God's licart is hardened against thco, tliy heart will not be long hardening against him. And this, by tlic way, may administer comfort to the thoughts of some gracious but troubled souls who cannot lind that tlicy have any faith, yea, who are often reckoning themselves among despairers. Let me ask thee who art in this sad condition this one thing, Canst thou find any love breathing in thy heart toward God, though thou canst find no breath of love coming at present from him to thee, and art thou tender and fearful of sinning against him, even while thou seemest to thy own thoughts to ho])e for no mercy from him ? If so, be of good comfort ; thy faith may be weak, but thou art far from being under the power of despair. Desperate souls do not reserve any love for God, or care to please him. There is some faith surely in thy soul, which is the cause of these motions, though, like the spring in a watch, it be itself unseen, when the other graces moved by it are visible.
Section IV. — The greatness of this sin of despair appears in this, that the least sin envenomed by it is unpardonable ; and without this, the greatest is .pardonable. Tliat nuist needs of all sins be most abominable which makes the creature incapable of nu-rcy. Judas was not damned merely ibr his treason and murder ; for others, who had their hands deep in the same horrid fact, obtained a pardon by faith in that blood which through cruelty they shed ; but for these, heightened into the greatest malignity possible by the despair and final impenitency witli which his wretched heart was filled, which he died so miserably of, and now is infinitely more miserably damned for.
EPHESIANS VI. 17. And take the helmet of sahatlon.
These words present us with another piece in the Christian's panoply — a hel- met to cover his head, in the day of battle. It makes the fifth in the apostle's order ; and what is observable, this and most of the pieces in this magazine are defensive arms, and all to defend the Christian from sin, none to secure him from suffering. First, They are mostly defensive arms. Indeed, there is but one, of all the pieces in the whole j)anoply, for offence, that is the sword. It may be to give us this hint, that this spiritual war of the Christian lies chiefly on the defence, and therefore requires arms most of this kind to wage it. God hath deposited a rich treasure of grace in every saint's heart: the devil's greatest spite is against this ; to plunder him of which, and with it of his happiness, he com- menceth a bloody war against him : so that the Christian overcomes his enemy, when himself is not overcome by him, his work being rather to keep what is his own than to get what is his enemy's. And truly, were it well heeded that the saint's war lies chiefly on the defence, it would be of singular use to direct him how to manage his combats both with Satan and his instruments. First, with Satan. Look, Christian, that thou standest always in a defensive posture, with thy armour on, as a soldier, upon thy works, ready to defend the castle of thy soul, which God hath set thee to keep, and valiantly to repel Satan's as- saults, whenever he makes his apj)roach ; but be not persuaded out of the line of thy place and calling, no, not under the specious pretence of zeal and hope, to get the greater victory l)y falling into the enemy's quarters. Let Satan be the assailant, and come if he will to tem])t thee ; but go not thou in a bravado to tempt him to do it. It is just he should be foiled that seeks his own danger. This got Peter his fall in the high-priest's hall, who was left tlu'refi)re cowardly to deny his Master, that he might learn hunil)ly to deny himself ever after. Secondly, With Satan's instruments. May be tliey revile and re])roach thee. Remember now thy part lies on the defence. Give not railing for railing, reproach for reproach. Tlie gospel allows thee no lil)erty to use their weapons, and return them quid pro quo: 1 Pet. iii. 8, 9, " Be pitiful, be courteous, not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing, but, contrariwise, blessing.' Thou hast here a bridle and breastplate to defend thee from their bullets ; the com- fort of thy own sincerity and holy walking, with which thou mayest wipe o(f the dirt thrown upon thy face, but no weajx)!! for self-revenge. A shield is put into thy hand, which thou mayest lift up to quench their fiery darts, but no darts
512 -^ND TAKE THE HELMET OF SALVATION.
of bitter words to retort upon them. Thou art shod with peace that thou mayest walk safely upon the injuries they do thee, without any prick or pain to thy spirit, but not with pride to trample upon the persons that wrong thee.