SEILMON IV. el visible in thy own conduct ; do not pride thyself he thy own purity, or disdain thy mourning brother, but say within thyself, " Perhaps he has watched and laboured morethan I have done, and yet his owniniquity was too strong for him." Think with thyself that he waswrestlingwith a giant, and fought hard, and was overcome ; but thy own combat was but as it were with a dwarf orachild, with some feebler vice that had less root in thy constitution ; and therefore though thou hast laboured less, yet thou hast gained the victory. And to encourage such mourning christians, let me add, that in the future state, it is probable, the saints shall be rewarded not so much according to their actual success and victory, as according to the toil and labour of the combat. Yet take this caution by the way too : Such persons should not think themselves innocent, because they fight harder against sin than others do ; let them not think all warnings useless, nor be angry withthe gentleadmonitions of their friends, as though they were hard censures : for such christians have more needof warning than others, because they are more in danger. They ought to be crying out on themselves continually, O wretched creature! who shall deliver me? They should beg reproofs, and say, Let the righteous smite me, it shallbe kindness; and let hint reprove me, it shall be an excellent oil that shall not break my dead: Rom. vii. 24. Peal. cxli. 5. Let my brethren watch over me, for I find I am not sufficient to bemy ownkeeper ; and let them have compassion on me, pluckingme out of thefire, for I hate, as well as they, the garment spotted with theflesh; Jude, ver. 23. Thus the flesh must be brought under by constant watchfulness, prayer, and resistance,, else we cannot maintain holiness and peace. Take heed therefore, O feeble and.tempted christian, while thou art by 'prayer engaging the heavenly alliance on thy side, that thou let not thy own weapons drop, but maintain the war. The fight is to last but threescore years and ten ; if thou overcome, there is the crown of life ready for thee, which Jesus the. Judge shall bestow on all theconquerors. Remark VI. How should we rejoice in hope of that hour that shall release us from this sinful flesh ; when we shall serve God in spirit without a clog, without a tempter ! Owith what a relish of sacred pleasure should a saint read those words in 2 Cor. v. S. Absent from the body, and present with the. Lord; Absent from this traitor,, this vexing enemy, that weconstantly carry about with us ! Absent from the clog and chain of this sinful flesh, the prison whereinwe are kept in darkness, and are confined from God ! Absent from these eyes that have drawn our souls afar from God by various temptations ? and absent
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