490 pf Comer rftons or turningonto Ga4 Sa c r.IX. arguue a duty of the greater watchfulnet ; there is more reafonfor me towatch and play, to fear and pray. 6. Sixthly, Let that encourage thee, While climbing up this higbhih, That Godhath madegraciouspromi /es, even to the leaftfparkt, theleifi beginnings of any good in ei WW1: How comfortable is that ? The bruifed reedhe Will not break, the'waking fax hewill not quench,Matt z.ao. as GodPaid about his Temple, None Jhoraldde- fpìfe theday of(mall things ; foit is here, Let not fmall things be defpifed : What is lefs then a grain of Muiard-feed, and yet how quickly doth that overgrow other herbs 1 fo that thereisno doubt on Chrifis part, but that he is ready to draw thee, and to give legs to thee ; the onelyqueflion is, Whether thoudoeft feek himwith thywhole heart ? kt that be, and the Minifters of Godmay in- fure thee, that he will make littlefparks flameinto a great fire : There isan excel- lent promife in Ifaiah, Thefaint andWearylhall renew theirflrength like an Eagle, Ifa.4o.30,3 r,3 z. Oh then fit down andmeditate on thefe gracious promifesthat are made, even to the Hungry, to theThirty, to fuch who leek, though they have not found ; never doubt onGods help, onely be fore thou art fincere and hearty in thy purpoles,to turn untohim. Certainly, God that heareth the yong Ravens, andgives them food, willhear thofe yongandinfant crys and refoluti- onsof thine to better things. 7. Sevedthly, This may alfo greatly incourage thee, though thou haft many foils, Thargrace is far more potent thenfin : Though thy fins be pleafant, be made na- tural to thee, though they grow up like weeds, of their own accord ; and grace is a (ranger, and a plant inan unnatural foil, while in thy heart, yet it is far fironger then thy ftrongeltcorruptions; fo that thydifeafes arenot filch incura- ble ones, but that grace is a medicine andptaifter potent enough to help thee; there is balm in Gilead: For as Chrift is fironger then the Devil, therefore he judgeth him, and called' him out of the firong holds he had ; lo grace is more effeétual then fin : Fear notthen to grapple with thy lofts, fay not they are above me, they are to firong forme; for the feed of God, whereby a man is born of God, is us, then thofethat 5.4 againRus; fo for inward help alfo, if thy fin be great, let the power of grace be alfoapprehended greater : The horde óf Davidwill grow greater, and the houfeof Saulleffer; make therefore thy arguments fromwithout thy fell, not within ; fay, 0Lord, thy grace can cure me, thy grace can deliver me out o. this miry clay. 8. Eightly, Doeft thou complain thy refolutions take no effea, thou artflilt where thou wert? confider, if it be not, besaufe though thou purpofefi aganft fin, yet thou doef not ab(fain from the eccafonsof it ; and if fo, no marvel if it be labor invain : Never think to turn to God from thy fins, if thou doett not turn from the occafionof them : Alas, if thon haft not ftrength to avoid the oc- cafionof fin ; which is lets ? how canft thou fin it felf, which is the greater: He that refolveth not tobe burnt in the fire, will never come too near the flames; he that will not be incited by the adulterous woman, mrtft not come near her dwell sig.. fob that refolved againft uncleannefs, made a covenant with hiseyes. Taal that feared tobe a cast.away,kept down his body ; thoumayeft theneafrly fee what undoeth thee :Nomarvel if the Bird thatendeavoreth to fly up to hea- ven, fall down again, when a firing is on her foot : Thus thou haft fomerimes heavenly refolutions, heavenly meditations, but there is a firingon the four, or rather a milfione about theneck ; and that is, the occaflon or temptation ro fomelin, from which thou canft not part : Separate thy felf therefore firfifrom the occafionsof fin, then the firs will be more eai'ily fubdued; as the husband- man firtt cuts away the underbufhes and brambles, before he layeth his ax to theroot of the tree : This is fo great a matter, that our Saviour teacheth us to pray, Net to be leadinto temptation; he doth not fay, lead into fin, but tempta- tion,
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