bleffed Paul giving in his experience, and as it were fetting up a way-mark for believers to enquire their road and afcertain the truth of their profeffion by, Rom. vii. 25. that which I do, I allow not, for what I would, that do I not, but what I bate, that do I, ver. 22. I delight in the law of God, after the inward man; but I fee another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, &c. And the same apostle, when writing to the church at Phillippi, fays, not as though I had already attained, either were yet already perfect, but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that, for which alfo I am apprehended of Cbrift Jefus, chap. iii. 12. Seeing then that in the truly regenerate, the flesh lufts againit the fpirit, and the canaanites are not at once expelled from the land; believers hold faft your shield, and let not go your confidence which hath great recompence of reward, Heb x. 35.

4th, Perhaps you that are enquiring with Rebekah, if it be fo, why am I thus? Have been many years in the fervice, or rather in the thraldom of fin and fatan, and have long yielded your members fervants to uncleanness, and to iniquity, to iniquity, Rom. vi. 19. fo that according to the common proverb, long use had brought on a second nature; now it is not at all strange, that nature fhould ftruggle and labour to force its former paffage, and obftinately oppofe whatever would hinder its progrefs. This perverseness of nature, ftrengthened by habit and cuftom, is reprefented by the prophet as altogether unconquerable; can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye ajo do good, that are accustomed to do evil, Jer. xiii. 23. Here you fee fuch a change and reformation is looked upon as impoffible,

fome

fomething quite befide the course of nature, and beyond its power to effect; but what is too difficult for nature, is not beyond the reach of grace, for things impoffibie with men, are poffible with God. The ftrength and violence of your corruptions may ferve to humble you, and fhew you the malignant nature of fin; but that you are not captivated and carried away by its impetuofity, may ferve to comfort you, and shew you the power and efficacy of almighty grace.

5th, Let the believer under foul conflicts remember, that the very thing which often gives him trouble and concern, (I mean the oppofition he finds within,) is that which may greatly ferve to administer comfort and fupport unto him; inafmuch as these inward ftruggles denote, and arife from contrary principles. When Rebekah came to enquire of the Lord, it was faid to her, two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people fhall be feparated from thy bowels; this was spoken with reference to Jacob and Efau, the children fhe was then pregnant with, and may very well set forth the ftate of every child of God; for as the children ftruggled in her womb, fo there is a perpetual struggle in the foul renewed by grace; but as it was faid to her in the following words, "the elder fhall ferve the younger," fo will it be in the case of the believer. The carnal mind must lose its enmity to holiness, e'er it cease to oppose it; but the unalterable decree is past, the elder shall serve the younger; nature, however obftinate and perverfe muft yield at length to the fuperior all conquering force of fovereign grace. Take courage then poor foul, many waters cannot quench love, that spark of grace amidst

the

the ocean of thy corruptions, fhall still burn and break forth into a flame; it is like a grain of muftard-feed, which when caft into the ground is least of all grain, but when grown is the largest of all herbs. Wouldeft thou know and underftand this miracle, why this little spark ftill burns, notwithstanding the devil employs all his engines to quench it, and thy own corruptions like fo many water floods feem ready to overwhelm it; turn afide with Mofes, and behold, the Lord was in the bufb, this explained the mystery; and it is the Lord fupplies with oil the affaulted flame, which can never be extinguished until the fulness which there is in Jefus be exhausted.

6th, Weak believers often diftrefs themselves, when they feel their graces weak, and their comforts low, by fuppofing that if they were really of God, they should continually live upon the delectable mountains, and feel their joys abound like the fwelling ftreams of jordan; whereas it fhould be confidered that the quality, not the quantity of grace proves a change in the foul. We read in the word of God, of ftrong faith, and of little faith, there are babes in Chrift, as well as fathers; and thofe, whatever conceptions they have of themselves, are no less heirs of God and joint-heirs with Chrift than these. Let it

therefore be your principal care to prove the verity of your grace, for no baftard in this fenfe fhall be admitted into the congregation of the Lord; and what has been delivered in the former particulars, may serve as a touch-ftone for this end and purpose. True grace will always prove it felf to be fuch, and although great grace is much to be defired for present happiness; yet grace in the lowest degree

by

Some will

by oppofing all fin, and inclining to all holiness;
will never be withdrawn from the foul poffeffed
thereof, but will terminate in glory.
perhaps fay, if glory be infeparately connected with
the loweft degree of grace,and this doctrine be taught
and inculcated, it cuts the very finews of endea-
vour, and encourages men to fettle upon their lees.

But in anfwer to this, it fhould be remembered, that fuch as can find themselves difpofed herefrom to flacken the reins and abate their speed, give the most flagrant proof, that they themselves are utter ftrangers to that grace we fpeak of; the nature of which is, not to oppofe fome fin but all, not to regard fome duties only, but to have respect unto all the commandments of God.

7th, The cafe is widely different between the
man who having fallen into the hands of his ene-
mies, is now difarmed, fhackled, loaded with
chains, and fast shut up in prifon; and the man,
who (although through furprize and unwatchful-
ness has loft a little ground and given his enemies
fome advantages,) yet holds faft his fword and
fhield, continues on the field of battle, and is
couragiously fighting to retrieve his loft honour:
the one is a wretched captive, the other, though
worsted by his foes, is ftill a fighting foldier un-
der the banner of his prince. Good men have
had their imperfections, few or none without fome
failing. The holy fcriptures have faithfully re-
corded both the virtues and the vices, of men
most excellent in their generations; and even faints
have finned, and in the brightest character there
has been fome flaw.
corded in God's bleffed
that we should imitate,

These things are not re-
book (nor fpoken now,)
but fhun the rocks they
ftruck

!

ftruck against; and if at any time like our forerunners we should start afide, and fin against our God, we may (encouraged by that grace and mercy manifefted to them in raifing and reftoring them,) humble ourselves under the hand of him, who is the fame yesterday, to-day and for ever.

It is one of the fpecial privileges of the people of God, that they are always under his eye, and are the fpecial objects of his care; the prophet fweetly fings this fong, a vineyard of red wine, is my church, 1 the Lord do keep it, I will water it every moment, left any hurt it. I will keep it night and day, If. xxvii, 2, 3, and therefore he that is their ftrength being at their right hand they shall not greatly fall. A believer may be caught, yea and without watchfulnefs and prayer he certainly will, but through the power of that grace that is given to reign in his heart thro righteousness, he will be preferved from captivity; for the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and be delighteth in his way; though he fall he fball not be utterly caft down, for the Lord upholdeth him with his band. Pf. xxxvii, 23.

8th, All things here below are subjected to perpetual change, and every hour teaches fomething unknown to it's predeceffor. The fun, although inceffantly fending forth rays of light and heat, yet we do not always enjoy the benefit of the one, nor conftantly live under the reviving influence of the other; night and darkness fucceeds our brighteft days, and nipping frofts our warmeft feafons. Now in a world of perpetual whirl, where all things roll round in ceafelefs fucceffion, yea where the world itself is growing old, and muft fhortly change it's fashion, what reafon has

a