524- ne Difficulties of a Vol. I, fo much reafon to refolve upon any thing, as to live a Holy and Virtuous Life; no other Refolution can do a Man that good, and bring him that Comfort and Happinefs, that this will. Idly. The Bufinefs of Religion, as it requires a mighty Refolution to engage us in a holyand good Courfe, fo likewife a great Diligence to carry us on in it. When we are got through the ¡Irait Gate, we muff account to meet with many Difficulties inour way ; there are in the Courfe of a Chriftian's Life many Du- ties to be performed, which require great Pains and Care ; many Temptations to be refitted, which will keep us continually upon our guard; a great part of the Way is up Hill, and not to be dimb'd without Labour and the Scripture fre- quently calls upon us, to work out our Salvation with fear and trembling ; that is with great Care and Induftry ; to give all diligence to make our calling and elellion fore ; to follow Holinefs, éiuixcv, to purfue it with great earneftnefs. Nothing in this World that is of value, is to be hadonother terms ; and we have low thoughts of Heaven, if we think any Pains too much to get thither. 3dly. The Bufinefs of Religion requires an invincible,Conftancy to carry us through it, and to make us perfevere in it to the End. Refolution may make a good entrance ; but it requires great Conftancy and Firmnefs of Mind, to hold out in a good Courfe. A good Refolution may be taken up upon a prefent Heat, and may cool again ; but nothing but a conftant and fteady temper ofMind will make a Man perfevere ; and yet without this, no Man íhall ever reach Hea- ven. He that continueth to the end(hall befaved ; but if any Man draw back, God's Soul will have nopleafure in him. God puts this Cafe by the Prophet, and deter- mines it, Ezekiel 18. 24. When the righteous Max turneth away from his Righte- oufnef, (hall he live ? all his Righteoufnefs that he bath done, /hall not le menti- oned ; in his trefpaf that he bath trefpaffed, and in his Sin that he bath finned, in themhe (hall die ; nay fo far will his Righteoufnefs be from availing him, if he do not perfevere in it, that it will render his Condition much worfe, to have gone fo far towards Heaven, and at laft to turn his Back upon it. So St. Peter tells us, z Pet. a. ao, ar. For ifafter they have efcapedthe Pollutions of the World, through the knowledge of the Lord andSaviour lefus Chrijl, they are again entangled therein and overcome ; the latter end is worfe with them than the beginning ; for it had been better for them not to have known theway of Righteoufnefs, than after they have known it, to turn from the holy Commandment delivered unto them. I proceed . to the thirdPoint, Namely, That the Difficulties of a Holy and a Chriftian Life are not fo great and infuperable, as to be ajuft ground ofdifcouragement to our En- deavours. All that I have Paid concerning the Difficulties of Religion, was with no deign to damp, but rather to quickenour Induflry ; for, upon the whole mat- ter, when all things are duly confidered, it will appear, that Chrilt'syoke iteaf andhis burthen light ; that the Commandments of God are not grievous ; no, not this Commandment of flriving to enter inat theTrait Gate ; which I (hall endea- vour, tomake manifeft by taking thefe Four things into confderation. a. The Affiffance which the, Gofpel offers to us. God hath there promifed to- give his HolySpirit to them that askhim ; and by the aflftance of God's HolySpi- rit, we may be able to conquer all thefe Difficulties. Indeed if we were left to our (elves, to the Impotency and Weaknefs of our own Nature, we should never be able to cope with thefe Difficulties ; every Temptation would be toohard'for us ; every little Oppofition would difcourage us : But God is withus, and there is . nothing too hard for him. If the Principles of a HolyLife, were only the Birth of our own Refolution, they would eafily be born down ; but they are from God, of a Heavenly Birth and Original; and whatfoever is born of God, overcometh the World.' John R. rz, 13. As many as received him, to themgave he power (*esiár, the privilege) to become the'Sons of nod, even to them that believe on his Name, which wereborn not of blood, nor of the will of the fleJh, nor of the will of man, butof God. f God confiders the Impotency ofHumane Nature, in this deprav'd anddegenerate State into whichwearefunk, and therefore hehath not left us co our felves,butwhen he
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