ON HOSEA XLV. -VERSE S. 239 knowledge. It is an excellent speech of the philo- sopher, that such as every man is in himself, such is the end that he works unto, and such notions he hath of that good which is his end. And therefore it is impossible that a wicked frame of heart can ever look upon any supernatural object as his last end, or as principally desirable. If I should see a man choose a small trifle before a rich jewel, however he should profess to know the excellency, and to value the richness of that jewel ; yet I should conclude that he did not indeed understand the worth of it aright. And therefore unto the perfect and proper knowledge of supernatural things, there is required a special work of the grace and Spirit of Christ opening the heart, and working it to a spiritual constitution proportion- able to such kind of truths about which it is con- versant. The scripture every where attributeth this work unto God, and his Spirit : it is he that giveth a heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, Deut. xxix. 4. It is he that giveth a heart to know him, Jer. xxiv. 7. It is he that manifesteth himself unto those that love him, John xiv. 21. It is he that revealeth unto us by his Spirit the things of God, 1 Cor. ii. 10. It is he that giveth us an understanding, 1 John v. 20. and that opens the understanding to understand the scriptures, Luke xxiv. 45. Acts xvi. 14. It is he that teacheth us to call Christ our Lord, Matt. xvi. 17. 1 Cor. xii. 3. for the voice of carnal and corrupt reason is, " We will not have this man to reign over us," Luke xix. 14. Every man natu- rally frameth and shapeth his notions of doctrinal matters unto the manner of his conscience and con- versation, embracing that which is consonant, and rejecting that which is dissonant thereunto, Mic. ii. 11. Isa. xxx. 10, 11. To the unclean every thing is
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