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THE
POWERS AND CONTESTS
OF
FLESH
AND
SPIRIT.
341
from vexing
disquietudes,
from
sudden surprises of
sin,
from
the
feeble
flutterings
of
animal nature,
from
languor
and
heaviness,
.
and every
other
infirmity
;
and
may
join
chearfully and
regularly
with thy willing
soul, to glorify
God, thy
Maker and
thy Saviour.
But
after
all,
neyer imagine
that
these,
or
any
other
methods
of
mortification,
will
be
effectual to
suppress
and cure one
sin,
without converting and renewing
grace,
without the knowledge
and faith
of
Jesus
Christ,
who
is
the
only
redeemer
of
mankind, appointed
to save us
from
our
sins
;
the only physician
able to cure our
spiri-
tual
maladies.
It
is
a
deep
sense
of
the universal cor-
ruption
of
nature, together
with
a betrusting
our
whole
selves into the hands
of
Christ, to
be
sanctified
and
saved,
it
is
the only effectual
and sure
way to
holiness.
It
is
faith
must
"purify
the
heart
;"
Acts
xv.
9.
It
is
by
the
influences
of
the
great
and precious promises
of
the gos-
pel,
that
we
must
be
made
partakers
of
a
divine
nature,
and escape the corruption
that
is
in the world
through
lust;
2
Pet.
i.
4.
All
our labours,
short
of
regeneration,
and an entire
change
of
the
whole
soul, by
the
mighty
work
of
the
Spirit
of
Christ, are but
like
nipping
the
blossoms
of
a
poisonous tree, like
cutting
off
the
twigs,
or lopping
the
branches;
while
the fatal stock stands
firm still,
and
the
root
maintains
its
life
and full vigour.
Thus
it
will
be
ever springing
with new shoots,
and bring
. forth
fruits
of
guilty and mortal savour.
But converting
grace
is-
a-blow
at
the
root;
it
kills
the sinful
principle,
or,
least
gives
it
a
deadly
wound.
Seek
earnestly therefore
the Spirit
of
Christ,
to renew
your
whole
natures
:
"
Wal
k
under
the influences
of
this blessed
Spirit,
and
you
shall
not
`
fulfil
the
lusts
of
the
flesh ;"
Gal.
v.
16,
24.
For
it
is
only they
that
are Christ's,
who
have crucified
the
flesh,
with
its
affections
and
lusts
;
and
if,
by
the assisr
tances
of
this Spirit,
you
mortify the
deed
of
the body,
you shall
have
a
life
here
on
earth, made
up
of
the peace
and beauty
of
holiness,
and
you shall die
out
of
this
world,
into
a
diviner
life
of
glory.
Amen.
z3