i 30 S E RM 0 NS upon Semi. XIX. fromfcandal, yet they do not advance the Authority and Power of Grace in the Heart, but (elflove fecurely beareth rule in the foul. Many die by inward bleeding as well as by outward wounds; therefore unlefs our irrafcible or concupifcible faculty be bridled and madepliable to the condu& of the l eavenlymind, we (hai] do nothing in Chriftianity to any good effea. 3. As to afíual temptations, when they flir indwelling fn, complain of the violence to God, Rom. 7. 24. Oh wretched man that I am ! Who (hall deliver me from this body of death? Bemoan your felves to him, who alone can help yo *, and is ready to do fo; when you are afraid of doing any thing contrary to your duty, and an humble fence of your impotency is not only a good preparative to receive his graces, but alfo to defy and rebuke the temptation, Matth. 4. 1o. Get thee behind me Satan ; and Gen. 39. 9. How fhallI do this great wicltednefs and fn againft God ? Thefe are bell (mothered in the birth. 4. Take heed of thefe fins which the people of God are waft in danger of. 'Tis hard to fay what they are ; for all fins when they are near, and importune the flefh, by the eafie and profitable practice of them without danger, or difcovery, may tempt an unwary heart.Therefore we muff have always our eyes in our head, and (land upon our guard ;the fecure are next to 'a fall : there is no ceffation of arms in this warfare, nor treaty and conclufion of peace to be made with our lofts ; Sin is a bofome- Friend, but yet the foreft enemy ; and if we be not refolute, and vigilant, our appetites, and fenfes or paffions may betray us; and if you be notdaylie deadning worldly inclinations, felt elteem and conceit, you cannot (tand out againft the fmalleft temptation ; But they are moll in danger of thofe fins, which the temperature of body, and conftitution do incline them unto ; tho we mutt watch againft all fins, for all are hateful to God, and contrary to his law, and incident to us ; yet we are inclined to one fin more than to another': there is fomething that is our privy fore, and may be called the plague of our own hearts, t Kings 8. 38. Now this muff be watched and ftriven againft; and here the viftory is never cheap, nor eafie. Many a groan, many a prayer, many a ferions thought, many an hearty endeavour it will coft us ; there matter hilts they never go alone( like great difeafes that have petty ones attending them ) mull be chiefly at- tended by us, and we muft not difcontinue the work, till we have gotten Come power againft them, and they be confiderably weakned. Be it luft, or paffion, or (loath and dulnefs, or worldlinefs, or pride, we mutt Pray, and Pray again, as Paid Prayed thrice; grace mull watch over it, and keep it under, and abate it by contrary aCtions, that we may the better govern this inclination, and reduce it to reafon. 5. Tale heed of an unmortifled frame of fpirit; there are certain difpofltions of heart which argue much unmortifiednefs , and do loudly call for this remedy and cure, even the grace of the fpirit whereby we may be healed ; as trfl impotency of mind, where- by temptations to fin are very catching, and do eafily make impreffion upon us. The heart like tinder Coon taketh fire from every fpark : certainly there is great life in our lulls, when a little occafion awakeneth them. As it is faid of the young fool in the Proverbs, he goeth after her fuddenly, Pro. 7. 22. That is, as foon as inticed. Upon the leali provocation we grow paffionate, the temptation findeth force prepared matter to work upon, as ftraw is more eafily kindled than wood. Now this calleth upon us to weaken the inclination. 2. When the temptation is (mall; a little adverfity puts us out of all courage and pa- tience, Pro. 24. 10. If thou faint in the day of adverfity, thy flrength isfatali. If we be fo touchy that we cannot bear the common accidents of the world, how (hall we bear the molt grievous perfecutions,which we are to endure for Chrilts fake ? For the other fort of corruptions, for handfuls of Barley, or a piece of Bread, will that man tranf- grefs. So felling the righteous for a pair of thooes. Selling the Birthright for one morfel of Meat. She is a common proftitute that will rake any hire. A little thing makes a (tone run down hill. Certainly the heart mull be looked after ; the bias and inclination of it to God and Heaven, more fixed. 3. When lnffs are touchy, (form at a reproof: If the word break in upon the heart with any evidence, carnal men cannot endure it, a Kings 22. 8. He cloth not pro- phecy good concerning me, but evil; 'cis a bad crifis, and (tateof foul, when men would be foothed in their lulls, cannot endure dole and fearching truths: but either aff.lk general difcourfes, that they may creep away in the crowd without béing attacked ;.or bofe garifh Eirains that pleafe the fancy, but do not reach the heart : or mull be hony- ed and oyled with grace; fcarce can endure the Doctrine of Mortification; none need it fo
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