184 THE EIGHTEENTH SERMON. [2 ThES. II. 17.
There is not only slowness and backwnnlncss of heart to the duties of the gospel, but somewhat of the old enmity and averseness remaineth still. Our hearts are not only inconstant and unsettled, but very way- ward : Jer. x'lv. 10, ' Thus saith the Lord to this people, Thus have they loved to wander ;' Ps. xcv. 10, ' It is a people that do err in their heart.' Moses was no sooner gone aside Avith God in the mount, but the Israelites, after their solemn covenant, fell to idolatry. Before the law could be written, they brake it. Now, we that have a warring principle within, how can we stand unless God establish us ? There is a back-bias, there are the seeds of wantonness, anger, revenge, envy, impatience, worldliness, ambition, and sensuality. God knoweth how little the fleshly mind and interest is conquered in us ; and therefore, if he did not establish us, w^e should soon show ourselves.
3. In regard of those oppositions that are made against ns after once we be in Christ. It is not enough that we are brought out of the kingdom of Satan, but after we are rescued out of his hand and power, he pursueth us with continual malice ; therefore there must be the same power to stablish us still in grace that first brought us into the state of grace : Col. i. 13, ' Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son ;' compared with 1 John iv. 4, * Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them ; because greater is he that is in } ou than he that is in the world.' The world runneth a quite contrary course than those do that set their faces heavenward, and therefore maligns them, and pursues them \vith reproaches and troubles : 1 Peter iv. 4, 5, * Wherein they think it strange that you run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you ; who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.' And most commonly our supports are invisible, and we have no temporal interest to leant to ; but, 2 Tim. i. 12, ' For the which cause I also suffer these things : neverthe- less I am not ashamed ; for I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.' We bear these afflictions by the power of God.
4. We see here the saints miscarry when God withdraweth his sup- porting grace but in part, as Peter, JDavid. Peter w\as in the state of grace, and Christ prayed that his faith might not utterly fail ; yet, when God did not establish him, you see what sins he was guilty of in that combat. David was ' a man after God's own heart ;' but how did he fall when God upheld him not 1 Ps. li. Hezckiah ; 2 Chron. xxxii. 31, ' Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.' Thus is God fain to humble his children, to teacli them dei)cndence, and to put them in mind that they do not stand by their own strength.
III. Why it is to be sought of God ?
1. He only is able : Pom. xvi. 25, ' Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gosjK'l, and the preaching of Jesus Christ,' &c. Surely (jlod never made a creature too hard for him- self. He is able to defeat the power of enemies, and to preserve his
2 ThES. II. 17.] THE EIGHTEENTH SERMON. 185
people in the midst of temptations. So Jnde, ver. 24, ' To him that is able to keep you from falling,' &c. ; and ' He is able to keep that which I have committed to him,' 2 Tim. i. 12. The saints gather much comfort from this, for it is a relief to their thoughts against the dread- ful and powerful opposition of the world ; they have no reason to doubt of their Father's love. That which surpriseth them is to see all the world against them. It is the dreadfulness of power in the tempta- tion and sense of their own weakness ; therefore the power of God is a fit relief to them.
2. God is not very forward to cast you off, when he hath a just cause to do it. Your constant experience evidenceth this. If he here had done so, what had become of you long ago ? For you have given him abundant occasion, you have wearied him with your sins, abused his mercies ; and yet he hath not cast you off. He hath not utterly for- saken you, when you have turnetl the back upon him and have been ready to forsake him, but hath kept you from dangers and in dangers ; yea, called you to his grace, confirmed you hitherto. Why should you doubt of his grace for the future ? 2 Cor. i. 10, ' Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver ; in whom we trust that he wull yet deliver us ;' 2 Tim. iv. 17, 18, ' iSTotwithstanding, the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me ; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear ; and I was deli- vered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.'