74 THE BRUISED ltEED Rom. vii. 17. For what displeaseth us, . shall never hurt us ; and we shall be esteemed of God to be that which we love and desire and labour to be. What we desire to be, we shall be; and what we desire truly to conquer, we shal1 conquer; for " God will fulfil the desire of them that fear him,' ' Ps. cxlv. 19. The desire is an earnest of the thing. I-Iow little encouragement will carry us through the affairs of this life: and yet all the helps which God offers will hardly prevail with our backward natures . . Whence are these discouragements ?-Not from the Father, for he hath bound himself in covenant -to pity us " as a father pitieth his children," and to accept, as a father, our weak endeavours; and what is wanting in the strength of duty, he giveth us leave to take up in his gracious indulgence; whereby . we shall honour that grace wherein he delighteth as much as in more perfect performances: Not from Christ, for he, by office, will not quench the smoking flax: Not from the Spirit, " for he helpeth our infirmities;" and by office is a Comforter. Discouragements then must come from ourselves and Satan who labours to excite
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