have clone, wlien he liears what a sense CJod puts upon those unwary vvord^', which dropped from him in the anguish of liis spirit, and pai-oxysm of liis suffei'- ings. Contend with the Ahnighty ! Reprove God ! Good man, liow Wank he is, and cries out, ' I am vile : what shall I answer thee ? I will lay my hand upon my mouth." Let God hut pardon what is ])ast, and he shall hear such language no more. O sirs, take heed of tliis wrestling above all other. Contention is un- comfortable, with whomsoever it is we fall out; neighbours or friends, wife or husband, children or servants ; but worst of all with God. If God cannot please thee, but thy heart riseth against him, what hopes are tliere of th\' pleasing liini, who will take nothing kindly fi-om that man who is angr}' with him ? And how can love to God be preserved in a discontented heart, that is always mut- tering against him ? Love cannot think anj^ evi! of God, nor endure to hear any speak evil of him, but it must take God's part, as Jonathan David's, when Saul spake basely of him ; and when it cannot be heard, will, like him, arise and be gone. When afflicted, love can allovv thee to groan, but not to grumble. If tliou wilt ease thy encumbered spirit into God's bosom by prayer, and humbly wrestle with God on thy knees, love is for thee, and will help thee to the best arguments thou canst use to God : but if thou wilt vent thy dis- tempered passions, and shew a mutinous spirit against God, this stabs it to the heart.
Secondly, We wrestle against Providence, wiien incorrigible under the various dispensations of God towards us. Providence has a voice, if we had an ear; mer- cies should drav^', alHictions drive; now when neither fair means nor foul do us good, but we are impenitent under both, this is to wrestle against God with both hands. Either of these have their peculiar aggravations. One is agaijist love, and so disingenuous ; the other is against the smart of his rod, and therein we slight his anger, and are cruel to ourselves in kicking against the pricks. Mercy should make us asiiamed, v>rrath afraid to sin. He that is not ashamed, has not the spirit of a man. He that is not afraid when smitten, is worse than a beast, who stands in awe of whip and spur. Sometimes mercy, especially those outward mercies which have a pleasing relish to tlie carnal part in a Christian, hath proved a snare to the best of men ; but then affliction useth to recover them : but when affliction makes men worse, and they harden themselves against God, to sin more and more while the rod is on them, what is like to I'eclaim them ? Few arc made better by prosperitj', whom afflictions make worse. He that will sin, though he goes in pain, will nuich more if that once be gone. But take lieed of thus contesting with God. There is nothing got by scuffling with God, but blows, or worse. If he say he will afflict thee no more, it is even the worst he can say ; it is as much as if he should say, he will be in thy debt till another world, and there pay thee altogether. But if \u\ means thee mere}?, tliou shalt hear from him in sonie sharper affliction than e\er. He hath wedges that can rive thee, wert thou a mere knotty piece than thou art. ' Are there yet the treasures of wickedness, and the scant measure that is abo- minable?' saith God to Israel, Micah vi. 9. What, incorrigible, though 'the Lord's voice crieth unto the city,' bidding you 'hear the rod, and him that hath appointed it!' See Avhat coiu'se God resolves on, ver. 1.3 : 'Therefore I will mak(> thee sick in smiting of thee.' As if he had said, My other physic I see was too weak, it did not work to turn yoin* stomacli, but I will prepare a potion that shall make you sick at heart.
Use 2. It reproves those who seem to wrestle against sin, but not according to the word of conmiand that Christ gives. There is a law in wrestling whicli must be observed, 2 Tim. ii. 5 : ' If a m.an also strive for )nasteries, yet he is not crowned except he strive lawfully.' He aUudesto tlie Roman games, to which there were judges appointed to see that no foul play were offered contrary to the law for wrestling ; the prize being denied to such, thougli they did foil their adversary; which the apostle improves to make the Christian careful in his war as being imdcr a stricter law and discipline, that requires not oidy valour to fight, but obedience to fight, by order, and according to the word of command; iu)w few do this that go for great wrestlers.
First, Stmie, while they wrestle against one sin, embrace another ; and in this case, it is not the person wrestles against sin, but one sin wrestles with another •
q^(2 FOR WK WRESTLE.