z 16 SERMONS upon Serm. Secondly ; The next R.eafon is, gltr own weaknefs. There are hot only Snares and Temptations in the World, but there is a flexiblenefs in the Party tempted; James r. 14. Every Man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own Luft, and inticed. The Fire burneth in our own Hearts, Satan doth but blow up the Flame. There is bad Liquor in the Veflet, Satan giveth it vent, and fees it abroach with Violence. Mat. 5. 28. He that looketh upon a Woman to hifi after her, bath committed Adultery with her already in his Heart. There is an intrinfecal flexiblenefs in the Heart, a treacherous Party within. The Evils of the World were tolerable, if there were not Luft in the Heart. 2 Pet. r. 4. Having efeaped the Corruption that is in the World through Luft. We carry the worft Enemy in our own Bofom : Satan could not prevail againft us, wereilP not for our own Lulls; as the Phil ines could not prevail againft Sampfon, if Dalilak had not lull'd him atleep.; or,as Baalam fiat corrupted Ifrael, before he could curfe them. Nay, when there is Grace wrought, (till there is a treacherous Party within; Mat.26.41. The Spirit is willing, but the Flefh is weal¿; The Will bath a pronenefs Rill ; and in your Af- fe &ions there is a fuitablenefs to carnal Baits. It is as with a Garifon befieged, tho the treacherous Party be weaken in the Town, yet they may do much hurt; fo there is Rill corruption enough to open the Door to Satan. 2Jfe r. Caution. Take heed, the World is a dangerous place, even to a Difciple of Chrift ; and therefore you have need to ufe it, as if you ufed it not. The Heart is coon tainted, and that infenfibly. There are two Remedies that you fhould conftamly ufe, Watching and Prayer; they are prefcribed by our Saviour, Mat. 26.4r. Watch and Pray, that ye enter not into Temptation. Thefe mua always go together ; we Watch, that we may not be carelefs; we Pray, that we may not be fell confident. Thefe two Duties help one another g the Heart is belt kept, when it is commended to God : We watch only to difcover the Approaches of the Enemy, and we cry for God's help againft the Temptation. As Watching helps Prayer; Danger defcried, giveth quicknefs, fervency, and earneftnefs in Supplication : 'So allo Prayer helpeth Watch- ing ; we can bell maintain our Station, when we call in God's Help. rft, Watch; and that efpecially againft two Things, the Occafions of Sin, and the privy Diflempers of the Heart. r. The Occafons of Sin. Do not put your felves upon danger ; it is a fign of a naughty Heart, to dally with Occafions; as Ravens, when they,are driven away from the Carrion, will Rand within the fcent. It is not good to be within the fcent of Sin. Lot and his Wife were not to look back upon Sodom; Gen. r9. 26. Lot's Wife looked back from behind him, and fhe became a Pillar of Salt. The MI in it felt was not fin- fill, but it was forbidden to them as an Occafion of Sin: You (ball fee, Verf. 29. Abra- ham looked towards Sodom and Gomorrah, and he is commended; but it was forbidden to Lot, Verf.. 17. Efcape for thy Life, look not behind thee; becaufe it was likely to work Relentings, he was loth to leave that pleafant Vale, the fight was more like to work on Lot's Heart, and his Wives, than Abraham's, and prove a Snare to them. Therefore Lot's Wife is turned into a Pillar of Salt. Pray mark it, Ananias and Saphirs were ftri- ken dead for a Sin, and Lot's Wife for putting her felt upon a Temptation to Sin. God bath declared his difpleafure againft hankering after Corruption, as well as clofing with it ; and in thefe days Sin is not grown lefs dangerous, nor God lefs angry with it; a wanton Look, putting our felves upon the prefence of a Temptation without a Call, beholding the Wine while it farkleth in the Glafs ; there are Temptations, and we have no need to tempt the Tempter. Satan is waiting for fuch Advantages, he can interpret the filent Language of a Blufh, a Smile, a Frown, a Look, the glance of a lu(tful Eye, he is watchful, and is in excellent Naturalift, skilled in the external Geftures and Motions of the Spirits. 2. Againli Privy Diftempers. We are not only to watch againft Aftual Sins, but the fecret growing of Evil Habits, efpecially againft Deadnefs, Drowfinefs, and thole Diflempers that infenfibly creep upon the Heart. Converfing with worldly Pleafures, and worldly Objefts, breedeth a dadnefs, and withdraweth the Heart e're we are aware. Natural Confcience is kept waking againft foul Lulls and Corruptions; they are in a dead fleep, that can, as Jonah did, fleep in a form, that fall into brutilh pra- ¿lices without remorfe. But the great end of Spiritual Watching, is to keep the Heart in Frame, to prevent the fly Incroachments of the World. But how flail we know when
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