but weakly. Ay! Lut then it profits when we receive the word of God as the word of God, as a certain truth ; when the soul comes to de- termine, Surely these are truths in which I am deeply concerned, upon which my eternal life or death doth depend. Without this God can have no service, and we no comfort, but are at a great uncertainty of spirit. On the other side, let me tell you that all our coldness in duty, and ail our boldness in sinning, it comes from unbelief.
[1.] Our coldness in duty. What is the reason, when God offereth such great things to us as the eternal enjoyment of himself, glory, comfort, and happiness as much as heart can wish, that men are so dead-hearted, lifeless, and careless in the ways of God? when our work is so good, our ways so excellent, what is the reason of all our coldness and carelessness in the profession of religion ? We have not a lively sense of eternity ; we do not believe God upon his word. If we did, it would put life into us. Saith the apostle, Phil. iii. 14, ' This one thing I mind, and I press towards the mark.' Why ? ' For the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ.' When we mind our work, seriously and above all other things, not superficially and by the by, Avhen we can see the prize of our high calling, as to run and hold the eye upon the mark, then he presseth onward that he may not lose the garland. So when we feel the rewards of grace, when we are persuaded of them, this puts spirit into us, and encourageth us against all deadness and faintness. Ay ! press onward then with a great deal of vehemency and earnestly. So 1 Cor. xv. 58, ' Be ye steadfast and unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.' Here is the description of a godly man. How shall we do to keep the heart in such an earnest frame ? By a sound belief of the promises ; for so it follows, ' Forasmuch as you know that your labour shall not be in vain ;n the Lord.' If holiness doth not flourish, there is a worm at the root, atheism and unbelief lies at the heart, and the want of such an assent to those great and glorious promises which God hath made known to us in Christ.
[2.] Our boldness in sinning. Why do men go on securely in ways of disobedience against God ? Because they do not know whether the word be true, yea or nay. If a man had heaven and hell in his eye, if he were soundly persuaded of these things, certainly he would not venture the loss of heaven for a trifle ; and would not upon such small temptations run the hazard of everlasting torments. You cannot drive an ass, the most stupid creature, into the fire which is burning before his eyes. So if these things were before our eyes we would not be so bold with God and so claring as we are. Temptation to sin must needs prevail with us when we have not faith ; for when the temptation is strong and faith weak, where are we ? A man will yield to his base lusts ; for there is present profit, present pleasure, and we have no undoubted certainty of the rewards of obedience, and of the promises which are to be set against the temptation. But now, when we consider we have so great and precious promises, this will make us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit ; we will not easily sin against God, kick against the pricks, and run upon danger laid before our eyes : ' In vain is the snare laid in the sight of a bird.'
VeR. 38.] SERMONS UPON PSALM ex IX. 403
Use 1. To reprove us for looking so little after the establishment of the word. There are many that content themselves with a loose profession of the name of Christ, but are not established in a sound belief of tlie scriptures. Ask them why they are of this and that religion. They have been taught so, been brought up in it ; and so they might have been Mahometans upon the same account that they are Christians, if thej^ had been bred there where the name of Mahomet is of more request than the name of Christ. But then there are others that live by guess, and carry on some natural devotion ; but their souls were never acquainted with the mystery of grace, never soundly estab- lished in it ; they have a conjecture. There are others that can dispute for their religion, that see a reasonableness in the Christian faith, and why they should be of this opinion rather than that. Ay ! but their hearts were never subdued to God. Hath the Spirit established divine truths upon thy soul, and wrought these things upon thy heart ? hath it convinced thy judgment, awakened thy conscience, changed thy heart, given thee any taste of God's love in Christ, drawn thee out of the world into near and sweet communion with God ? Truths are by him established to us, and represented with evidence and power, 1 Cor. ii. 4. Alas ! all else we can attain to is but cold and fruitless notion, which will not warm the heart ; some cursory opinions, that will not hold thy heart under the awe of God, and guide thee in the paths of holiness to eternal life ; and therefore rest not in this, that you have some knowledge concerning Christ and privileges by him. But are your hearts established ? have you a sense of these trutliG wrought in you by the Holy Ghost ?