400 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. XXIV,
into gross sins, we must watch against these distempers, lessening of our care of and delight in heavenly things.
2. Pray. God is the best guardian and keeper ; he must watch over our watching : Ps. cxli. 3, ' Set a watch, 0 Lord, before my lips, and keep the door of my mouth.' Our security lieth in the restraints of his grace and the conduct of his Spirit : 2 Tim. i. 12, ' I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day.' Give your souls to Christ to keep ; it is our best jewel, it is fit it should be in safe hands. In every prayer wo do anew charge Christ with our souls ; the heart is best kept when commended to Christ. To quicken you, consider how weak the highest saints have been, when God hath loosed his hand and left them to themselves. David was a holy man, a grown man, a saint of long standing, of many experiences, yet he was overcome ])y his eyes. Joseph was a youth, a servant, had a fair opportunity, which David wanted ; he did not tempt, but was tempted, yet he resisted : Gen. xxxix. 9, ' How shall I do this wickedness, and sin against God ?* Who would have thought that Lot, that was kept righteous in Sodom, should have miscarried in the mountain, where there was none but his own family ? God sometimes will show us such instances, that we may learn to wait and depend on him.
5. Observe the necessity of God's keeping. Christ would never make a prayer to his Father for it if it had been in their own pov/er to keep themselves. It is God must keep us ; if he doth but leave us to grapple with a temptation in our own strength, we are soon gone : 'Keep them from evil.' This point hath been of often recourse in this prayer, therefore I shall be the briefer in it : — (1.) How God keepeth us ; (2.) Why God keepeth us.
First, How God keepeth us ? God hath many ways of keeping us, but they may be reduced to two — either by his Spirit or providence.
1. All the inward work is despatched by the Spirit, by the power of which he suppresseth inclinations to sin, and layetli on restraints of grace : Gen. xx. 6, ' I withheld thee from sinning against me.' So ia his people he weakeneth the power of sin, prevents us by the counsels of his grace from giving consent, leaves tlie awe of grace upon the soul to weaken the power of sin : Jer. xxxii. 40, ' I will put my fear into their hearts, that they shall not depart from me ; ' and giveth actual strength when tempted : 2 Cor. xii. 9, ' My grace is sufficient for thee ;' and when we fall God raiseth us, that we perish not. Some- times God lets us fall ; as a father, when the child is busy about the fire, puts his finger to a coal, that he may be afraid of it. It is one of his methods to bring us to heaven, to make us taste of sin's bitterness. David prayeth, ' Eestore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me by thy free Spirit,' Ps. li. 12.
2. By his providence.
[1.] He removeth the provoking occasions and objects of sin : Ps. cxxv. 3, ' The rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous, lest they put forth their hand to do iniquity ' We need this outward help ; if we had oftener occasions, we should be more angry, more voluptuous, more worldly.
[2.] Violent temptations are not permitted where he seeth we are
VeR. 15.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 401
most weak. As Jacob drove as the little ones were able to bear, 1 Cor. X. 13, ' Got! will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able, but with the temptation will make a way to escape, that we may be able to bear it.' He doth not give us into the enemies' hands, and leave us to the malice of Satan or the violence of men ; all is guided with wisdom and care.
[3.] By withholding occasions and opportunities, when temptation liath prevailed: Job xxxiii. 17, * That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.' When we have conceived a pur- pose, God hindereth the execution ; such disappointments are a great mercy.
Secondly, Why God alone must keep us.
1. From the nature of God. He is able : 2 Tim. i, 12, ' I know that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him ; ' 1 Peter i. 5, * Who are kept by the power of God ; ' Jude 24, ' To him that is nble to keep you from falling.' He is wise : 2 Peter ii. 9, ' The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation.' God is skilful and well versed in this work, God is faithful, and will not fail : 2 Thes. iii. 3, ' The Lord is faithful, who will stablish you, and keep you from evil.' Our establishment and preservation from damning sins is among the blessings of the covenant ; his faithfulness lieth at stake.