(3dly.) Delight. We have gotten in part a taste and earnest of our fruitiua and enjoyment of God and Christ hereafter, and it is very pleasing to the soul ; so that the tempter must needs have a hard task to draw off the soul from him in whom he delighteth. Worldly men will not let go their vanities, nor sinful wretches their foulest sins, because they delight in them. Many who never knew what it is to love Christ, and delight in his salvation, do not so earnestly long for, and fixedly hope for the promised blessedness. Now these may be easily taken off, but the other will venture upon the greatest difiiculties.
Obj. But may not a sound believer be foiled as to his inward man by these afflictive temptations ?
Ans. Ye.s, the experience of the saints showeth it too often. But—
1. It is not totally and finally. Their heel is bruised, not only as the outwai'd man is molested by afflictions, but as they may be drawn to some sinful slips and temptations. The heel is the lowest and basest part of the body, far enough from any vital part, the wounds whereof endanger not the life at all. The devil may draw them into some sins, which may cause much unquietness and affliction of spirit ; but these wounds are not deadly, and do not quench the life of grace in them ; these wounds may be iminful, but not mortal — ' They shall not be hurt of the second death,' Eev. ii. 11.
2. Upon recovery by repentance. The Lord sanctifieth these falls to them, to make them the more cautious and watchful ; so they grow wiser and better, and more resolute, as being warned before by their own bitter cost ; as a ball, with the more force it is beaten down, it rebounds the higher : or as a child that hath gotten a knock, or been bitten by a snappish cur, groweth the more wary : Josh. xxii. 17, ' Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us ? ' They were not yet whole of
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402 SERMOKS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeR. XLVI.
tlie iniquity of Peor, and therefore should be careful not to wound themselves again.
3. All ends in final conquest over Satan : Kom. xvi. 20, ' And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under our feet shortly.' We are now in our combat ; it is some conquering to keep up our resistance ; but our full triumph is hereafter.
Ohj. 2. But will it not hurt to press believers to this confidence ? Will not this weaken their care and diligence ? No.
1. This is pleasing and acceptable to God, to believe that he will perfect and maintain his begun work : Phil. i. 6, ' Being confident of this, that he that hath begun a good work in you will perfect it to the day of Christ.'
2. It is honourable unto God, and doth excite us to praise and thanks- giving, when we can trust our interests in his hands with a quiet and well composed mind : 2 Tim. i. 12. ' And I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him.' A christian, in all respects of time, can bless God for what he hath done : called us when strangers and enemies, 1 Peter ii. 9 ; what he doth do : ' keepeth the feet of his saints,' 1 Sam. ii. 9 ; for what he will do : 2 Tim. iv.
17, 18, ' Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and preserve me to his heavenly kingdom.' To be satisfied in God's conduct, is certainly very honourable to him.
3. It is very profitable to the children of God.
[1.] To keep us from falling. God promiseth to keep us, but in his own way ; and that engageth us to an entire dependence upon him iu the use of means : John xv. 4, ' Abide in me, and I in you ; ' so 1 John ii. 16, 17, ' Ye shall abide in him ; ' and then he presently addeth, 'Little children, abide in him.' First a promise, and then an exhor- tation ; and then we use the means with the more diligence and encouragement ; as Paul had a promise that not one should perish. Acts xxvii. 23, but yet they must all abide in the ship, ver. 31.
[2.] To encourage us to return when fallen. We have some hold-fast on God, when we seek to recover ourselves by repentance : Ps. cxix. 170, ' Let my supplication come before thee ; deliver me according to thy word ; ' and Jer. iii. 4, ' Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, the guide of my youth ? '
4. It is very comfortable, and breedeth that everlasting joy that shoiild be in God's redeemed ones: Isa. xxxv. 10, 'And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads.' Nay, it" begets a heroical spirit when we cau bear up on the love of God in the sorest trials ; as here, TreTreiafiai.