[7.] Self-confidence. When men's consciences are troubled, they would fain get them eased. Those that are so greedy after quiet and peace, rather than holiness and grace, usually ease themselves in a wrong way ; they fly to a few outward duties, or to some slight resolu- tions for God, and there rest. It is better to keep the conscience raw a while than to skin it over too soon ; that will make the wound fester and rankle. Most desire ease too soon, they consult and contrive suddenly how they may ease themselves of that pain and horror that is upon them, and so vainly rest in the way of their own thoughts. A man should not look to be eased of grief till he find himself fitted for holiness, that he may not be engaged to the like grief again ; other- wise we shall but stop the grief rather than cure it. W^e must be directed to a better course, and that must be only by Jesus Christ. It is a sign we are guilty of this self-confidence when we resolve upon a better life, and do not think how unable we are for it. Great resolu- tions are always vain, unless joined with the consideration of our own weakness. The people of God have promised much, but always it is with the concurrence of Christ. The apostle saith, Phil. iv. 12, ' I can,' or will ' do all things,' but it is ' through Chi'ist.' David pro- miseth, Ps. cxix. 32, ' I will run the ways of thy commandments ;' but
202 A rrvACTicAL exposition upon [Isa. LIII. 1.
he addeth, * when thou shalt enlarge my heart.' There are divers such places in scripture. We walk in the strength of our resolutions when we do not see a need that Christ should help us, that we may not walk in the same ways of error and maze of misery again.
[8.] Carnal fears. These hinder the soul from closing with that mercy that is reported to be in Christ. They are of divers sorts.
(1.) Fear of God's anger, as if he were so displeased with us that certainly he did not intend Christ for us. Why, consider, the more angry God is, the more need there is to fly to his mercy. His mercy is as infinite as his wrath, nay, I may say more infinite: JPs. cxxxviii. 2, ' Thou liast magnified thy word aljove all thy name ;' that is, God's promise in Christ is greater than all other things by which he hath made himself known. Christ was an instance of infinite wrath and infinite mercy at the same time, but rather of infinite mercy. Nay ; ta clear all, God expressly saith, ' Anger is not in me.'
(2.) Fear of being too bold with the promises. Take heed of com- plimenting with God. A man cannot be too bold where he is so freely invited : Mat. xi. 28, ' Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden.' You are unworthy to believe, but God is worthy to be obeyed. And ' this is his commandment,' 1 John iii. 3, ' That we should believe in the name of Jesus Christ.'
(3.) Fear of the sin of presumption. Oh ! they shall presume toa much. A man doth not presume if he knoweth his own danger ; if he be lost to himself and his own apprehension, it is pity he should be lost to God too. Presumers are seldom troubled about their estate ; it is enough to disturb a false peace so much as to suspect it. There can be no presumption where there are no slight thoughts of sin and mercy. The mind cannot presume when it is serious.
[9.] Carnal reasonings from our sins. They are arguments of con- fidence, but not of dejection : Ps. xxv. 11, ' Pardon my sin, for it is great.' If so, it is the better for God to pardon. Sins should not hinder a man from duty. It is your duty to believe. The sense of sickness will cause us to make use of the physician. You cannot see anything in sin, but you may see more in Christ. Not greatness : Ps. Ivii. 10, ' Thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.' Not number : Eom. v. 16, ' The free gift is of many otfencea unto justification.'
[10.] And lastly, carnal apprehensions of Christ. We will believe no more to be in God than we find in ourselves : 1 Sam. xxiv. ID, ' Who findeth his enemy, and slayeth him not ? will lie let him go well away ? ' The soul in all her conclusions is only directed by premises experimental and of sensible apprehension. We think God is but as man ; we are used to the dispositions of men, and therefore cannot believe there is anything more in God : Ps. 1. 22, ' Thou thoughtest I was altogether such an one as thyself.' But remember, ' God is not a man, that he should lie ; neither the son of man, that he should repent,' Num. xxiii. 19 ; and Hosea xi. 9, ' I will spare Ejihraim, for I am God, and not man ;' so Isa. Iv. 8-10, ' My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord : For as the heavens are higher than tlie earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts :' Jer. iii. 1, ' If a man put