[3.] It is not for a time, but perpetual. It concerneth us not only to stand out against the first assault, but a long siege. What Satan cannot gain by argument, he seeketh to gain by importunity ; but ' re- sist him, steadfast in the faith,' 1 Peter v. 9 ; as Joseph's mistress spake to him day by day, Gen. xxxix. 10. Deformed objects, when we are accustomed to them, seem less odious. As you rate away an importunate beggar, that will not be answered. To yield at last, is to lose the glory of the conflict.
Now many resist not. You may know it —
(1.) When you cannot bring your hearts to let sin go, though con- science worry you, and condemn you for it, as many men sin while their hearts condemn them : Eom. i. 18, Kar€')(ovTOiv, 'they hold the truth in unrighteousness.'
(2.) When you slightly purpose hereafter to amend, but do not pre- sently resolve: Acts xxiv. 25, 'And as he reasoned of righteousness, tem- perance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and said, Go thy w-ay for this time, when I have a convenient season I will call for thee.' The contrary you may see in David : Ps. cxix. 60, ' I made haste and delayed not to keep thy commandments.'
(3.) When you do not consent to the necessary effectual means of your recover}^ which, if you were truly desirous to get rid of sin, you would do. They that will not use the means, do not desire the thing : Prov. xxi. 25, ' The desire of the slothful killeth him, for his hands refuse to labour.'
(4.) When in actual temptations you interpose not a strong dissent or negative, either by serious dislikes, or rebukes, deep groans, hearty defiance, or strong arguments, which are the several ways of resist- ance.
Use 2. Exhortation, when God affordeth to poor captivated sinners
VeR. 14.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VI. 289
such help, if they will but take it, and make use of it in time ; surely, then, we should watch and strive. And that I may deal the more effectually in this use, I shall distinctly unfold the duty of watching and striving, the means to curb and check sin.
First, Watching.
1. The spring and rise of it in the soul are these three fundamental graces of faith, fear, and love ; otherwise it is but moral prudence and caution, which will be too feeble a restraint to sin, unless it be animated and inspired with these graces.
[1.] Faith puts upon watchfulness; that faith which looketh to things to come, and raaketh them in a manner present to the soul ; it is a realising sight : Heb. xi. 1, ' Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen.' The more lively sense we have of the concernments of another world, and the more mindful we are of our eternal enjoyments, the more watchful. In every sin it is our eternal enjoyments are in danger, and heaven and hell are not things to be sported with, or ventured and put to hazard for a little carnal satisfaction. Many expound that, Eph. vi. 12, ' We wrestle with spiritual wickedness in high places,' iv eTrovpavLoa, ' about heavenly things,' for the word places is supplied ; it is in the original only in or for the heavenlies. The main quarrel between us and Satan is about high and heavenly things, which tend to the honour of God and the eternal good of our souls ; it is not our temporal and worldly, so much as our spiritual and heavenly concernments which are struck at. The devil would fain cheat us of our souls, our God, and our happiness, and by propounding some base and unworthy trifle deprive us of everlasting glory. Now, a man that hath a sense of eternity deeply impressed upon his heart, and hath * made eternal things his scope,' 2 Cor. iv. 18, he hath his eyes in his head, is careful not to lose his interest in and hope of these things, who knows that the whole world will not coun- tervail the loss of his soul, and that one glimpse of heaven's glory and happiness doth so much outshine all the pomp and gaudy vanities of the present life, that he dareth not -let his heart linger after these things, lest he should forget or neglect those better things. He is cautious of ' coming short of the heavenly rest,' which his eye and his heart is upon, Heb. iv. 1. But they whose faith about these things is either weak or none at all are bold and venturous, as if there were no such danger in sins and temptations ; they forget God and their souls, and the great account they must give of all their actions to their im- partial judge, and the eternal recompenses of heaven and hell, into which all the world shall at last issue themselves.
[2.] Fear, or a reverent and aweful regard of God's eye and presence ; they are afraid to do anything unseemly in his sight : Gen. xxxix. 9, ' How can I do this Avickedness, and sin against God ? ' How will God take it to be affronted to his face ? As Esther vii. 8, ' Will he force the queen before me in the house ? ' So, shall we give vent to our sin when God seeth and heareth ? void our excrements in his presence ? The Israelites were commanded to march with a paddle : Deut. xxiii. 12-14, ' Thou shalt have a place also without -the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad. And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon, and it shall be when thou wilt ease thyself abroad,