4 Chrifhidns Growth. 103 cutting inconveniencesand apprehenfions of their hurt by them, makes their fpleen indeed greater,but it adds not to their ftrength and courage to refill them : like a ftomachfull boy, that cryes he cannot have the viaory, yet is weak, and eafily laid on his back, his ftomach is more then his ftrength. Thehurt that comes by fin to us at firm lately felt, helps to Jbarpen the edge, but adds no metal!, and fo our weapons are beaten to our heads againe, when we ufe them. What anedge of fpirit had Peter railed up againft denyingChrift ? he would die rather he fpake then as he thought; and he would have dyed in the quarrel!, for he drawshis fword, but afterwards he wanted ftrength to his fto- mach, how eafily was he overcome, beingyet but weak in grace ? therefore judge ofyour growth herein, by your Itreìigth to re- fift. Hence the Apoftle prayes, they may have flrength in the in- ward man, Eph. 3. and in Chap. 6. 13. he fpeaks of ability to fi'and in the evil! day. Although this let me adde, that every man, lhould keep up his heart in this continuall keenneffe and edge of fpirit againft fin, and whet his heart againft it : For that will caufe a man to ufe his ftrength the more againft it, and to put it forth. Aman that keeps hisheart in a revengeful), vext,fpleen- full fpirit againft fin, he will eafier cut through a temptation ; and though if a Chriflian want metal!, though he hath an edge, he may be foiled ; yet when edge and metall bothmeete, a man walks above his lints : if either be wanting, a man may be foiled. THE
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