The false principle of all human philosophy is that the powers of the mind of man are the measure of that which he can know or acquire. This is based on the utterly false thought that he cannot be acted on; that there is no superior power capable of acting on him; that susceptibility of impressions, or receptivity, is measured by active power, which is wholly false. And if the superior power be good, that receptivity is a surer way of truth than mental power, because will does not, per se, mix itself with it. Now, this thought of philosophy is merely the pride of self-importance, which will take itself, that is, its own mind, as the measure of everything. It makes me the superior measure of everything which is supreme, which is morally despicable folly. And this is man's mind always now as departed from God, because he is so departed; and philosophy, which may be entertaining as to what is subject to man, or even the investigation of faculties-though here man is capable of very little [and] as always false-if it bring Him in-it is religion- the principle is wholly changed; man receives and does not give or measure. Hence the profound truth of the Lord's remark, "Whosoever receiveth not the kingdom of God as a little child, cannot enter therein." This is so in the very nature of things.
A child always undergoes influences, is meant to do it; and if the influences are true and good, or, as far as they are true and good, it is a great mercy. There are always, and even in manhood, influences- why, the very state of the atmosphere affects my mind- acting on us. They cannot give true, that is, divine faith, but they can remove or anticipate obstacles, and put me, without a positive hindrance from false influences, or natural working of unbelief, in presence of revelation. My conscience and His work have to do with one another, as if God spoke there; and if He has spoken there, that is a great mercy. It is not divine faith, but it puts me with right human thoughts- rather with conscience instead of thoughts-in presence of the object of faith; and conscience only (and the heart) is receptive of divine truth; not mind, because mind actively judges, and that in its nature puts God out of His place. Conscience may so far give me a right thought of God, for it holds out to me evil and good- good so far as the nature (not the rule) of the faculty goes, and that is like God. "The man is become as one of Us, to know good and evil." But the moment man begins to reason there from, he is in error, because he cannot measure God rightly; for He is supreme, and man subject. Conscience refers to Him as above it, as under obligation; mind does not, cannot.
The Word of God acts on the conscience which is in man, and allows no reasoning- judges man, is not judged by him-must take that ground, if it be God's Word, or it would not be in its place- may reason in grace, and does, for God is love, and shows Himself so, but never gives up His claim-it would not be grace or truth. But there is no rest except in conscience, for there the true relationship is established. "Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did," gave intelligence to the woman, and that only. "Sir, I perceive that Thou art a prophet." The word of the Convincer of conscience has, all of it, divine authority over the soul. It is not, You have now told the truth, but You are a prophet. So it always is.