Page:An analytical exposition of both the epistles of the Apostle Peter, illustrated by doctrines out of every text .. (IA analyticalexposi00ames).pdf/165

 like that sorcerer, Acts 13.11. upon whom the hand of the Lord seemes to have beene, to blinde him. The former blindnesse goes before as the cause, viz. the neglect of vertue; the other followes as the effect. And both of them appeares by those signes that corporall blindnesse doth.

Reason 1. Because those men know not the speciall way wherein they should go.

2. They cannot see those stumbling-blocks that lye in the way, but continually stumble and fall.

3. They cannot so much as discerne the colours of those things which they handle, and therefore as it is, Isay 5.20. They call evill good, and good evill, &c. And one thing there is that addes to their misery more then is in those that are corporally blinde; namely, that they seeke not fit guides to leade them, as it is said of the sorcerer, that he did, Acts 13.11. for either they trust wholly to themselves, because they doe not know that they are blinde, Apoc. 3.17. or else they follow some blinde guide, so that both fall into the ditch.

Vse 1. This may serve to admonish us, to acknowledge our spirituall blindnesse, and to labour to get out of it. For it is in every one of us either in whole or in part. We should therefore thinke with our selves how great a misery it is to continue in perpetuall darknesse and in a most thick myst. Christ wept over Jerusalem for this their blindnesse.

2. To exhort us earnestly to pray unto God, who can open the eyes of our minde. The blinde man, Luke 18.38. never ceased to cry out, saying, Iesus thou Sonne of David have mercy on me, and when Christ asked him, what he would that he should do unto him, he desired nothing else, but that he might receive his sight, verse 41. So also in spirituall blindnesse, although a great part of it was cured in David, yet we see that he constantly prayes unto God, to open his eyes, Psal. 119.18. So also the Apostle saith, that he ceased not to pray for the faithfull, that the eyes of their understanding might be enlightned, Ephes. 1.18. This is the counsell of the holy Ghost, and of Christ, Apoc. 3.18.

3. To instruct us, never to think that we have received sight, untill we finde in our selves this study and labour to abound in vertue.