PART II. SERMON VI. 31 full of rage. And I would beg strength against them, and victory over them. I would say as David : Many there be that hateme, many there be that riseup against me ; and many there be that sayof my soul, there is no helpfor him in God; but thou, O God, art my glory, my shield, and the lifter up of head: Ps. iii. 1, 2, 3. Then says thesoul, Iwould complain to God of all my in-dwelling corruption, of the bodyof death that dwells in me, or in which I dwell ; and say, " Owretched man that I am, who shall deliver me r, I would tell him then of the secret working of pride in my heart, though I long to be humble ; of the rising of ambition in my soul, though I would willingly maintain a middle state amongst men, and not aim and aspire to be great. I would acquaint him of the vanity of my own mind, though I am perpetually endeavouring to subdue it. I would tell him, with tears, of my sinful passions, of my anger and impatience, and the workings of envy and revenge in me ; of the perpetual stirringsof disorderly appetites, whereby I am led awayfrom my God : I would tell him of the hardness of my heart, and the obstinacy of my tsmper. I would open before his eye, all the vices of my constitution ; all those secret seeds of iniquity that are everbudding andblossoming to bring forth fruit to death. These things are fit to mourn before the Lord, when the soul is come near to his seat. Iwould complain of this sore enemy, the world, that is per-. petually besetting me, that strikes upon all my senses, that by the ears, and the eyes, and all the outward faCulties, draws my heart away from God my best friend. I would tell him of the rage of Satan, that watchful and malicious adversary; that I cannot engage in any duty of worship, but he is ready to throw in somefoolish or vain suggestion to divert me and I would look forward, and point to my last enehiy death, and beg the presence of my God with me, when Ì walk through that dark valley : " Lord, when I enter into that conflict, assist me, that I may fear no evil, but be made more than a conqueror through him thathas loved me." 3. I would tell him what darkness I labour under, either in respect of faith or practice. If I amperplexed in my mind, and entangled about any of the doctrines ofthe gospel, I would then tell my God what my entanglements are, where the difficulty lies ; and I would beg, that by his Spirit and his word, he would solve the controversy, and set his own truth beforeme in his own divine light. And then in point of practice, what dark- ness lies upon the spirit at such a time, is revealed before God: ac My way is hedged up, I knownot what path to chuse ; it is very hard for me to find out my duty ; whew me, O Lord, VOL. I. - G
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