Thus I have showed what is this spiritual strength, and what we beg of God when we say, ' Strengthen me ; ' and how this is given out, in w'hat manner God conveyeth this strength to the soul, how suitable to our nature, to our temper, to our employment.
Thirdly. How God is concerned in it. David goes to God for this benefit, ' Lord, strengthen me.' From first to last he doth all. We do not stand by the stability of our own resolutions, nor stand by the stability of gracious habits in ourselves, unless the Lord supply new strength. Not by the stability of our own resolutions, for these will soon fail ; for David was under a resolution to keep close to God ; j'et he saitli, ' My feet had well-nigh slipped.' What upheld him ? * Thy right hand upheld me.' I was mightily shaken, all purposes of hold- ing on of godliness were even gone ; but I am continually with thee.
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Neither is it the stability of gracious habits in themselves, for of them- selves they are poor vanishing things ; faith, love, and fear of God of themselves will soon vanish : Rev. iii. 2, ' Be watchful, strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die. These are ready to die, therefore are only maintained by a renewed strength from God. It is the power of God that is engaged in our preservation. I might show in what order we have this from God ; we are not only kept in general ' by the power of God through faith unto salvation,' 1 Peter i. 5, but all the persons work. The Father, his act is judicial : Eph. iii, 14, ' I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that he would grant you to be strengthened with might in the inner man.' He issueth the grant, that such souls coming in Christ's name, and j)etitioning relief, should obtain it. And God the Son hath bought this strength for us, and he intercedes for constant supply ; and there- fore it is said, Phil. iv. 13, *I can do all things through Christ.' Christ puts in strength, that is, he observes all our temptations, our conflicts, how weak we are ; and he intercedes with God night and day ; he stands at God's right hand, to get out this strength ; and the Holy Ghost applies it to our heart in the ordinances ; for so it is said, Eph. iii. 16, ' To be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.' Use. To press us to be dealing with God for this strength. What shall we do ?
1. Be weak in your own sense and feeling. The way to be strong is to be weak : 2 Cor. xii. 10, ' When I am weak, then am I strong.' The bucket, if we would have it filled with the ocean, must first be empty. Saitli Austin, Nemo erit a Deo firmus, nisi qrii seipsum sentit injirmum — God strengtheneth those that are weak in their own feel- ing and sense of their own nothingness : Heb. xi. 34, ' Out of weak- ness they were made strong ;' out of weakness felt and apprehended.
2. There must be a full reliance upon God's strength alone: Ps, Ixxi. 16, ' I will go forth in the strength of the Lord God ;' and Eph. vi. 10, 'Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might ;' and 2 Tim. ii. 1, ' Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.' What- ever is in God and in Christ is for our use ; it is forthcoming for our encouragement and help. We have firm grounds for this reliance — the infinite power of God, and the merit of Christ, which is of in- finite value. What cannot the power of God do ? The strength of God is engaged for our relief and succour.
3. Use the power that you have, and then it will be increased upon you. The right arm is bigger than the left. Why ? Because of exer- cise, it is fuller of spirits and strength : ' To him that hath shall be given,' Mat. xiii, 12, ' and he shall have abundance.' The more we exercise grace the more we shall have of it : Prov. x. 29, ' The way of the Lord is strength to the upright.' The more we walk with God the more strength.
4. Use the means, for ' they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength,' Isa. xl. 31. Because God doth all, oh! it is the greatest engagement that can be to wait upon God in the use of means, that we may draw out treasures of grace in God's way : Phil. ii. 1 2, ' Work out your salvation, for it is God that worketh in you,' &c. See that you keep not off from God. Why ? For he doth all.
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5. Avoid sin ; that lets out your strength, as bleeding lets out the spirits of the body. When you grieve the Spirit of Christ whicli is to strengthen you, you cast away your strengtli from you. Let us then wait upon God for help, for when all things fail, God faileth not.