Serm. CXV. of Reftittttirm.. rual matters which Soloi,Jion gives, Prov, 3: 5, 6. Trujl in the Lord)vith:1111 thin~ H•art and iean not to thine own nnder{hmdlng. Acknowl~l:lge him in (lif t.if WllJf: 1 md h;fbaUdireEI thy jlep1. Let us then add refs our !elves ro God. in the . \vords of the holy Prophet, Jer. I o. 23. 0 Lord, I know that the way of Man i1 uot ;,, himfelf, and that it;, "'!.tin_ M_.m tha~ wa}_k~h, to.dmti hu jlep1. And-ler us ~eg of him that he would confider our cafe, commrferate our weaknefs, ·and - prty our impotency, aad that he wo_u~d jqyn his ftrengrh ro us, and gr~nt us the affi. fiance of his Graee and holy Spmr, to plit us upon tincere Refolutrons of a new Life and ro keep us conflant and fledfafl: to them ; to open the Eye1 of our Mind:, and 'to turn 1t1 front darknefl to light, and front the Power ofSatan and our Luftr, ll!lto God ; that we may repent and Jurn to Got{., and do wqrkr meetfvr Repenta'1ce, that fo wema 1 receive forgivenefl of Sin!, and an Inheritance among them that are fani1i· jied throngh faith that i1 in Chrijl. _ And for our Encouraaemenr in this matter, God hath bid us to apply our felves to bim. and he hath p~omifed not to be wanting to us, in words as exprefs and univerfal as can well be deviled. J11m. 1. 6. If an"y Mm lack wifdom, let him a1k i~ of God, who giveth to aUl~beraUy1 ~nd n~braideth no ,Man·: but let hitJt a1k in Faith, 11othing wavering, that IS, not doubtrng but that God IS both able and willing to givewhatheasks. And Luke II-. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. !fa, u11toyou, A1k, tmd it (baO be given yoll; feek, and JC [hall find; knpck, and it flu.ll beop~11ed mrto 1011. For every one that arketh, receiveth; and he that feeketh, findeth; aud tQ him that knocketh, it [hall be opened. If a Son /hall Mk bread of any Qf yoH thdt k a Father, will he give hint a Jlone? Or if he aJk a fifb, willlje for a fifo-give him 4 firpent? Or ifhe fball ark aiz egg, will he offer him afi·orpion? l!fe then being evil, know how to give f!.OOd gift! 1mto your children ; how >Jtllc'h more foall_your he.veJlf Father give the holy Spir~t .to them that Mk hint? To encourage om; Faith, our Saviour ufeth fuch an Argument as may give us the greatefl: affurance. We are commonly confident, ~hat our earthly Parents will not deny us thofe things that are good and neceffary for us, tho' t!.ey may be otherwife evil : how mHch more thwfoall 011r heavenly Father, who is effentially and infinitely good, give hk holy Spirit to 111? And if this be not enou~h, St. Matthew ufeth a large!' expref– fion, How mucb -more foall your heavenly F4ther give good things to them that aikhim? If there be any thing that is good, and we fl:and in need otit, and earnefl:ly pray to God for ir, we may be confident that he will give it us. · 2. We ought to be very watchful over our felves, conGdering our weaknefs and wavering, and infl:ability and ficklenefs, the treachery and deceitfulnefs of our own Hearts, and the mJiice of Satan. It will be a great while before the Habits of Sin be fo weakned and fubdued, as that we finll have no.'Propenfion to return to them again ; fo that our Hearts will be often endeavourin.g to return to their former po!ture, and like a deceitfitl Bow, which is not firmly fl:rong, t~ ftart back. And befides the deceitfulnefs of Sin and our own Hearts, tlie Devil fs very malicious, and his malice will make him vigilant to watch all Advantages a– gainfr us; and his great defign will be to !hake our Refolution; for if that fl:and, he knows his Kingdom will fall, and therefore he raifeth all his Batteries a~ gainfr this Fort, and labours by all means to undermine it, and nothing will be mat– ter ofgreater Triumph to him, than to gain a Perfon rhat was revolted from him, and refolved to leave his Service. If therefore thou expectefr God's Grace and Affifrance to keep thee fl:edfafl: to thy Refolution, do not neglect thy felf, but keep thy Heart with all diligence, and watch carefully over thy felf: for becaufe God worketh in zu both to will and to do, therefore heexpeCI:sthat wefhould work 011t ottr Salvation with ftar ~nd trembling, lefl: by our own carelefnefs and neglect we lhould mifcarry. - 3· Let us. frequent!~ renew ard reinforce our Refolutions, more, efpecially when we thmk of commg to the Sacrament, and approaching the holy- Table or the Lord. Nothing is more apt to beget in us good Rcfolutions and to flrengrhen the~, than to confider the dreadful Sufferings of the Son of God for our Sins, ~vl~rch are fo lively fet forth and reprefented to us in his holy Sacrament, which as It 1s on God's part a Seal ahd Confirmation of his Grace and Love to us fo on M ' our 8t
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