Use 2. It shows us the need of the new covenant, wherein the pardon of sins is established. All the saints that ever lived have had their failings, and what would become of them, even of God's own children, if there were not a forgiving God, and a gracious covenant, a way found out to remit their offences ? Ps. cxxx. 3, If the righteous God should call us to a strict account, how could the best of his chil-
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dren stand before him ? So Ps. cxliii. 2. It would go ill with all the
world if strict justice of law were still in force. All are guilty, and all must perish, the holy, humblest soul cannot abide the trial of that court ; not only God's enemies, but his servants cannot. The good they do, it cannot be laid in balance against the evil ; it would yield no relief as to remission and pardon. Plainly, if the guilt of sins remain upon us, our duties will not compensate with our sins. But such was the Lord's mercy, that when we all like sheep had gone astray, the Lord found a ransom for us, and laid upon Christ the iniquity of us all, Isa. liii. 6, that there might be pardon for poor creatures.
Use 3. It teacheth us, again, the necessity of dependence upon God's care and power for our spiritual preservation. Of all creatures sheep need a shepherd, so do we a spiritual shepherd to keep us from straying, to reduce us from our wanderings, to weaken our distemper, to drive away the wolf. In short, these two considerations will enforce the necessity of dependence, the indefatigable malice of Satan, and the unknown weakness and imperfection of the saints.
1. The indefatigable malice of Satan, and his unwearied diligence in tempting us to sin ; his hatred and envy against God and mankind is such that he leaves no man untempted. He would not leave the Lord Christ untempted. Especially in some regards above others he labours to draw the children of God into sin, because he knows their sins, by reason of their profession, will give great occasion of scandal to the weak, and blasphemy to the profane and wicked. Now, as his power is very great, so is his subtlety and diligence. That which Hannibal said of Marcellus perfectly agrees with him ; whether he gives or takes the foil, he ever renews and reinforceth the fight. AVhen Job had carried it very innocently in his prosperity in a dangerous time, yet try him in adversity, Job i. 12. Nay, when he had carried it off in a very grievous trial, as the loss of his goods and children, Job ii., &c.
2. The weakness and imperfection of the saints. How easily, if we take not more diligent heed and care, may we fall into sins, both with respect to the weakness of our understandings and perverseness of our affections !
[1.] Our understanding is so weak that we are ignorant of many things necessary to be known ; for we know but in part, 1 Cor. xiii. 12 ; and if we know something in general, we do not know it as we ought to know it, 1 Cor. viii. 2. How is that ? Either we fail in particular application, as the heathens that knew there was a divine, an eternal, and almighty power in general, yet were vain in their imaginations, in their discourses, and practical inferences. Or if we should know how to use these truths, if we know them habitually, yet we do not actually consider. Here is a great part of man's misery, being hurried by a multitude of business or violence of temptation, that being laid asleep by the pleasures of the flesh many times fall off. Though men have a perfect knowledge of their duty, and how to apply it habitually, yet actually do not consider ; their sin carries them away : ' They consider not that they do evil/ Eccles. v. 1. Thus for the understanding.
[2.] Our affections are so apt to be led by sense and not by right reason, that there is many times . great danger that in seeing we should
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not see, lest seeing, knowing, and approving that which is better, we should 'embrace and follow that which is worse, act contrary to our knowledge and conscience, Horn. ii. 18. Thou approvest the_ things that differ, yet doest thus and thus. Many have an approbation, yet cannot bring forth grace to victory, cannot govern their hearts accord- ing to their speculative approbation. Now if a man be such a Wind indigent creature, it is his wisdom still to look out off himself, to lift up his eyes to God ; that is, the God of our salvation and our guide, and defence ; all our confidence must be in him.
Use 4. We learn hence the encouragement which one hath who is right for the main, but hath run into some errors of life, to apply him- self to God to remedy that evil, as the good shepherd who must seek the lost sheep, and reduce him into the right way.
Here let me show two things : —
lc Who are those that are right for the main, and may look upon their sins as particular errors and frailties.