[2.] Because of the daily assaults of Satan. When a poor soul is gotten out of his hands, he jDursues him with continual malice, 1 Peter v. 8 ; no less doth he aim at than the utter destruction of our souls, and wrestles to recover the prey, to plunge us in that estate of misery wherein himself lies ; therefore we must be defended and protected every day. When cities are besieged, they are not left to their ordi- nary strength and standing provision, but fresh supplies of men and ammunition are sent to their relief ; so God deals with us. As we are unstable creatures, we need the continual assistance of God, for all depends on him, in esse, conservare, and operari. But here is another consideration to help to uphold us under assault. When the disciples were tossed to and fro, and shaken with sundry temptations, then Christ prays than their faith may not fail, begs fuither assistance, Luke XX. 31 ; so when Paul was buffeted by Satan, God makes him a promise of additional grace : 2 Cor. xii. 9, ' My grace is sufficient for thee.' We need fnrther help from God, that we may stand against his batteries and assaults.
[3.] Because of the great impression which our temporal condition makes upon us. We are now happy, anon afflicted. Now, as unequal uncertain weather doth afflict the body, so do our various conditions distemper the soul. To abound and to be abased, to be up and to be down, to carry an equal hand in unequal conditions, is very hard, and will call for the supporting strength of God's Spirit. So the apostle, Phil. iv. 12, 13, ' I know how to be abased, and how to abound ; every
YeR. 116.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 191
where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need : I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.' From that place let me observe something.
(1.) That we are subject to change of conditions in outward things ; sometimes in credit, sometimes in disgrace ; sometimes rich, some- times poor ; cut short by the providence of God ; sometimes sick, sometimes in health ; sometimes enjoy all things comfortably, at other times reduced to great necessity. Now it is very hard to go through all these conditions, not to be dejected on the one side or puffed up on the other.
(2.) Observe again from that place, either of these conditions have their snares, so that we need all the grace that possibly we can get to avoid them. Some think that snares and temptations lie but on one side, namely, they think it is easy to be rich, and to maintain hope and comfort in God then ; but it is hard to be poor, and to be desti- tute of all things. When they have nothing to live upon, they cannot see how they should live by faith, or keep from murmurings, repinings, or uncomely dejections and sinkings of heart. On the other side, some think it easy to be poor and religious ; but how to keep a good conscience in a full estate, wdiere there is so much to draw them from God, to keep down pride and security, and to live under a lively sense of the comforts of the other world, to do this in the midst of opulency, this is hard. There are indeed temptations on both hands.
(3.) Observe, again, some that have held well in one condition have failed in another. One sort of temptations have a greater force upon some spirits than others have. When God hath kept men low, they have been modest and humble ; but when they have been exalted, then they have showed themselves, their pride, their disdain, their forgetfulness of God, their mindlessness of the interest of Christ. On the other hand, others have carried it well in prosperity, yet when the bleak winds of adversity are let loose upon them, they are withered and dried up. Some cannot encounter terrors, others blandishments. As the prophet saith of Ephraim, he is a cake not turned, that is, baked only of the one side, very dough on the other ; so it is with many men ; on one side of providence they seem to do well, but when God puts them in another condition they have foully miscarried. 1 Kings xiii. the young prophet that could thunder out judgment against the king, when the old prophet enticed him, he is gone.
(4.) Nay, and which is more, to have these conditions to succeed one another makes the temptation the greater. To be cast down, after that we have got on the top of the wlieel, and have tasted of the world's happiness, is the greater trial. And so on the other side, to be lifted up after extreme misery ; sudden changes affect us more. Now, to possess things without love, or lose them without gi'ief ; to be temperate and sober in the enjoyment of worldly happiness, or to be meek and patient in the loss of it ; or to exercise a Christian mode- ration as to all these dispensations ; it is a very hard thing to keep the heart steady and right with God ; and therefore we need the influence of God's special grace, as the apostle presently adds, ' I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.'