7thly. _A renewed heart_ is the best help to understand aright the sacred writings. A holy temper of heart will dispose us to sit, like Mary, at the feet of Jesus to receive with joy his instructions. If we have this, we shall feel most sensibly when we read and hear--read the written, and hear the preached word. This will enable us to see the beauty and glory of the divine character--the excellency of the Mediator's character--to behold the equity of Providence, the riches of divine grace, the wonders of a Redeemer's love, and give us a lively view--of all the truth, duties, doctrines, and ordinances of the Gospel. A very different sense of scripture has the saint from the sinner, the penitent believing Christian, from the thoughtless and profane sinner, the sanctified from the unsanctified heart. _The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned._ This doth not mean that an unrenewed person cannot understand the true meaning of scripture, or the doctrines of it. For, then, it could be of no benefit or use to him. What cannot be understood, cannot work any good effect upon the heart or life. To assert that none can understand the word of God, unless _inspired_ by the same spirit, which gave it, is inconsistent with every principle of reason, common sense, and scripture. For it, that is, the scripture, addresses itself to all, good and bad, saints and sinners.----Finally--
8thly. _In order to understand_ the written word of God aright, we must practise what we do know--practise according to its divine precepts. A right and saving knowledge, is a practical knowledge. We must not only be willing to receive all our doctrines and principles from the holy scriptures, but to be guided by them altogether, in our conduct and conversation:--to embrace them as the only rule of faith and practice.--Then shall we be safe. Then shall we have a guide that cannot mislead us. If any man do his will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God.----Thus we are to do, in order RIGHTLY to understand the scripture----_Then opened he their understanding that they might understand the scriptures._