Use 1. Get grace, then look after perseverance. Evil men must get grace; and God's children their business is to persevere in that state to which they have attained.
But what should Ave do to persevere ?
First, Be fortified against what may shake you from without ; beware of being led away by offences and scandals. Three things are wont to give offence, and exceedingly shake the faith of some, viz., errors, persecutions, scandals.
1. Errors. Be not troubled when differences fall out about the truths of God, nor shaken in mind ; the winds of error are let loose upon the floor of the church to sever the chaff from the solid grain : 1 Cor. xi. 19, ' There must be heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest.' Take heed of taking offence at errors. I do not speak now of being led captive by error. Many question the ways of God, and give over all religion because there are so many differences and sects ; therefore they think nothing certain. Certainly God saw this discipline to be fittest for his people ; he hath told us there must be errors ; he would not have us take up religion upon trust, without the pains of study and prayer. Lazy men would fain give laws to heaven, and teach God how to govern the affairs of the world ; they Avould have all things clear and plain, that there should be no doubt about it. But the Lord in his wise providence saw it fit to permit these things, ' that they which are approved may be made manifest.' Men to excuse the trouble of search, study, and prayer, would have all agreed, else they take offence at religion, and think it to be but a fancy ; that is one means to draw them oft", even after some profession. What the canonists say grossly, this was their blasphemy, that God were not discreet and wise, unless he bad
318 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. XXXIIL
appointed one universal test and one infallible interpreter ; this is men's natural thonghts, they Avonld have such a thing. The Jews say, Cer- tainly Christ was not the true Messiah. Why ? Because if he had, he would not come in such a way as to leave any of his countrymen in doubt. So many think religion is but a fancy ; they fall off to atheism and scepticism at last, and irresolution in religion, because there are so many sects and divisions, and all upholding it with plausible pre- tences. To excuse laziness, we pretend want of certainty. But God's word is plain to one that will do his will, John vii. 17, if we will use all the means God hath appointed, and unfeignedly and with an unbiassed heart come to search out the mind of God.
2. Persecutions, they are an offence : Mat. xi. 6, ' Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me." When the people of God are exposed to great troubles when they are in the world, they have but a mean outside. What ! are these the favourites of heaven ? It makes men take offence. Christians, what religion is it jou are of ? Is it not the Christian religion, whose great interest and. work it is to draw you off from the concernments of the present world unto things to come ? The whole drift and frame of the Christian religion is to draw men'.s hearts off from earthly things, and to comfort and support them under the troubles, inconveniences, and molestations of the flesh ; therefore for a Christian to hope an exemption from them, is to make the doc- trine of the gospel as incongruous and useless as to talk of bladders and the art of swimming to a man that never goes to sea, nor intends to go off from the firm land.
3. A great occasion to shake the faith of many is scandals, the e\-il practices of those that profess the name of God. Oh ! when they run into disorder, especially into all manner of unrighteousness, and iniquity, and cruel things, and make no conscience of the duties of their relations as subjects, as children, and the like, it is a mighty offence ; and we that have to do with persons and sinners of all sorts find it a very hard matter to keep them from atheism, such stumbling- blocks having been laid in their way. Scandal is far more dangerous than persecution. There are many that have been gained by the patience, courage, and constancy of the martyrs, but never any' were gained by the scandalous falls of professors. Persecutions do only work upon our fear, which may be allayed by proposal of the crown of life ; but by scandalous action, how many settle into a resolved hard- ness of heart ! In crosses and persecutions a man may have secret likings of truth, and a purpose to own it ; but by scandal he dislikes the way of God, of religion itself; it begets a base and vile esteem thereof in the hearts of men, so they are loose and fall off. And this mischief doth not only prevail with the lighter sort of Christians, but many times those which have had some taste, it makes them fly oft" exceedingly : Mat. xviii. 7, ' There will be offences, but woe be unto them by whom they come.' Christ hath told us all will not walk up to the religion they own ; therefore we must stand out against this temptation.