time as if it would presently die of its wound, and by and by it was sti-angely healed so as to recover again. Many a saint, for want of keeping a tight rein, and that constantly, over some cornxption, which they have thought they had got the mastery of, have been thrown out of the saddle, and by it dragged dangerously into temptation ; unable to resist the fury of lust when it has got head, till they have broken their bones with some sad fall into sin. If thou wouldst. Christian, shew the power of holiness, never give over mortifying work, no, not when thy corruptions play least in thy sight. He that is inclined to a disease, gout, stone, or the like, he must not only take physic when he hath a fit actually upon him, but ever and anon should be taking something good against it ; so should the Christian, not only when he finds his corruption stir- ring, but every day keep his sold in a course of spiritual physic, against the growing of it ; this is holiness in its power. Many professors do with their souls in this respect, as deceitful surgeons with their patients, lay on a heal- ing plaster one day, and a contrary the next day, that sets the cure back, more than the other set it forward ; take heed of this, except thou meanest not only to bring the power of holiness into danger, but the very life and truth of it into question in thy soul.
Fourthly, He must, as endeavour to mortify corruption, so to grow and advance in the contrary grace. Every sin hath its opposite grace, as every poison hath its antidote ; he that will walk in the power of holiness, must not only labour to make avoidance of sin, but to get possession for the contrary grace. We read of a house that stood empty, Matt. xii. 44 : the unclean spirit went out, but the Holy Spirit came not in. That is, when a man is a mere negative Christian he ceaseth to do evil in some ways he hath formerly walked in, but he learns not to do good. This is to lose heaven with short shooting ; (lod will not ask us what we were not, but what we were ; not to swear and curse will not serve ourturn, bvit thou wilt be asked. Didst thou bless and sanctify God's name? It will not suffice thou didst not persecute Christ, but didst thou receive him? Thou didst not hate his saints, but didst thou love them? Thou didst not drink, but wertthou filled with the Spirit ? He is the skilful physician, who at the same time that he evacuates the disease, doth also comfort and strengthen nature; and he the true Christian, that doth not content himself with a bare laying aside evil customs and practices, but labours to walk in the exercise of the con- trary graces. Art thou discomposed with impatience, haunted with a discon- tented spirit mider any affliction ? Think it not enough to silence thy heart from quarrelling with God, but leave not till thou canst bring it sweetly to rely on God. Holy David drove it thus far ; he did not only chide his soul for being disquieted, but he charges it to tvust in God, Psa. xlii. 5. Hast thou any grudg- ings in thy heart against thy brother? Think it not enough to quench these sparks of hell-fire, but labour to kindle a heavenly fire of love to him, so as to set thee a praying heartily for him. I have known one that when he had some envious unkind thoughts stirring in him, against any one, (and who so holy as may not find such vermin sometimes creeping about him ?) he woidd not stay long from the throne of grace, where, that he might enter the stronger protest against them, would most earnestly pray for the increase of those good things in them, which he before had seemed to grudge ; and so revenged himself of those envious lustings, which at any time rose in his heart against others. Fifthly, He must have a public spirit against the sins of others. A good subject doth not only labour to live quietly luider his prince's govern- ment himself, but is ready to serve his prince against those that will not. True holiness, as true charity, begins at home, but it doth not confine itself within its own doors : it hath a zeal against sin abroad. He that is of a neiitral spirit, and Galliolike, cares not what dishonor God hath from others, calls in question the zeal he expresseth against sin in his own bosom. When David would know the temper of his own heart, the furthest discovery, by all his search, that he could make of the sincerity of it, is the zeal against the sins of others : ' Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? And am I not grieved with those that rise up against thee ? I hate them with a perfect hatred, I coimt them mine enemies,' Psa. cxxxix. 21, 22. Having done this, he entreats God himself to ransack his heart : ' Search me and try me, O God, if there be any wicked way found in me,' &c., ver. 23. As if he had said. Lord, my line will not reach to
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. 3()9