ilb FLE. { ANT) srIRIT. he supplies us with such grace as is effectually suited to relieve these agonies ; and thekind angel of the covenantwill be at our right-hand, to strengthen thesincere combatants, that they benot overcome. Remark V. Ifow much do our fellow-christians deserve our pity, that labour under great difficulties, and great dark- ness, through the perverse humours of their flesh ? through the untoward constitutions of their nature, through the pee- vish, or l :oud, or malicious, or passionatetempers of their mor= tal body ? Some have a more wrathful, somea more wanton mixture of blood and natural spirits ; others again more melancholy in their constitution, are ready to overwhelm themselves with de- spair and unbelieving sorrows; they go on fighting and mourn- ing all the day long, with many a violentcontest, many agroan and struggle, many a sharp combat, and perhaps with many a wound too. They areoften upon their knees for strength to sub- due this ever present enemy the flesh, and can gain but little ad- vantage; they are fighting from day to day, and their sins are so powerful still, that they think they never get nearer to the con- quest : they labour and toil, pray and endeavour to obtain divine assistance, and yet are too often overcome. This is the case of many a christian whohath some strong corruption mingled with his constitution. Let us pity such and prayfor them too, and not he hasty in censuring their characterand their state : Bless God ifyour constitution beof a happier mould, and if your trials are not so great, and your temptations so heavy as theirs. But you will say, "'They sinoften, and fall veryfoully, and dishonour religionmore than you." It may be so ; but it maybe they fight harder than you do, and labour with more assiduity, and exercise more grace than ever you did, and yet are more frequently overcome by sin ; so strong is the constitutional ini- quityin some natures, more than it is in others. Therefore while you condemn the sin, let not the poor-striving mourning sinner becensured heavily as to his character, or as to his estate. It was. said of a very great man of God heretofore, that he had grace enough for ten men, but not half enough for himself, because 'his natural constitution Was so very violent and passionate. When thou seest therefore a christianoften in sorrow, con- fessing his follies, and continually humbled under a sense of the levity of his spirit, or the vanityof his natural temper ; when he grieves, that in such and sucha season, he has indulged unlaw- ful airs, and complied too far with the vices of company, when thouobservest his spirit vexed and pained inwardly, that hehas indulged any criminal appetite or passion beyond what has been
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