SERMON VI.
EXTRACT I.
Creaturely exertions. Stillness. Waiting.
"Not all the external means, and all external instruction, could give them [the disciples] an understanding of the way of it. This [the new birth] cannot be understood till the mind becomes quieted and settled, and divested of all its roving and running, all its creaturely exertions, all its willing and doing, and comes into that state that Jesus commended his disciples to come into. The soul must become willing to wait as he told them.' 'He told them that they must be still and submissive; that they must be nothing; that they must experience a time, when, in self abasement, they would be settled and confirmed in the belief, that they could do nothing at all, but merely to wait for that power by which, said he, I have done those miracles you have seen me do." p. 137.
"Creaturely exertions," creaturely activity, are not Scripture phrases; and the mischief is very great, that has been produced by using unscriptural terms, in speaking and writing on religious subjects, when the meaning of those terms is not clear and definite. Such phrases also as sinking down—centering down—digging deep—dwelling deep—turning inward, &c., the reader may have observed, but we hardly need say, they are not the language of Christ and his Apostles. The Apostle Peter exhorted Simon the sorcerer, even when he was in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity, to repent and pray, if perhaps the
