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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
of
grace,
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