192 SERMOXS UPON PSALM cxix. [Ser. CXXVII.
Use. To press ns to look after this nplioldinci; and sustain in^!^ grace, that as wc come to God, so we may keep Avith God, In some cases perseverance is more difficult than conversion ; it is a harder thing to persevere than to be converted at first. In the first conversion we are mainly passive, if not altogether, but in perseverance active. It is God that })lants us into Christ, but when we are in Christ Ave ought to walk in him. As an iniant in the mother's womb before it is born lives by the life of the mother, and is fed and gi'ows by the mother's feeding, without any concurrence of its own ; but when born, indeed it is suckled by the mother still, but the child sucks itself, and applies nourishment to itself ; and the more it grows, the more the care of its life is devolved upon itself; so the first conversion is chiefly God's work, and when converted we cannot persevere without his help, but the care of the spiritual life is more devolved upon us than before. God doth give perseverance as well as conversion : 2 Peter i. 5, ' We are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ; ' but so that more is required to be done by us when converted than in con- version itself. Eph. ii. 10, the apostle tells us that we ' are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works ;' there is an action required of us. What is conversion ? A consent to the terms of the gospel convenant, that is the great act of conversion on our part. But now perseverance is the fulfilling of the duty of this covenant. Now it is more easy to consent to the terms than to make them good. As in the matrimonial contract, the promise of the duties proper to that relation is more easy than the performance ; so the consenting to God's covenant, all the business is to make it good, because of our unstable nature, manifold temptations, and great discouragements in the way of holiness. Certainly, to keep in the life of grace in the soul is a very hard thing. The Israelites, after they were brought to consent to receive Moses for their captain to lead them to Canaan, yet when they came out of Egypt, and had trial of the difficulties of the way, and were exposed to so many dangers, they were ever and anon desiring to return. So it is with us ; it is hard to hold out against all assaults ; many things will be interjjosing, and breaking }'our reso- lutions, and taking you oft" from God. The flesh will be interposing, so that you must often say, as Kom. v. 12, ' We are not debtors to the flesh, to live after the flesh,' to fulfil it in the lusts whereof. And the world will be threatening, and you must say as the}^ Dan. iii. 16, ' We are not careful to answer thee in this matter.' Dangers will grow upon us and increase, and then we must say, as Esth. iv. 16, ' If we perish, we perish.' Friends will be soliciting, and you must say, as Paul, Acts xxi. 13, 'What mean you to break my heart? I am ready to die for Christ ;' or as Christ said to his mother, John ii. 4, ' ^Voman, what have I to do with thee ? ' ' ]\Iust I not be about my , Father's business ? ' Seducers will be i)ersuading, and we must be ready to say, as Acts iv. 19, ' Whether it be right in the sight of God to liearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.' Nay, God himself will seem to discourage us, and to be against us ; and you must even say to God, as Job xiii. 15, ' Tliough thou slay me, yet will I })ut my trust in thee.' To keep up this life in this vigour of faith and this courage of obedience in the midst of all these interposings, is
VeK. IIG.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 193
a very difficult, hard work. AVliat then ? Tlierefore go to God : ' Lord, iiphokl me, that I may live.'
1. Ask it of God earnest] 3', because of your necessities. Secondly, In faith, because of his all-sufficiency. First, earnestly, because of your necessities. Without God's upliolding a man, he hath within himself no power to withstand any the least temptation or occasion unto sin. There is no evil so foul, nor sin so grievous, but there is a possibility that we may fall into it. Ps. xix. 13, David saiih, ' Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins.' Mark the expression, ' keep back ;' it implies that he felt an inclination and readiness in his heart, and therefore desires God to hold the bridle of grace the more hard upon him : Lord, keep back thy servant. When Satau disguiseth a gross sin with a plausible and tempting appearance, and when he bribes the flesh with some ])leasure or advanta,ge, oh ! how soon is lust set agog and the heart overborne by the violence of its own affections ! and how soon do we faint and are discouraged when we are exercised variously with divers assaults on this hand and that ! Secondly, In faith, because of God's all-sufficiency : 1 Peter v. 10, ' The God of all grace make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you,' Observe the title that he gives to God, ' The God of all grace ;' it notes that he hath good store, and hath a gracious inclination to give it. And then he reckons up the several kinds of graces. What would you have ? Would you keep that which you have already attained to ? The Lord establish you. Would you increase what you have ? The Lord perfect you. Would you act what you have with life and vigour, and grow more resolute ? The Lord strengthen you. AVould you grow more resolute against difficulty ? The Lord settle you. So the apostle, 2 Thes. ii. 17, ' The God of all grace comfort your hearts, and estab- lish you in every good word and work.' There is an all-sufficiency in God to help you, and carry you through all trials and all your diffi- culties. Therefore ask it of God.