[2.] The will, which is the imperial power of the soul. Now, the will's establishment is known by its firm and thorough resolution for God and against sin. For God : as Acts xi. 23, Barnabas, ' when he had seen the grace of God, was very glad, and exhorted them all that, with full purpose of heart, they would cleave to the Lord.' First choosing, then cleaving, and this with full purpose, when the will is so fixed in the knowledge and faith of the gospel that they resolve to abide by their choice : Fs. xxvii. 4, ' One thing have I desired of the Lord ; this will I seek after.' When spiritual resolution carrieth the force and authority of a principle in the soul, and nothing can break it: 1 Feter iv. 1 'Arm yourselves with the same mind.' As con- stantly as Christ persevered in the work of mediation, so be you in
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the work of oljedience, notwithstanding the difficulties of it. This powerful will, that beareth down oppositions and temptations, and the greatest impediments in the way to heaven, so that you rather make advantage of opposition than are discouraged by it, when sensual or carnal good is of little force to you, and you can despise the most pleasing baits of sin,
[3.] The affections are the executive power, and do excite and stir us up to do what the mind is convinced of and the Avill resolved upon as to the necessary duties of the gospel in order to eternal happiness. There is a backwardness within and many temptations without ; but a holy delight overcometh the unwilling backwardness within, and overbalanceth either worldly fear or worldly hope without, that the soul is carried on powerfully towards God. We never work better than when we work in the strength of some eminent affection, when the heart is enlarged : Ps. cxix. 32, ' I will run the way of thy com- mandments when thou shalt enlarge my heart,' Either love or hope. Love filleth us with delight, overcoming our natural slackness and sluggishness in the ways of God : Ps. xl, 8, ' I delight to do thy will, 0 my God, yea, thy love is within my heart ; ' 1 John v. 3, ' For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his com- mandments are not grievous ; ' Ps. exii, 1 , ' Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delightetli greatly in his commandments.' Hope beareth us up in contempt of present delights and terrors of sense : Heb. iii, 6, ' Whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of hope firm unto the end ; ' so that we serve God with vigour and alacrity. When our affections are damped, grace falleth into a consumption ; and if you lose your taste, your practice will lan- guish, your service of God will not be so uniform. It is a great part of our establishment to keep up the vigour and fervency of our affections,
4. With respect to the uses for which it serveth, as to duties, suffer- ings, conflicts.
[1.] Doing the will of God, or discharging our doings with delight, cheerfulness, and constancy; for all strength is for work : Eph. iii. 16, ' That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man,' That we may do our work with that readiness of mind which becomes faith in Christ and love to God. This is often spoken of in scripture : Phil, ii. 13, ' For it is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do, of his good pleasure,' ro deXelv koI to ivepyelv; and Heb. xiii. 21, ' Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you what is well pleasing in his sight.' It is of great use to our establishment that the soul be kept doing ; for as wells are the sweeter for draining, so are we the more lively for exercise. Frequent omission of good duties, or seldom exercise of grace, necessarily produceth a decay ; as a key rusteth that is seldom turned in the lock ; thereby we lose the life and comfort of religion, and at length cast it off as a needless and unprofit- able thing,
[2.] For bearing afflictions, and passing through all conditions with honour to God and safety to ourselves : Phil, iv, 13, ' I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me ;' Col, i, 11, * Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, with
182 THE EIGHTEENTH SERMON. [2 ThES. 11. 17.
all patience.' Tlie great use of establishment is to fortify us against all the evils and inconveniences of the present life, that we may hold on our course to heaven in fair way or foul, and not be greatly moved by anything that befalleth us within time,
[3.] For conflicts with temptations from the devil, the world, and the flesh. The world is round about us, and we are accustomed to these inveigling objects whose importunity prevaileth at length. The devil seeketh to work upon our affections and inclinations, and the flesh urgeth us to gratify them. How, then, is a Christian safe ? God establisheth him : Eph. vi. 10, ' Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in tlie power of his might.' A Christian here is in a military state, and we of ourselves, left unto ourselves, are like reeds sliakcn with every wind ; we have need of establishment in regard of our own feebleness, and the force of our enemies. We must be established against the devil soliciting ; against the world, the silent argument by which he soliciteth us and draweth us from God and heaven ; against the flesh, the rebelling principle which is apt to be wrou.ght upon by Satan. Well, then, this establishment is that grace which enableth us to carry on the duties of religion with constancy, frequency, and delight ; to bear all the inconveniences of religion with patience and fortitude ; to be more deaf and resolute against all the suggestions of the devil, or the machinations of the flesh, stirred up by the world.