246 SIXTH SERMON back into the sea again ! How quickly will a curious watch, if it lie open, gather dust into the wheels, and be out of order ! Though therefore thou have found sweetness in religion, joy in the Holy Spirit, com- fort, yea heaven in good duties, power against cor- ruptions, strength against temptations, triumph over afflictions, assurance of GOd's favour, vigour, life, and great enlargement of heart in the ways of godliness ; yet for all this be not high- minded, but fear. Re- member the flower that is wide open in the morning, when the sun shines upon it, may be shut up in the evening, before night come. If the sun had no4 stood still, Joshua had not taken vengeance on the enemy, Josh. x. 13. and if the Sun of righteousness do not constantly shine upon us and supply us, we shall not be able to pursue and carry on any victo- rious affections. While God openeth his hand thou art filled, but if he withdraw his face, thou wilt be troubled again, Psa. civ. 28, 29. Therefore take heed of resting on thine own wisdom or strength, Thou mayest after all this grieve the Spirit of God, and cause him to depart and hide himself from thee : thou mayest fall from thy stedfastness, and lose thy wonted comforts ; thou mayest have a dead winter upon the face of thy conscience, and be brought to such a sad and disconsolate condition, as to conclude that God hath cast thee out of his sight, that he hath forgotten to be gracious, and hath shut up his loving - kindness in displeasure ; to roar out for anguish of spirit as one whose bones are broken ; thy soul may draw nigh to the grave, and thy life to the destroyers, and thou mayest find it a woful and a most insuper- able difficulty to recover thy life and strength again. It was so with Job, chap. x. 16, 17. xiii. 26 -28. xvi. 9. 13. xxx. 15. 31. It was so with David,
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