SER M. they are not let loofe, as they were in thofe times; Second, the earnest endeavour that is to be used on our part, for the conquering of thefe difficulties. And to the bufinefs of religion, if we will fet upon it in good carneft, thefe three things are required. CXXV. SERM. ift, A mighty resolution to engage us in a holy and christian course. 2dly, Great diligence and industry to carry us on in it. 3dly, An invincible conftancy to carry us through it, and make us perfevere in it to the end. ift, A mighty refolution to engage us in a holy and good course. For want of this, moft men mifcarry and stumble at the very threshold, and never get through the ftrait gate, never mafter the difficulties of the firft entrance. Many are well difpofed towards religion, and have fits of good inclination that way, (especially in their young and tender years) but they want firmnefs of refolution to conquer the difficulties of the first entrance upon a religious and virtuous life; like the young man that came to our SAVIOUR, well inclined to do fome good thing, that " he might inherit eternal life;" but when it came to the point, he gave back, he was divided betwixt CHRIST and the world, and had not refolution enough" to part with all "for him." Many men (I doubt not) have frequent thoughts and deliberations about a better courfe of life, and are in a good mind to take up, and break off that lewd and riotous course they are in; but they cannot bring themselves to a fixt purpose and refolution and yet without this nothing is to be done, "the double-minded man is unstable in all his "ways." There must be no indifferency and irrefoluteness in our minds, if we will be chriftians; we must not stop at the gate, but refolve to prefs in. We fee that men can take up peremptory refolutions in other matters, to be rich and great in the world, CXXV. world, and they can be true and steadfast to these S ER M. refolutions; and why fhould not men refolve to be wife and happy, and stand to these refolutions and make them good? GOD is more ready to affift and ftrengthen these kind of refolutions than any other; and I am fure no man hath fo much reason to refolve upon any thing, as to live a holy and virtuous life; no other refolution can do a man that good, and bring him that comfort and happiness that this will. 2dly, The business of religion, as it requires a mighty resolution to engage us in a holy and good courfe, fo likewife a great diligence to carry us on in it. When we are got through the ftrait gate, we must account to meet with many difficulties in our way; there are in the courfe of a chriftian life many duties to be performed, which require great pains and care; many temptations to be refifted, which will keep us continually upon our guard; a great part of the way is up hill, and not to be climb'd without labour; and the fcripture frequently calls upon us," to work out our falvation with fear " and trembling;" that is, with great care and industry;" to give all diligence to make our calling " and election fure;" to follow holiness, dixiv, to pursue it with great earneftnefs. Nothing in this world that is of value, is to be had on other terms; and we have low thoughts of heaven, if we think any pains too much to get thither. 3dly, The business of religion requires an invinci ble conftancy to carry us through it, and to make us perfevere in it to the end. Refolution may make a good entrance; but it requires great conftancy and firmness of mind, to hold out in a good course. A CXXV. SER M. A good refolution may be taken up upon a prefent heat and may cool again; but nothing but a constant and steady temper of mind will make a man perfevere; and yet without this, no man fhall ever reach heaven. "He that continueth to the "end fhall be faved; but if any man draw back, "GOD's foul will have no pleasure in him." GOD puts this cafe by the prophet, and determines it, Ezekiel xviii. 24. "When the righteous man turn"eth away from his righteoufnefs, fhall he live? "all his righteousness that he hath done, shall not "be mentioned; in his trefpafs that he hath tref "paffed, and in his fin that he hath finned, in them "he shall die;" nay fo far will his righteousness be from availing him, if he do not perfevere in it, that it will render his condition much worse, to have gone fo far towards heaven, and at laft to turn his back upon it. So St. Peter tells us, 2 Pet. ii. 20, 21. "For if after they have escaped the pollutions "of the world, through the knowledge of the "LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, they are "again entangled therein and overcome; the latter "end is worfe with them than the beginning; for "it had been better for them not to have known "the way of righteoufnefs, than after they have "known it, to turn from the holy commandment "delivered unto them." I proceed to the Third point, namely, that the difficulties of a holy and chriftian life are not fo great and infuperable, as to be a juft ground of difcouragement to our endeavours. All that I have faid concerning the difficulties of religion, was with no defign to damp, but rather to quicken our induftry; for, upon the whole matter, when all things are duly confidered, CXXV. confidered, it will appear that "CHRIST'S yokeS ER M. 1. The affiftance which the gofpel offers to us. God hath there promised to give his HOLY "SPIRIT to them that afk him ;" and by the affiftance of GOD'S HOLY SPIRIT, we may be able to conquer all thofe difficulties. Indeed if we were left to ourselves, to the impotency and weakness of our own nature, we fhould never be able to cope with these difficulties; every temptation would be too hard for us; every little oppofition would difcourage us: but "GOD is with "us, and there is nothing too hard for him." If the principles of a holy life were only the birth of our own refolution, they would easily be born down; but they are from GOD, of a heavenly birth and original; and whatsoever is "born " of GOD, overcometh the world." John i. 12, .13. "As many as received him, to them gave "he power (Euriav, the privilege) to become "the fons of GOD, even to them that believe "on 'his name, which were born not of blood, "nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of "man, but of GOD." GOD confiders the impotency of human nature, in this deprav'd and degenerate state into which we are funk, and therefore he hath not left us to our felves; but when he commands us to work out VOL. VII. Y Our 1 |