[Gth.] Another consideration to press you to a continual dependence upon God in the exercise of your spiritual strength, is the sad experi- ence of God's children whenever they have been left to themselves. I need not instance in the angels, which did ' excel in strength ; ' yet when left, they fell. I need not speak of Adam in innocency, how he fell when God left him, when he left him, I say, to the freedom of his own will. But let us speak of holy men of God that are under the same dispensation we are, the most holy and sanctified men of God : 2 Cliron. xxxii. 31, it is said of Hezekiah that ' the Lord left him, that so he might know what was in his heart' God will show us what we are in ourselves ; if he should but suspend grace and spiritual influences but for a moment, what poor chaff are we before the blast of every tempta-
Book I] a treatise of self-denial. 231
tiou ! As when a glass is shaken then the dregs appear, so it is with us. I now come to give you the signs.
[3.] The signs of depending on our spiritual strength.
(1.) If you would know whether you do so, observe the frame of the heart both before and after duty. (1.) Before duty, and every address to God ; whenever we come to worship, we should have actual thoughts of our own weakness. When we come to pray, Lord, we know not how to pray, how to act faith, and how to draw forth grace ; we should still be ' poor in spirit,' that is a grace of constant use. But now, Avhen men are full of parts and gifts, and think ' to go forth and shake them- selves as at otlier times,' as it is said of Samson when his strength was gone ; when we think to find the same savouriness and smartness of expression, God will make us see how much we are mistaken. There- fore when we have not actual thoughts of our own weakness when we come to perform any holy exercise, it is a sign we are too full of our own gifts and abilities. (2.) After the duty, art thou moved to bless God for the supplies of his grace, especially if gifts have been discovered with applause ? Art thou able to say with David, ' Lord, of thine own have I given thee ? ' canst thou cast the crown at the feet of Christ ? canst thou take all thy excellency, and lay it down at Christ's feet ? If it be not thus with us, it is a sign we depend too much on our own strength.
(2.) Another note is a confident presumption of the success of future actions and undertakings, without taking God along with us in our resolution. Thus Peter, he was a sad instance of leaning upon him- self : Mat. xxvi. 74, ' Though all men should deny thee, yet I will not deny thee.' The confidence of the children of God is built upon the ex- pectation of grace ; and if God will undertake for them, then they can be confident of the success of their endeavours : Ps. cxix. 32, ' I will run the way of thy commandments when thou shalt enlarge my heart.' Look to the ground, whether it be built upon thy own resolution, or the expectation of his grace.
(3.) When man dare venture upon occasions of sinning and tempta- tions, certainly this is a great confidence, and it cannot proceed from divine grace , for God when he keeps us, he will keep us in his ways, not when we tempt his providence. Therefore when men can delight in carnal company, and put tliemselves upon such a snare, it is a sign they depend not upon God, For what is the fruit of depending upon God ? avoiding all occasions of evil. Therefore when men dally with temptation, it is a sign they place confidence in their own strength,
(4.) Despising of ordinances. These are the pipes by which God conveys his influences to us, and by which the habits of grace are strengthened, by the power that goes out in them. There must be dependence upon God in the use of means if we would maintain grace : Luke xviii. 8, ' Take heed what you hear, for to him that hath shall be giveiL' Attend upon ordinances. Why ? for otherwise you will lose the flush of gifts which pufi" you up. Many despise hearing when they have got a little knowledge.
(5.) It is a sign of dependence upon ourselves when we contemp- tuously insult over others that are weaker than ourselves ; for if we did acknowledge all to be from grace, how could we be proud ? Who
232 A TREATISE OF SELF-DENIAL. [BoOK I.
would dare to be proud of that which is hut borrowed ? Who could be proud because he is most in debt ? If we have more gifts than they, we are more obliged to God, and this keeps the hearts of God's people humbled : 1 Cor. iv. 7, ' For who maketh thee to differ from another ? And what hast thou, tliat thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it ? ' Thy merit is no more than theirs, and in thyself thou art as incapable of spiritual blessings as they are, and in holy duties thou canst do no more than they can ; for what dost thou add to duty ? Nothing but what will lessen the value of it ; they can add corruptions and weak- ness of their own, so canst thou. The pharisee, you know, that con- demned the publican, he speaks of grace in pretence — ' God be thanked, I am not as other men,' &c. ; but because ' he despised others,' Christ spake that parable. When men are proud and confident of their own abilities, and despise others, there is a depending upon themselves; they have much cause of thankfulness, but none of pride.