ride on him : when he flies back and starts at a thing, you do not yield to his fear and go back, that will make him worse another time ; but you ride him up close to that which he is afraid of, and in time you break him of that quality. The evil day is not such a terrific thing to thee that art a Christian, as that thou shouldst start at it. Bring up tliy heart close to it ; show thy soul what Christ hath done to take the sting out of it ; what the sweet promises are that are given on purpose to overcome the fear of it, and what thy hopes are thou shalt get by it. These will satisfy and compose thy spirit ; whereas the shunning the thoughts of it will but increase thy fear, and bring thee more into bondage to it.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE SECOND ARGUMENT WITH WHICH THE EXHORTATION IS PRESSED, DRAWN FROM THE ASSURED VICTORY WHICH SHALL CROWN THE SOUl's CONFLICT, IF IN THIS ARMOUR, WHERE SEVERAL POINTS COUCHED IN THE ARGUMENT ARE BRIEFLY HANDLED.
We come now to the second argument the apostle useth, further to press the exhortation ; and that is taken from tlie glorious victory which hovers over the heads of believers while in the fight, and shall surely crown them in the end ; this is held forth in these words, 'And having done all, to stand.' The j^hrase is short, but full.
Section I. — First observe, Heaven is not won with good words and a fair profession, ' Having done all.' The doing Christian is the man that shall stand, when the empty boaster of his faith shall fall. The great talkers of religion art oft the least doers. His religion is in vain, whose profession brings not letters testimonial from a holy life. Sacrifice without obedience is sacrilege. Such rob God of that which he makes most account of. A great captain once smote one of his soldiers for railing at his enemy, saying, that he called him not to rail on him, but to fight against him and kill him. It is not crying out upon the devil, and declaiming against sin in praj^er or discourse, but fighting and mortifying it, that God looks chiefly upon ; such a one else doth but beat the air : there are no marks to be seen on his flesh and unmortified lusts that he hath fought. Paul was in earnest ; he left a witness upon his body, made black and blue with the strokes of mortification. It was not a little vapoviring in sight of the Philistines that got David his wife, but shedding their blood : and is it so small a matter to be son to the King of heaven, that thou thinkest to obtain it without giving a real proof of thy zeal for God, and hatred to sin ? ' Not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the word : this man,' saith the apostle, ' shall be blessed in his deed,' Jam. i. 25. Mark, not btj his deed, but in his deed ; he shall meet blessedness in that way of obedience he walks in. The empty pro- fessor disappoints others, who seeing his leaves, expect fruit, but find none ; and at last he disappoints himself, he thinks to reach heaven, but shall miss of it. Tertullian speaks of some that think. Satis Deum habere, si corde et animo suspiciatur, licet aclu minus fiat : God hath enough, they think, if he be feared and reverenced in their hearts, though in their actions they shew it not so much, and therefore they can sin, and believe in God, and fear him never the worse : this, saith he, is to play the adulteress, and yet be chaste ; to prepare poison for one's father, and )'ct be dutiful : but let such know, saith the same father, that if they can sin and believe, God will pardon them with a contra- diction also; he will forgive them, but they shall be turned into hell for all that. As ever you would stand at last, look you be found doing the work your Lord hath left you to make \\\y, and trust not to lying words, as the prophet speaks, Jer. vii.
Section II. — Doct. 2. Secondly observe. That such is the mercy of God in Christ to his children, that he accepts their weak endeavours, joined with since- rity and perseverance in his service, as if they were full obedience ; and tliere- fore they are here said to have ' done all.' O, who would not serve such a Lord ! You hear servants sometimes complain of their masters to be so rigid and stnct, that they can never please them ; no,'not when they do their utmost: but this cannot be charged upon God. Be but so faithful as to do thy best, and God is so gracious that he will pardon thy worst. David knew this gospel
V\
]g4 AND HAVING DONE ALL, TO STAND.