[2.] When it is opposed weakly,'and with a faint resistance. It is not enough for men to see their sins, and blame them in themselves, or purpose to amend and forsake them, but they must strive to over- come them, and in striving prevail, for otherwise sensuality carrieth it, because our reason and will make too weak an opposition, Jesus Christ our head and chief resisted Satan's motions with indignation, ' Get thee behind me, Satan ; ' so must we. When we speak faintly and coldly, the devil reneweth the assault with the more violence ; there- fore our resistance must be valid and strong. Many purposes there are that come to nothing, because they are not deep and serious: Pharaoh in his qualms proposed to let the children of Israel go ; and
VeR. 14.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VI. 261
yet, when it came to it, he would not let them go : Saul purposed in his heart not to kill David, yea, bound it by an oath ; yet afterwards he attempted it, 1 Sam. xix. 6, compared with 10 and 11. So many times they purpose to avoid the sin by which they have been foiled ; but when the temptation returneth, they are overborne with it, as marsh ground is drowned with the return of every tide. Many are persuaded that sin is evil, as contrary to God and hurtful to them- selves ; hereupon they have some mind to let it go, yea, some wishes and weak desires, that Christ would save them from it ; yet still have a love that is greater than their dislike, the bent of their hearts is more for it than against it, and their habitual inclination is more to keep it than leave it. Therefore we must look not only to our endeavour, but to the success that we have against sin ; for if our will were more strong, and our endeavour more serious, we should have more success ; if there were a firm ratified resolution of mortifying and crucifying every sin, and an endeavouring against sin with all speed and diligence, the old man would more decay in us, and the life of grace be set up with greater power and efficacy. I would not leave this point without distinct information.
(1.) Then, there are certain unavoidable infirmities which the saints cannot get rid of, though they fain would ; such as the apostle speaketli of, Kom. vii. 19, ' When I would do good, evil is present with me.' As those swarms of noisome and unsavoury thoughts, which are injected on a sudden, and do hinder us and distract us in the best employment, wandering thoughts in the time of prayer, never distinctly consented to, rash words spoken of a sudden, sudden unpremeditated actions. In these cases watching and striving is conquering, for you do prevail in part, though not in whole ; it preventeth many of them. Of this nature are want of degrees of love to God, and that liberty and purity in his service which the holy soul aimeth at, and the first stirrings and risings of corruption in the heart.
(2.) There are a smaller sort of sins, as the sins of daily incursion: James iii. 2, ' In many things we offend all of us.' There is no man so exact but his watch is intermitted, and then he will be sinning ; other cannot be looked for in this state of frailty wherein we now are. We bewray too much dulness, weariness, formality in our duties to God, our domestic crosses put us into fits of anger and discontent ; in our public actions some intermixture of hypocrisy and vainglory, some high-mindedness in our prosperity, some distrust and uncomely dis- quiet of spirit in oui" adversity. Our Lord telleth us, John xiii. 10, ' He that is washed, needeth not save to w^asli his feet.' They that are in a holy state, by walking up and down in the world, in the several businesses and employments thereof, contract some filth, which must be washed ofi" every day by a renewed application of the blood of Christ, which is the fountain God hath opened for uncleanness. Though the saints do not (like swine) voluntarily wallow in the puddle, yet in a polluted world they contract some filth. In this case, every failing must make us more wary and watchful, and teach us wisdom, that we do not lapse another time.
(3.) By the sway of great and headstrong passions, some that make conscience of their ways in the general may fall into sins more heinous,
262 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VI. [SeR. XII.
but they do not make a trade of it, or settle in such an evil way. To lapse ordinarily, frequently, easily into these sins, will not stand with grace. The saints may fail in their duty strangely on occasions, as David, Peter, Lot, &c. ; as a man sailing into France, a tempest may drive him into Spain, or some other country. Their face is towards heaven, but a sudden passion may drive them another way ; as the wicked are good by fits, but evil by constitution. So the children of God, the constitution and bent of their hearts is towards God ; for a fit or so they may do things misbecoming the new nature, but as soon as awakened, they retract their sins by a special repentance : Ps. li. 3, 4, ' For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight.'