5. Give not over strong desires of grace until they be answered and satisfied. Many times there is something which awakens the heart to grow earnest in prayer. Observe what answers God gives : Ps. xxvii. 4, ' One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after.' When holy and strong desires are stirred up in the heart, we must not suffer them to go away, but they must be pursued resolutely, and recom- mended to God until he give an answer.
6. When at any time you are convinced of the power of sin, leave not until you get it mortified. There are some sins which have most power over us, as suiting with our complexions and course of life, and they most of all urge the soul with frequent temptations. Now a chris- tian is to observe the weakness and decay of this sin ; as David, Ps. xviii. 23, 'I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.' Whatever the sin be, be it pride, sensuality, or worldliness, any carnal practice, or fleshly gratification, which you are convinced of by many smitings of conscience. A man cannot be such a stranger to his heart but he must needs find what this sin is. Now, you will never have peace till this be mortified. Spiritual peace is disturbed, God provoked by it, and a guilty conscience is clamorous, and full of objec- tions ; you must narrowly observe the decay of this sin.
7. Observe how daily temptations are checked. There is no day but
SERMONS UPON HEBREWS VI, 18. 833
the devil will be casting in some bait or other, either to please appetite, provoke anger, stir up pride, or worldly desires of greatness and reputa- tion, and rising in the world, or fears of men. Now unless a man be a constant observer of his temptations and conflicts, all will be out of order, and in confusion with him ; a man will be a great stranger at home, and not observe what his heart is. This much for the first question, how to get it.
Secondly, How to keep it. As it is gotten with much diligence, so it must be kept with much care.
1. There must be constant watchfulness against sin, and avoiding it ; suppose it be passion, wrath, evil-speaking, envious and vain thoughts, all these grieve and disturb the Spirit in his sealing work : Eph. iv. 30, ' Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption,' Men usually sin away their comfort and peace, and the grieved Spirit will refuse to give witness. Evidences are not kept clear, but are blotted and blurred, that you cannot read them. Especially watch against such sins as most waste the conscience and disturb all in the soul.
2. There must likewise be a constant increase, and an exercise of grace. I press both,
[1.] A constant increase of grace. Small things are hardly discerned. Many stars in the firmament are so small that they cannot be seen ; so a great many graces in the soul, when small, conscience can take no notice of them. They need have good eyes that read a very small print. Every grace by degrees is set forth in a fairer letter and a new edition ; as the waters of the sanctuary grew deeper and deeper, Ezek, xlvii. 3-5 ; 2 Peter i. 5-10. Give diligence to add to and increase every grace. He musters up several graces, and then infers the exhortation, ver, 10, ' Wherefore the rather give diligence to make your calling and election sure.' So that by increasing of grace still we increase our assurance. Christians rest in complaints, but do not increase and grow in grace. It is impossible for a man to have fire in his bosom and not feel it ; so it is impossible, if men did grow and thrive every day, but they would be sensible of it.
[2.] Exercise grace more. By a constant exercise of grace it is drawn forth into the view of conscience. Grace is never so apparent as when it is in action. As- the sap is hidden though the fruits are seen, so habits of gi-ace lie out of sight, but operations discover what is in the soul, the fruits appear. Therefore if christians be lazy and without fruit, they will be without comfort, St James saith, chap, ii. 23, ' Faith is made perfect by works,' Understand not in a popish sense, as if works did contribute a worth and value to faith. No ; but as the strength of God's power is discovered with more advantage by the weak- ness of man : 2 Cor. xii. 10, ' When I am weak then am I strong.' So faith by works is sensibly discovered with more advantage to the soul. So that if a man would come to the knowledge of grace, he must be constant in the operations of grace.
334 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS VI. 18.
SEEMON V.
Who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set h?fore us. —
Heb. vi. 18.
The third thing I would take notice of in this text is the description ot" those who may take comfort in God's word and oath, * Who have fled for refuge, to Lay hokl upon the hope set before us.' The point is this —