Section 918
II. There is a knowledge of this. Some persons have a knowledge of it, and some have not
This is supposed in the text, by “All thy people Israel, which shall know, every man the plague of his own heart.” That is, as many of them as shall know the plague of their own hearts; suggesting, that all do not. Some do not know this. Carnal men do not. Only spiritual persons, that are under the influence of the Spirit of God, who convinces of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. As for others, they know nothing of the plague of their own heart. They may possibly know something of the nature of sin, the difference between moral good and evil, by the light of nature, the laws of men, and the general notions obtained among men; but they know nothing of the spring of evil actions, of indwelling sin, the fountain of iniquity. To this they are strangers; and more especially such as are grown up to work all iniquity; whose consciences are cauterized, or seared with a hot iron. All those who are whole, know not the plague of their own hearts. The whole need not a physician, but those that are sick. The former need a physician as much as the latter; but they know not that they stand in need of one. The reason of which is, they do not know the plague of their own hearts; and therefore, in their own apprehensions, they need no physician. It is quite the reverse, however, with those that are sick; that is, who are sensible of the sickness: for, otherwise, all men are sick; but our Lord means, them that are sensible of it, as Ephraim was: “When Ephraim saw his sickness” (Hosea 5:13). Now those who are sensible of their sickness, feel their need of a physician; but those who are insensible of sickness, are like him, whom the wise man describes as upon the top of a mast; who says, They have stricken me, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not (Proverbs 23:35). Song of Solomon it is with such insensible sinners as are whole in their own esteem. Those who think themselves increased in goods, and in need of nothing, do not know the plague of their own hearts. Those who imagine they need no repentance, do not know the plague of their own hearts. The pharisee knows not the plague of his own heart: for his language is, I am not as other men are. The apostle Paul did not know the plague of his own heart, at the time to which he refers, when he says, Touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. The perfectionist knows not the plague of his own heart; if he did, he would not say, he is free from sin. Job says, If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean; yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own cloths should abhor me (Job 9:30, 31). If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves (1 John 1:8): but good men know the plague of their own hearts; being enlightened by the Spirit of God, convincing them of sin, of righteousness, and judgment. Such as are made light in the Lord, and made acquainted with salvation by him; are made light, so as to know themselves and the plague of their own hearts. Those in whose hearts God has commanded the light to shine, not only see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ; but they see the vileness of their nature, and the corruption of their hearts and that they know this, appears from the ingenuous confession of sin, which they make; not only of the outward actions of sin, which they commit; but also of indwelling sin. For while they are confessing the one, they are naturally led to the other; as the Psalmist was, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me (Psalm 51:5). This appears from the groanings of the saints; for they groan being burdened, burdened with indwelling sin. So David says, (when speaking of sin, on which account he had no rest in his bones), My groaning is not hid from thee (Psalm 38:9). Saints, under the New Testament speak the same language (for the people of God, under different dispensations, have the same experience in this respect). O wretched man that I am, (says the apostle), who shall deliver me from the body of this death! (Romans 8:24). It appears by the feeling they have of a law in their members, warring against the law of their minds; fighting one against the other; so that they cannot do the things that they would. It appears from their non-dependence upon any religious duties performed by them; for however outwardly religious they may appear, in the sight of others, they are sensible of imperfection in their services; they know there is not a just man upon earth, that does good, and sinneth not; that there is strange distraction of mind, wanderings of thoughts, and a mixture of sin even in their most holy things. They cannot, therefore, depend upon any thing done by them; but acknowledge, when they have done all they can, that they are but unprofitable servants. It appears also, by their prayers against the plague of their own hearts. This leads us to consider,