135 THE POWERS AND CONTESTS OP FLESYL AND SPIRIT. vantages in this respect, throw off their daily watchflnl- ness, or neglect prayer, lest a vain self confidence betray them into foul iniquities : And let them remember too, that their guilt will be the greater. Nor shotild those whose appetites and passions are become more unruly, either by the original temperature of their flesh and blood, or by particular distempers, in- dulge themselves more easily in a sinful'cotnpliance, un- der pretence that their guilt is less ; unless they are con- tent to dwell for ever in fire and sorrow, upon this con- dition, that some of the sorrows of hell be sharper than theirs, and some part of the flame be hotter and fiercer: O rather think that you are called by the providence of God to a stricter watch, to more frequent and fervent prayer, and to a more laborious resistance' of the flesh; and the grace of Christ is sufficient to assist the weakest warrior, and make him an overcomer even in the hardest conflict. But this naturally leads me on to the next question. Question VI. Whether there be not a very unequal distribution of providence in these various constitutions of mankind ? And how can this be reconciled to strict justice, to make the difficulties of the state of trial so much harder in one man than it is in another, by expos- ing him to much stronger temptations ? Answer. This difficulty, which dwells on the lips of profane sinners, is easily solved,by attending to a few of such propositions as these : I. This must be laid down as an eternal and an un- moveable truth, that the great God has all possible per- fections belonging to his nature, and his whole conduct in providence is ever regulated by those perfections ; so that he can no,more be unjust, than he can be impotent or ignorant ; nor-, can any part of his conduct be un- righteous, 'any more than it can be weak or unskilful. 2. It is evident to the universal observation of hea- thens as well as christians, that mankind is a fallenand degenerate rank of beings, who have lost their primitive innocence and happiness ; and are running on todeeper guilt and rhisery, with headlong and thoughtless haste: Though it is only the scripture that informs us how this carne to pass, which philosophers, by the light of nature, could never find out
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