and so the work is put off till the old man revives, and the former pleasures of sin are recollected; and the idols of the sinner's days of ignorance are reinstated in their dominion, and remorse is overcome, and conscience stifled, till at length he who once seemed to run so well, becomes more sin's slave than ever. III. But, (which is the last point I had to speak to,) there certainly is one true way of security by which the Christian soldier might be enabled to " withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." If the carnal and vain security, of which so much has been said, be suffered to come to a height, then indeed no man can tell you how you may stand in spite of it. But the way of true security, and the only way, is by the avoiding of that carnal security. See then to this. Pray to God continually that at all times, and under all circumstances, he would keep up in your hearts a salutary spirit of self-distrust. "With the lowly is wisdom," * and "Happy is the man that feareth always." ↑ It may seem hard to press upon the zealous, and the fervent in spirit, any thing which may look like a check or damp upon the glow of their religious affections: but circum * Prov. xi. 2. + Prov. xxviii. 14. spection and consideration are seldom out of season; and that is a divine word which saith to you: "Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling." * At those times then, when you have most spiritual comfort, and are filled with the liveliest hopes, and have done best, and look upon yourselves as more than usually favoured by God, at those times, consider yourselves as especially called upon to reflect on your natural corruption, and on the miscarriages of former times, and to beg of God to establish, strengthen, settle you. Strive to have it as much as possible upon your minds, that special religious privileges and advantages, and conquests over temptation in the strength of the Lord, are calls not only to thankfulness, but to awe and godly fear. Remember it is the Lord your God who hath led you all these years through this wilderness of snares and perils; and that, by having done so, seeing you could not have gone one step in safety by yourselves, he has laid upon you an awful obligation to watchfulness, lest his labour of love prove vain with you. Recollect not only that your bodies are temples of the Holy Ghost," + and that "Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates,"‡ * 66 Ps. ii. 11. † 2 Cor. xiii. 5. † 1 Cor. vi. 19. but also how much it must aggravate your guilt, if, with such a provision made for your soul's health, you should after all miscarry. And to the intent that you may never lose sight of the possibility of a miscarriage, and of your being seduced to forsake the Lord when he leadeth you by the way, and that you may not be puffed up in the vanity of your fleshly mind, consider well God's word to Ezekiel : " I will establish my covenant with thee, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord, that thou mayest remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord God." * And take pattern from penitent David: I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me."† Never fail to make confession of sin a part of your secret religious worship, and study to be in confession as particular as you can. Be continually looking back to see how you were led into sin; and let your remembrance of the many instances of sin teach you your proneness to it. When I am weak," says St. Paul, "then I am strong." ‡ This, I believe, is a rule without any exception; and so is the 66 66 * Ezek. xvi. 62, 63. † 2 Cor. xii. 10. + Ps. li. 3. converse of it-when I am strong, then am I weak. One thing may safely be vouched for respecting perseverance; -whosoever is to endure to the end, and so to be saved, it can only be in a way of lowliness, and patience, and humility, and watching, and Christian industry, and persevering prayer, and godly fear, and selfdistrust, and proving of a man's own self, and jealous suspicion of a man's treacherous heart, and abjuring of his own strength. If you will suffer yourselves to be advised to these things, you may then be counselled further, otherwise it is to little purpose to say more: but "Be not wise in your own conceits." * Be ye clothed with humility." † "Be not prudent in your own sight." ‡ "Be not high-minded, but fear." § "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling;" || and then it may be added, and must be added, "Take unto you the whole armour of God." "To this man the Lord will look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at his word." ** This man will be thankful for the * Rom. xii. 16. ‡ Isa. v. 21. || Phil. ii. 12. ** Is. lxvi. 2. † 1 Peter v. 5. § Rom. xi. 20. Eph. vi. 13. 66 means of grace, and will find grace through the use of them. He will "abide in Christ" by faith, for he has no other trust or stay, "and Christ will abide in him" * by his Spirit, "and satisfy his soul in drought, and make fat - his bones."† This is the man of whom it is written, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee."‡ "Trust therefore in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths." § God hath given his only begotten Son, that ye might live through him;"|| and Through him ye may have access by one spirit to the Father." hear the words of David : " I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." ** Go and do ye likewise. Be this your faith and your continual prayer, and then, before ye call, here is the answer ready-God only waits to be enquired of, that he may do it for you. " He will not suffer thy foot to be moved. He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel 66 Then * John xv. 4. † Heb. xiii. 5. || 1 John. iv. 9. ** Ps. cxxi. 1-8. + Isa. lviii. 11. |