347 / 652
THE
POWERS AND CONTESTS OP FLESH AND
SPIRIT.
331
3.
If
the whole
race of creatures, which
were
so
dege-
nerate, had been
put under the
most difficult tests
of obe-
dience, in
a
state
of
trial appointed
in
order
to
their
re-
covery from
ruin,
not
one
of
them
had any
just
reason
to
complain
or murmur against their
sovereign
Ruler
in the
methods
of
his wisdom
working toward
their
re-
covery.
4.
If
some
of
these fallen
and degenerate
beings
have
therefore
some
easier circumstances
of
trial
appointed
to them, such
ought to
be
very
thankful indeed,
but
others ought
by
no
means
to
quarrel
with
their
Maker,
or
treat
their
fellow
-
creatures
with
envy.
"
Is
thine eye
evil
because
he
is
good
;"
Mat.,
xx.
15.
5.
Perhaps
many
of
those
who
have less inward
temp-
tations
in
the
flesh,
are,
in
the course
of
providence,
exposed
to
greater
outward
temptations
in
the
world
;
and
in
this
case,
the state
of trial
for
both
of
them may
be
equally
difficult
;
the one
is
balanced
with
the other.
6.
How
great
soever the difficulties
appear
which
any
soul
is
exposed
to
by
the
unhappy
circumstances
of
flesh
and
blood, to which
it
is
united,
there
is
sufficient
relief
provided
in
the
covenant
of
grace
;
there
is
sufficient
atonement
and
pardon
in
the blood
of Christ
to remove
the
deepest
guilt,
and sufficient aids
of
the
blessed
Spirit
promised
in
the
gospel, to
mortify the most
violent
ap-
petites, and perverse affections
of
the
flesh
;
and
there
are
many souls
now in
heaven,
who
wrestled hard with
as
vile
constitutions
of
body
here
on
earth
as
you
are
vexed
with,
but
have been
made
conquerors
by
the power
of
this gospel.
7.
Consider
also,
that
the
harder
the
fight
is,
the
brighter
shall
be
the crown,
and the most laborious com-
bat
shall
be
attended
with
the fairest
prize.
Maintain
your
conflict with
flesh
and
blood,
though the strife may
be
ever
so
sharp
and painful
;
hold
out
till
you
are
called up to the world
of
spirits,
and
you shall
find
that
your labour
was
not
in
vain.
Have
a
care
then,
O
man,
of
contending
with
God
thy
Maker; nor let
the
earthen
vessel say
to
the potter,
"
why
hast thou formed
me
thus
?"
If
thou givest a loose
to
thy
corruptions
because they are strong, thou
prac-
tisest the
same folly as
if
the
keeper
should
give a
loose
to
a bon,
because
it
is
a very' wild
and large
one,
and
VOL.
1I1.
7.