First, It is liarder to work on such a soul savingly, because he hath a form, though not the power, and this affords him a plea. A soul purely naked, having nothing like the wedding garment on, he is speechless ; the drunkard hath nothing to say for himself, when you ask him why he lives so swinishly ; yon may come up to him, and get within him, and turn the very mouth of his conscience upon him, which will shoot conviction into him. But to come to deal with one that prays and hears, one that is a pretender to ho])e and faith in God ; here is a man in glistering armour ; he hath his weapon in his hand, with which he will keep the preacher and the word he chargeth him with at arm's length. Who can say I am not a saint? What duty do I neglect? Here is a breastwork he lies under, which makes him not so fair a mark either to the observation or reproof of another, his chief defect being within, where man's eye comes not. Again, it is harder to work on him, because he hath been tampered with already, and miscari'ied in the essay. How conies such a one to be acquainted with such duties, to make such a profession ? Was it ever thus ? No, the word hath been at work upon him, his conscience hath scared him from his trade of wickedness into a form of profession ; but taking in short of Christ, for want of a thoroiigh change, it is harder to remove him than the other ; he is like a lock whose wards have been troubled, which makes it harder to tuni the key, than if never pottered with. It is better dealing with a wild ragged colt, never backed, than one that in breaking hath taken a wrong stroke; a bone quite out of joint, than false set. In a word, such a one hath more to deny than a profane person ; the one hath but his lusts, his swill and draught ; but the other hath his duties, his seeming graces. O how hard it is to persuade such a one to alight, and hold Christ's stirrup, while he and his duties are made Christ's footstool.
Secondly, Such a one is deepest in condemnation. None sink so far into hell as those that come neai-est heaven, because they fall from the greatest height. As it aggravates the torments of damned souls in this respect above devils, they had a cord of mercy thrown out to them, which devils had not ; so by how much God by his Spirit waits on, pleads with, and by both gains on a soul more than others, by so much such a one, if he perish, will find hell the hotter ; these add to his sin, and the remembrance of his sin in hell thus accented, will add to his torment. None will have such a sad parting from Christ as those who went half way with him, and then left him. Therefore, I beseech you, look to your armour. David woidd not fight in armour he had not tried, though it was a king's ; perhaps some thought him too nice. What ! is not the king's armour good enough for David ? Thus many will say, Art thou so curious and precise ? Such a great man doth thus and thus, and hopes to come to heaven at last, and darest thou not venture thy soul in his armour? No, Christian, follow not the example of the greatest on earth; it is thy own soul thou ventui-est in battle, therefore thou canst not be too choice of thy armour. Bring th\ heart to ihe word, as the only touchstone of thy grace and furniture; the word, I told you, 'is the tower of David,' from whence thy armour must be fetched ; if thou canst find this tower-stamp on it, then it is of God, else not. Try it therefore by ihis one scri])ture-stamp. Those weapons are mighty which God gives his saints to fight his battles withal ; 2 Cor. x. 4, 'The weapons of oiu- warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God.' The sword of the Spirit hath its point and edge, whereby it makes its way into his heart and conscience, through the impenitency of the one, and stupidity of the other; (wherein Satan, as with buff and coat of mail, arms the sinner against God,) and there cuts and slashes, kills and mortifies Ivist in its own castle, where Satan thinks himself impregnable. The breast-plate, which is of God, doth not bend and break at every dart of temptation, but is of such a divine tempera- ment, that it repels Satan's motions with scorn on Satan's teeth. Should such a one as I sin ? as Nehemiah in another case ; and such are all the rest. Now try whether your weapons be mighty or weak ; what can you do or suffer more
PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD. 35