, admitted into his foul a pious preventing fear. I fay there feems to have been but one fuch man in a whole world, and he is thereupon recorded with honour in the book of Gob for it. So rare a thing is it that a man should be influenced by things not fubject to fight, that if there be but one Noah, any one fuch perfon in the world, record him for it, faith Go D, to future ages for his excellency in this, that he took notice of the monition, or warning from GOD, as to things not feen as yet, so as

2 Cor. iv. 18. Heb. x1.7.

to

II.

to do what was agreeable to the exigence of the SER M. cafe. Accordingly he ftands at this day as an eminent example to all fucceeding ages. And you find, that it is the fame faith, which diftinguisheth those, who belong to GOD, and is the principal rule of their life; to wit, the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not feen, Plain therefore and visible it is to us, and fo it must be to all the world, that most persons are governed by their fenfes; while things not fenfible never move, nor fignify any thing with

us.

How plainly doth experience every day speak in this cafe? When we tell men of a judgement to come, a dreadful tribunal where they must all appear, and an endless state of things, that is before them; we are to them as men that mock. They cry out, " Surely, you are but in

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jest; you mean not as you say, when you tell

"us of fuch dreadful things; we fee nothing ,"like it, nothing tending that way." Thus in like manner it is faid, that when the inhabitants of Sodom were admonished by Lot, that fire and brimstone were ready to come down upon their heads to punish the moft flagitious enormities of that people, he was to them as one that mocked'. So we are told this will be the language of fcoffers in the latter days, Where is the promise of bis coming? As much as to fay, "You have "told us often of the great and terrible day, "when the fign of the fon of man shall be seen "in the heavens, and that there fhall be moft

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VOL." terrible concomitants of his appearance; but "we fee nothing like it, no token of its approach, "all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." Thus the judgement of finners is framed only by what is feen; and what is not seen, is not at all minded, not regarded by them. So David fays, Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not GOD". They fay, "All things are as they were. There "is no alteration fallen out fo important, as "seems to portend fuch dreadful things, as you "talk of. The fun runs its courfe as it has been "wont, and there is the fame fucceffion of day "and night, fummer and winter, as in former "times. Who therefore can make us believe, "that there is fuch a day coming as that, which "is fo much talked of?"

Now, fince we find, that GOD is fuch a one, as you have heard; namely, most amiable in himself, and beneficent toward us, and confequently that he would moft certainly be beloved, if there were not fome great defect in us which hinders fo bleffed an effect; and fince we find, that there is fuch a defect, that we have promoted fenfe to be the ruler in us, and that fenfible things make a deep impreffion on us, while things that are not subject to the fenfes have little, or no regard from us; we have all the reason in the world to conclude, that the great reason why men love not GOD is, because they do not fee him. He is out of fight, and they regard him

not.

C Pfalm Lv. 19.

I

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