Nothing is found sufficient sometimes to affect and raise them ; and yet if they be not excited out of their torpor and stupidity, they can- not have conununion with God in duties.
Secondlu^ And if we enquire into the reasons why poor Christians find themselves more infested by natural corruptions in the seasons of duty than at other times ; the reasons are obvious to him that considers, 1. That duty irritates it ; 2. Satan excites it ; 5. God permits it to be so.
First, Corruption is irritated by duty, it is provoked by that which bridles and purges it : Nothing is found more destructive to sin than communion with God is; and therefore nothing makes a fiercer op- position to all ftlluwship and communion betwixt the soul and its God than sin doth. As waters swell and rage when they are ob- structed by a dam, so do our corruptions when obstructed and checked by duty. Sin would fain make men leave praying, and prayer would fain make men leave sinning.
Secondly, As duty irritates it, so Satan excites it, especially in such seasons. When Joshua the high-priest stood before the Lord, Satan was seen standing at his right-hand to resist him, Zech. iii. 1. How hard is it for a Christian then to be dexterous, apt, and ready for spiritual work, whilst Satan stands at his right hand, the working hand, to make resistance.
The devil is aware that one hour of close, spiritual, and hearty converse with God in prayer, is able to pull down what he hath been contriving and building many a year. Now this envious spirit having an easy access to the fancy, that busy and unruly power of the soul, will not be wanting to create such figments and notions in it, as, like a rapid stream, shall carry away the soul and all its thoughts from God in duty. O what ado have most Christians to prevent the sallies and excursions of their hearts from God at such times !
3. x\s Satan exercises it, so the wise and holy God, for good ends to his people, permits it to be so.
This thorn in the flesh keeps them humble ; these lamented dis- tractions and corruptions in their duties destroy their dependence upon them, and glorying in them : For if we be so prone to pride and confidence in our duties, amidst such sensible workings and minglings of corruption with them, what would we be if they were more pure and excellent ? These things also make the saints weary of this world, and to groan within themselves after the more perfect state wherein God shall be enjoyed and seen in more perfection and satisfaction. But,
Thirdly, This in the mean time cannot but be a very grievous affliction and pressure to the gracious soul, to be thus clogged and infested by its own corruptions in the ver^' season of its communion with God. For,
FirsU By this the soul is rendered very unsuitable to that holy pre- sence it approaches ; Hab. i. 13. * Thou art of purer eyes than to
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behold evil, and canst not look upon iniquity.' Must the great and blessed God wait upon a poor worm till it be at leisure to attend him ? Must he be forsaken for every trifle that comes in the way of its fancy ? Oh, how provoking an evil is this ! ' Surely God heareth not vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it,' Job xxxv. 13. This unsuitableness of our spirits to the Lord, cannot do less than cover our faces with shame ; as did Ezra, chap. ix. 6. ' O my God, I am ashamed, and even blush to look up unto thee.'
Secandli/, By this those benefits and comforts are intercepted which are better than life ; there is a sensible presence of God ; there are manifestations of pardon, peace and love ; there are reviving influen- ces and fresh anointings of the Spirit ; there are a thousand mercies of this kind, that in their seasons are communicated to men in the way of duty ; and would it not grieve a man to the very heart and soul, to be defeated of those inestimable treasures, by the breaking forth of the unbelief, pride, or vanity of his own heart, when such mercies are almost in his hand ? ' Your iniquities, (saith the prophet) have separated betwixt you and your God ; and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear,' Isa. lix. 2. O cruel cover- ing ! O dismal cloud ! that hides the face of God from his people, that ihey cannot behold it ! " Wherefore am I come from Geshur (saith Absalom) if I may not see the king's face .?"
What do I here upon my knees, saith a Christian, if I may not see God ? Duties are nothing to me without God ; the world and all its comforts are dry and tasteless things to me without God ; his manifested favour and sealed love are the very life of my life, and from this the corruptions of my own heart have cut me ofl:
Thirdly^ By these things the beauty and excellency of duties are defaced. These dead flies spoil that excellent ointment ; for where- in consists the beauty and true excellency of duties, but in that spi- rituality and heavenly temper of soul with which they are perform- ed ? This makes them suitable to their object, John iv. 24. Take away spirituality from duties, and then you may number them among your sins, and the matters of your shame and sorrow. Take away the heart from duty, and what remains but a dead carcase without life or beauty ?
FourtJily, By these things gracious souls are greatly puzzled and perplexed about their state and condition ; this is the fountain of their fears and doubtings. Oh ! when a man feels such deadness in his heart towards God, such stiffness in his will to the will of God, such a listless, careless temper to all that is spiritual, how (thinks he) can this consist with a renewed state and temper ? Sure no Christian is troubled with such an heart as mine is, especially when it shall be found in its ordinary course, so free, nimble and indefatigable in its pursuits and entertainments of things sensual and earthly : there it is as the chariots of Amminadib, but here, like Pharaoh's chariots: there it as much needs the curb, as it doth the spur here. Lord^ saith the
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poor soul, / 'know not what to do: if I do not look into my hearty I cannot he sincere ; and if I do, I can have no coinfort. This is a sad perplexity indeed !
Fifthly^ and lastly. By these things the Spirit of God is grieved ; and that which grieves him cannot but be a grief and burden to us : his motions are quenched by these corruptions, his sanctifying de- signs (as much as lies in us) obstructed by them ; surely then there is cause enough why a Christian should follow every vain thought with a deep sigh, and every stirring of unbelief with a sad tear.
The usefulness of this point is great and exceeding seasonable, when we are to draw nigh to God, and address ourselves to spiritual duties ; it may to great purpose be improved by way,
We may greatly improve it for our information, in the following particulars.