JANtWAY. 281 He had his cloudy days, as well as others. His sweets were sometimes turned into bitters. He was painfully assaulted by Satan's temptations. The enemywas permitted to come upon him as an armed man. As, in the case of the apostle, list he should be exalted above measure, the enemy was suffered to buffet him ; and it would have made a christian's heart ache to have heard hot* this gracious man was exercised with Satan's dreadful temptations. But he was well armed for the painful conflict. Having on the shield m faith, wherewith to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one, he came off a complete conqueror. In the trying contest, he sent up strong cries and tears to the Lord for fresh supplies of grace. This holy man was much afraid of spiritual declension, both in himself and others. He ever laboured to maintain a tender conscience ; and took notice of the smallest depar. tures of his soul fromGod, as well as God's witbdrawings from him. His great concern was to build sure, by being rooted and grounded in the faith. He also exercised a similar godly jealousy over his intimate friends and relations. To one of his brothers he wrote thus : You live in a place," said he, " where strict and close walking with God hath few or no examples. God's own children are too apt to forget their first love. Our hearts are prone to be careless, and to neglect our watch. When conscience is put off with some poor excuse, religion withers; he who once seemed a zealot, becomes a Laodicean ; and he who once appeared an eminent saint, may afterwards come to nothing. It is too common, to have a name to be alive, and yet to be dead. Read this and tremble, lest it shouldbe your case. When we are indolent and asleep, our adversary is most awake. I consider your age ; I know where you dwell; I am no stranger to yotir temptations ; therefore I cannot help being afraid of you, and jealous over you. Let me remind you of what you know already. Remember what meltings of 'soul youonce had ; how solicitously you once inquired after Christ; and how earnestly you seemed to ask the way to Zion, with your face thitherward. Oh, take heed of losing those impressions ! Be not satisfied with a slight work. True conversion is a great thing, and very different from what most persons take it to be. Therefore rest not in mere convictions, much less in a lifeless and formal pro- fession. " There is such a thing as being almost a christian ; as looking back lento perdition ; as being not far from the
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