TILE POWERS AND CONTESTS OF FLESH AND SPIRXT. ; =% xiv. 50. But he finds so much tinder in our nature, ready to catch fire, and blaze, at every spark of iniquity, that it is scarce possible we should pass through such dangerous hours of contest, and keep our spirits pure and unpolluted. Yet still it must be determined, that where there is per- petual resistance, and no manner of indulgence of these vicious scenes, where there is no consent of the will to them, nor a neglect of any proper and appointed means. to oppose and suppress them, there is no sin. Let this be a word of consolation and sacred encou- ragement to those poor melancholy christians who are sorely buffeted by Satan, and his hellish suggestions, of are vexed with the wild and unruly insults of fancy, under some distemper of the flesh. Let them enquire whether these evil thoughts be not their constant burthen ; whether it is not their daily and hourly toil of spirit, to -Suppress and cast them out; whether they do not make this the matter of their holy complaint and mourning he- fore God night and day; whether they are not wrestling hard with these adversaries of their peace, and pleading hard at the mercy -seat, for grace to resist and subdue them : Then let them take the same encouragement that St. Paul does, who is an excellent example both Of such sufferings, and of such hope and consolation. 2 Cor. xii. 7-10. He had a thorn in the flesh, he had an angel of Satan sent to buffet him, he besought the Lord thrice, that is, often and earnestly, for deliverance And though God did not answer him immediately by a full release from the temptation, yet he afforded him such a suffici- ency ofgrace, that he could glory in hope of final victory, Nor did he call the buffetings of Satan nor the thorn in the flesh, his own sins ; but his infirmities, which he durst even glory in, from his great assurance of the grace of Christ, to assist him in the combat, verse 9. I have written this to prevent the humble holy soul, that lies under these exercises, from charging itself with more guilt than the law or justice of God charges it with : Let such a one also take comfort from those words of the apostle, as " there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, in the bourse Ai' their lives ;" Rom. viii., 1. so there is no guilt
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