Religion & morality > Human nature in its fourfold state

Head I. Corruption of the Understanding. 43
ped by those of Europe alone—Whatever wisdom was
among their philosophers, the world by that wisdom knew
noi God, 1 Cor. i. 21. and all their researches in religion
were but groping in the dark, Acts xvii. 27- If we look
within the inclosure, and, except a few that were groan¬
ing and waiting for the consolation of Israel, we will see
a gross darkness on the face of that generation. Though
to them were committed the oracleskof God, yet they were
most corrupt in their doctrine. Their traditions were
multiplied, but the knowledge of these things wherein the
life of religion lies was lost: Masters of Israel knew not
the nature and necessity of regeneration, John iii. 10.
Their religion was to build on their birth-privilege, as
children of Abraham, Matth. iii. 9, to glory in their cir¬
cumcision and other external ordinances, Philip, iii. 2, 3.
And to rest in the law, (Rom. ii. 17.) after they had, by
their false glosses, cut it so short, as they might go well
near to the fulfilling of it, Matth. v.
Thus was darkness over the face of the world, when
Christ, the true light, came into it; and so is darkness
over every soul, till he, as the day star, arise in the heart.
The former is an evidence of the latter. What, but the
natural darkness of men’s minds, could still thus wear out
the light of external revelation, in a matter upon which
eternal happiness did depend ? Men did not forget the
way of preserving their lives, but how quickly did they
lose the knowledge of the way of salvation of their souls,
which are of infinite more weight and worth ! When
patriarchs and prophets preaching was ineffectual, men be¬
hoved to be taught of God himself, who alone can open
the eyes of the understanding. But, that it might appear
that the corruption of man’s mind lay deeper than to be
cured by mere external revelation, there were but very
few converted by Christ’s preaching, who spoke as never
man spoke, John xii. 37, 38. The great cure on the
generation remained to be performed, by the spirit ac¬
companying the preaching of the apostles; who, accord¬
ing to the promise, (John xiv. 12.) were to do greater
works. And if we look to the miracles wrought by our
blessed Lord, we will find, that, by applying the remedy
to the soul, for the cure of bodily distempers, (as in the
case of the man sick of the palsy, Matth. ix. 2.) he plainly