and it is no wonder to see thieves fall out when they come to divide the spoil : lusts are divei-s, Tit. iv. 3, and it is hard to please many masters, especially when their commands are so contrary ; when pride bids lay on in bravery, lavish out in entertainment, covetousness bids lay up ; when malice bids revenge, carnal policy saith, Conceal thy wrath, though not forgive ; when lust sends to his sink of shi, hypocrisy pulls him back for shame of the world. Now is he God's champion that resists one sin at the command of another, it may be a worse ? ^
Secondly, Some wrestle, but they are pressed into the field, not volunteers ; their slavish fear scares them at present from their lust; so that the combat is rather betwixt their conscience and will, than them and their lust. Give me such a sin, saith will ; no, saith conscience, it will scald, and throws it away. A man may love the wine, though he is loth to have his lips burned ; ' hypocrites themselves are afraid to burn.' In such combats the will at last prevails, either by bribing the understanding to present the lust it desires in a more pleasing dress, that conscience may not be scai-ed with such hideous apparitions of wrath, or by paci- fying conscience with some promise of repentance for the future, or by forbear- ing some sin for the present, which it can best spare, thereby to gain the re- putation of something like a reformation ; or if all this will not do, then, prompted by the fury of its lust, the will proclaims open war against conscience, sinning in the face of it, like some wild horse, impatient of the spur which pricks him, and bridle that curbs him, gets the bit between his teeth, and runs with full speed, till at last he easeth himself of his rider ; and then, where he sees fattest pasture, no hedge or ditch can withhold him, till in the end you find him starving in some pound for his trespass : thus many sin at such rate, that conscience can no longer hold the reins, nor sit the saddle, but is thrown down and laid for dead; and then the wretches range where their lusts can have the fullest meal, till at last they pay for their stolen pleasures most dearly, when conscience comes to itself, pursues them, and takes them more surely by the throat than ever, never to let them go till it brings them before God's tribunal. Thirdly, Others wrestle with sin, but they do not hate it, and therefore they are favourable to it, and seek not the life of sin as their deadly enemy : these wrestle in jest, and not in earnest; the wounds they give sin one day, are healed by the next. Let men resolve never so strongly against sin, yet it will creep ao-ain into their favour, till the love of sin be quenched in the heart ; and this fire will never die of itself, the love of Christ must quench the love of sin, as Jerome excellently, Ibius amor, extinguit alium. This heavenly fire will indeed put out that flame of hell, which he illustrates by Ahasuerus's carriage to Vashti, his queen, who in the first chapter makes a decree in all haste, that she come no more before him ; but when his passion is a little down, chap. ii. 1, he begins to relent towards her, which his council perceiving, presently seek out for a beautiful virgin, on whom the king might place his love, and take into his royal bed ; which done, we hear no more of Vashti : then, and not till then, will the sord's decree stand against sin, when the soul hath taken Christ into his bosom.
Section IV. — Secondly, To the saints ; seeing your life is a continual wrest- ling here on earth, it is your wisdom to study how you may best manage the combat with your worst enemy ; which that you may do, take these few directions.
First, Look thou goest not into the field without thy second ; my meaning is eno-a'^e God by prayer to stand at thy back ; God is in a league offensive and defensive with thee ; but he looks to be called. Did the Ephramites take it ill, that Gideon called not them into the field ; and may not God much more ? As if thou meanest to steal a victory before he shoidd know it. Thou hast more valour than Moses, who would not stir without God ; no, though he sent an angel for his lieutenant. Thou art wiser than Jacob, who, to overcome Esau, now marching up, turns from him, and falls upon God : he knew if he could wrestle with God, he might trust God to deal with his brother. Engage God, and the back-door is shut, no enemy can come behind thee ; yea, thine enemy shall fall befoi-e thee. 'God turn the counsel of Ahitophel into foolishness,' saith David; Heaven saith Amen to his prayer, and the wretch ' hangs himself.' Secondly, Be very careful of giving thine enemy hand-hold. Wrestlers strive
FOR \\y. WRESTLE. 8;5