3. They are sensible of the good of perseverance in obedience. There are two things here : —
[1.] Obedience is good ; the more we experiment it, the more we would desire to keep it up in an even tenor of close walking with God, without interruption, without intermission, God appeals to experience : Micah ii. 7, ' Do not my words do good to him that walketh up- rightly ? ' And when men wander they have this experience, ' Am I a barren wilderness ? ' Micah vi. 3, ' 0 my people ! what have I done unto thee, and wherein have I wearied thee ? testify against me.' The more we find liberty, sweetness, and comfort in the ways of God, the more we should desire to continue in them.
[2.] As obedience is good, so perseverance in obedience is good, for it strengthens grace, especially in an hour of temptation, when many make defection. The choicest discovery of good men is in bad times : 'Noah was upright in his generation,' Gen. vi. 9; to stand when others decline, to be like fish that keeps its freshness in salt water, to hold fast there where Satan hath his throne. Rev. ii. 13, and to be faithful, as is said of Judah, Hosea xi. 12, when ' Ephraim compassed me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit.' It is a comfort and honour to persevere with God.
Reason 2. This sustaining grace must be asked, because God will show his sovereignty, that it is not at our beck ; it must cost us wait-
204 SERMONS UPON PSALM cxix. [Ser, CXXVIII.
inj5, striving, and earnest and renewed prayer : 2 Cor. xii. 8, ' For this tliino- I besought the Lord thrice.' God will not answer at the first knock, but at the third, then God came in. So Cln-ist; Mat. xxvi. 44, the third time he came and repeated the same tiling ; then, if you compare Luke, he received his consolation by an angel. God doth not come at the first knock,. therefore we must pray again, ' Uphold me.'
lieason 3. Without continued influences of grace we cannot be safe, therefore they must not be sought once and no more, but daily. As we seek daily bread, so we should seek daily grace. The word ay'jjjiepov, this day, hath resj)ect to all the petitions ; this day we must have our daily bread, this day lead us not into temptation, this day keep us from evil. While temptations continue, we nnist continue prayer. Long suits, though often denied, may prevail at length. In short, the continuance of strength and assistance from God is necessary to pre- serve both habitual and actual grace, therefore they must be continu- ally asked.
1. To preserve habitual grace, the seed that remains in us. We would wonder to see a herb to thrive and grow in the midst of many weeds ; so that grace should be there where there is so much ])ride, love of pleasure, worldly care and brutish lusts, especially when any of these are set a-work b}^ tem})tations without. The angels anil Adam fell when there was nothing within to work upon them but the nuitability of their nature ; so when there is so much within to work, and temptations without, it is hard to keep grace in' the soul.
2. For the (piickening and actual stirrings of the soul to good. We should soon faint and tire in the ways that we have begun were it not for God's sustaining grace ; these sparks would quickly go out, if God did not keep them alive. 1 Chron. xxix. 18, when the people Avere in a high point of willingness, ' Lord, keep this for ever in the imagina- tion of the thoughts of the heart of thy jieople.' AVhen we have gotten any good frame of spirit, we cannot preserve it without this continual influence.
lieason 4. llenewed prayer is a means of persevering, not only for it, but by it. God keeps us alive in the way of grace, as by the word, so by prayer. Praying in the Holy Ghost is one means of establish- ment, Jude 20. Prayer is a solemn preaching to our selves, or a serious warming of our souls in our duty in the sight of God. Now means of sup])ort must be used, not once, but often. There must be constant meals for the increase of bodily strength. If a man be never so strong, yet he cannot always grow in strength by one meal, there must be new refreshment ; so this is one means for our preservation, therefore it must be often used.
Use. For reproof of those that ask sustaining grace customarily and carelessly, without any deep sense or renewed im})ortunity. We are too cold and formal when we say, 'Lead us not into temptation.'
L Consider, none stand but m;iy fall in some degree, and it is our business to take heed we do not. Every hour we are in danii;er either of getting some distemper, or letting out some corruption. Of getting some distemper, being spotted and defiled in the world, or at least being made dull and indisposed in the service of God. Or else of letting out some corru2)tions ; if (Jod do not keep our heart and all