2. But besides this, there is a continuance and an increase of these graces, when the Lord confirms his work, and jierfects what he hath begun, Phil. i. 16. The apostle most notably sets it forth: 1 Peter V. 10, ' The God of all grace make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.' All these words concern the habit, or the seed of grace in the soul ; and to show God's concurrence towards our preservation in the spiritual state, he useth these words, ' Make you perfect ; ' that notes the addition of degrees that are yet wanting ; ' stablish you,' that notes defending that grace which is already planted in the heart from temptation and dangers ; and ' strengthen you,' that is, give you power for action or ability for working ; and ' settle you,' that is to fasten the root more and more. All may be represented in a tree. Look, as a tree grown downward in the root is defended from the nip- ping of the weather, and stablished and strengthened against injuries from beasts, and being filled with sap, springs forth, and becomes fruitful ; so the Lord settle you, &c.
3. There is a concurrence of God to the act, Grace in habit is not enough, but it must be actuated and directed. About the act there are two things : The Holy Spirit actuates the grace that is implanted, draws it forth into exercise ; so it is said, Phil. ii. 13, 'It is God that worketh in you both to will and to do,' that is, he does apply that grace in our heart, set it a- work ; and then there is a directing or regu- lation of the soul to action : 2 Thes. iii. 5, ' The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God,' &c. Thus God plants grace in the heart by preventing us with his mercy and loving-kindness, taking us into favour; then he doth stablish us, and j^erfect it, root it in the soul more and more. Then as to the act, he doth excite and strengthen us.
Secondl}^, The uses for which we have this strength from God. It serves for three uses — for doing, for suffering, and for conflicting, to bear us out in conflict , as our necessities are many, so must our strength be.
1. Strength to perform duties. Weariness and uncomfortableness will soon fall upon our hearts, and we shall hang ofi" from God, if the Lord doth not put forth a new force, and a new quickening upon our hearts ; therefore the spouse saith, Cant. i. 4, ' Draw me, and we will run after thee. And here in this psalm, ' When the Lord shall enlarge
VeR. 2S.] sermons "UPON PSALM CXIX. 273
my heart, I will run tlie ways of his commandments/ If we would be carried on with any fervour and motion towards God, we must go forth in the strength of God. Tlie soul is a tender thing, and soon discomposed. When we think to go forth and shake ourselves as at other times, as Samson, we shall find fetters and restraints upon our soul. Therefore God's work must ever be done in God's strength.
2. Strength for bearing of burdens with patience, that we may not faint under them: Col. i. 11, ' Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyful- ness.' That we may not faint under our affliction : Prov. xxiv. 10, ' If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.' God's children, before they go to heaven, will have their trials, they will have many burdens upon them : Heb. vi. 12, ' Be ye followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.' There needs not only faith, but patience. There will be trouble. Now a heavy burden need have good shoulders. We pray for strength, that we may break through difficulties and afflictions that we meet in our passage to heaven.
3. Strength for conflicts, that we may break through temptations. A Christian is not only to use the trowel but the sword. We cannot think to discharge duties or bear afflictions without a battle and con- flict ; therefore we need the strength of the Lord's grace to carry us through. Satan is the great enemy with whom we conflict, he is the manager of the temptation. This is the course of it ; the world is the bait ; the flesh is the traitor that works within men, which gives advan- tage to Satan ; the devil lieth hidden, and by worldly things seeks to draw oft' our hearts from God. Now we are assaulted on every side, sometimes by the pleasures of the world, sometimes by the frowns and crosses of it; so that a Christian needs to be fit for all conditions: Phil. iv. 13, ' I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me ;' for every way will the devil be enticing us to sin. Now these conflicts are either solicitations to sin, or tend to weaken our comfort; and in both re- spects we must have strength from God. Satan's first temptation is to draw us to sin ; if he cannot weaken grace, then to disturb our com- fort ; if not to deny God, yet that we may suspect our own estate ; and therefore he follows us with blasphemies and other temptations, until he hath made our lives wearisome, till we call our condition into question ; and therefore, as grace is strengthened, so is comfort : Neh. viii. 10, ' The joy of the Lord is your strength.'