The spirit of man [is] the candle of the Lord
The rational soul of man is a light set up in him; this is what
is commonly called the light of nature; it was a bright and
burning light at first, but through sin is become a very feeble
one; by which men have only a glimmering view of divine things,
of God and his worship, and of what he would have done, or not
done; by this light men do but grope after him, if happily they
may find him and know his will; it is but like a candle light at
best, in comparison of divine revelation, or the Gospel of the
grace of God, which has shone out like the sun in its meridian
glory; and especially in comparison of the sun of righteousness,
Christ Jesus, and the light of the divine Spirit; yet this is a
light set up by the Lord, a candle of his; it comes from the
Father of lights, he is the author and maintainer of it; it is a
spirit and understanding which is by the inspiration of the
Almighty; see ( Genesis 2:7 ) (
Job 32:8 ) (
Zechariah 12:1 ) ;
searching all the inward parts of the belly;
or heart; the thoughts, intents, and purposes of it; which are
the things of a man that only the spirit of man knows; by this
candle, or light, he can look into his own heart, the inmost
recesses of it, and reflect upon his thoughts and schemes, and
judge in some measure whether right or wrong; there is a
conscience in man, which, unless seared, passes sentence on what
is in man, or done by him, and either excuses or accuses; see (
1
Corinthians 2:10 1
Corinthians 2:11 ) ( Romans 2:14 Romans 2:15 ) .