Fourthly, The Christian must trust in a withdrawing God, Isa. 1. 10 : ' Let him that walks in darkness, and hath no light, trust in the name of the Lord,* and stay upon his God.' This requires a holy boldness of faith, indeed, to venture into God's presence, as Esther into Ahasuerus's, when no smile is to be seen on his face, no golden scejitre of the promise perceived by tlie soul, as held forth to embolden it to come near, then to press in with this noble resolu- tion, ' If I pei'ish, I perish ;' nay, more, to trust not only in a withdrawing, but a ' killing God,' Job xiii. 15 ; not when his love is hid, but when his wrath breaks forth. Now for a soul to make his approaches to God, by a recumbency of faith, while God seems to fire upon it, and shoot his frowns like envenomed arrows into it ; this is hard work, and will try the Christian's metal to purpose. Yet such a masculine spirit we find in that poor woman of Canaan, who takes up the bullets Christ shot at her, and with a humble boldness of faith sends them back again in her prayer.
Fifthly, The believer is to persevere in his Christian coiu-se to the end of his life; his work and his life must go off the stage together. This adds weight to every other difhculty of the Christian's calling. We have known many who have gone into the field, and liked the work of a soldier for a battle or two, but soon have had enough, and come running home again; but few can bear it as a constant trade. Many are soon engaged in holy duties, easily persuaded to take uji a profession of religion, and as easily persuaded to lay it down ; like the new moon, which shines a little in the first part of the night, but is down before half the night be gone ; lightsome professors in their youth, whose old age is wrapt up in thick darkness of sin and wickedness. O this persevering is a hard word ! this taking up of the cross daily, this praying always, this watching night and day, and never laying aside our clothes and armour ; I mean, indulging ourselves to remit and unbend in our holy waiting on God, and walking with God; this sends many sorrowful away from Christ; yet this is the saint's duty, to make religion his every-day work, without any vacation from one end of the year to the other. These few instances are enough to show what need the Christian hath of resolution. The application follows.
Use 1. This gives us then a reason why there are so many professors and so few Christians indeed ; so many that run, and so few obtain ; so many go into the field against Satan, and so few come out conquerors ; because all liave a desire to be happy, but few have courage and resolution to grapple with the difficulties that meet them in their way to happiness. All Israel came joy- fully out of Egypt under Moses's conduct, yea, and a mixed multitude with them ; but when their bellies were a little pinched with hunger, and their greedy desires of a present Canaan deferred ; yea, instead of jieace and plenty, war and penury ; they are ready to fly from their colours, and make a dishonourable retreat into Egypt. Thus the greatest part of those who profess the gospel, when they come to push of pike, — to be tried what they will do, deny, endure for Christ, — grow sick of their enterprise. Alas! their hearts fail them! they like the waters of Bethlehem ; but if they must dispute their passage with so many enemies, they will even content themselves with their own cistern, and leave heaven to others that will venture more for it. O, how many part with Christ at this cross-way! like Orpah, that go a furlong or two with Christ, while he goes to take them off from their wovldly hopes, and bids them pre])are for hardsliip, and then they fairly kiss and leave him ; loath indeed to lose heaven, but more loath to buy it at so dear a rate. Like some green-licads tliat child- ishly make choice of some sweet trade, from a liquorish tooth they have to the sweetmeats it affords ; but meeting with sour sauce of labour and toil that goes with them, they give in, and are weary of their service, the sweet bait of reli- gion hath drawn many to nil)blc at it, who are offended with the hard service it calls to ; it requires another spirit than the world can give or receive to follow Christ fully.
Use 2. Let this then exhort you, Christians, tolabo\ir for this holy resolution
Q , BE STRONG.