YeR, 23.] SEEMOKS UPON PSALM XIX. 13. 375
What comfort, peace, joy, would there be in the soul if your hearts were once enlarged to run the way of God's commandments ! Shall I tell you of the sad reward sin will give for all your serx-ice ? What will it prove but bitterness in the issue ? and thou shalt mourn at last, when all the comforts and joys wherewith thy soul is now enchanted shall be spent and quite gone. Oh, then, consider, it is liberty and blessedness that we invite you to ; and, if you be not wanting to yourselves, you may have it.
The means are these, to help you against the dominion of sin.
rirst, Watchfulness. Sin cometh to reign by degrees. A man getteth his neck under the yoke by little and little. First we cherish the lusts of the flesh aud its secret enticings; theteart regardeth them, and delighteth in them: Ps. Isvi. 18, 'If 1 regard iniquity in my heart.' The heart museth, setteth a-brood on them: Micah ii. 1, 'Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds, and when the morning is light practise it.' Then it hatcheth these cockatrice's eggs, and then resolveth, and then, when the fire is kindled, the sparks begin to fly abroad. Men execute what the heart contriveth, and then finish it ; go on without stopping : James i. 14, 15, * But every man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin ; and sin, when it is fini.shed, bringeth forth death.' There is suggestion, conception, and consummation, and so they go on to the very last, till they drop into hell. Now watch, that you may break off betimes, before the mischief increaseth. Give no indulgence to the least sin, for afterwards it may prove thy master, and ruin thy soul. Watch against thoughts, which are sin's spokesmen, and make the match between the soul and the object. Watch against outward occasions ; it is ill sporting with occa- sions of sin, playing about the cockatrice's hole, and standing in harm's way. We are often warned of this : Prov. iv. 14, 15, ' Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not into the way of evil men : avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away ; ' Prov. v. 8, 'Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house.' The wis- dom of God thought fit to give us these directions. They that think they have so good a command of themselves that they think they shall keep within compass well enough, though they venture upon occasions of sin, converse with vain persons, and the haunts of the wicked, go to plays, and entertain themselves with dalliances, and all the blandish- ments of sense, surely they are not acquainted with the slipperiness and infirmity of human nature ; they know not what the new nature meaneth, nor what a tender thing it is to preserve it in strength and vigour. Is sin grown less dangerous ? or have men gotten a greater command of themselves than they were wont to have when the scriptures were first written ? Surely man is as weak as ever, and sin as dangerous ; why then should we venture upon evil company, and the places where they resort, and go so near the pit's brink, and freely please ourselves with the allectives of sin and apostasy from God, and use such songs and wanton plays as if there were no infection in them ? They secretly taint oiu- hearts. Some say they get as much good by these plays as sermons. In a sense it is true, while you are so unmortified and savour nothing that is truly good and s-piritual : 1 Cor. il 14, ' The natural
376 SERMONS UPON PSALM XIX. 13. [Sl^.R. IV.
man receiveth not the things of God.' Watch against evil customs, that you lose not 3'our tendei'ness of conscience. Conscience, as the eye, is offended with the least dust; but afterwards it is like the stomach of an ostrich, wliich digesteth iron. Men inure their souls to sin till their consciences are seared as with a hot iron, 1 Tim. iv. 2. Conscience is like water when it beginneth to freeze; at first it will not bear a pin, but when hard frozen, it will bear a laden cart.
Secondly, Take heed of presumptuous sins, of doing anything that is evil against checks of conscience. Nay, small sins may get the upper hand of the sinner, and bring him under in time, after it is habituated by long custom, so as he cannot easily shake off the yoke, or redeem himself k'oni the tyranny thereof, Tliese steal into the heart insensibly, and overcome us as they get strength by multiplied acts ; but presumptuous sins, by one single act, bring a mighty advantage to the flesh, and weaken the Spirit, and advance themselves suddenly.
Thirdly, Take heed of your daily sins : Ps. xviii. 23, ' I was also upright before him, and kept myself from mine iniquity ; ' your master-lust, that is most apt to prevail, and to settle into the tyranny of an evil custom, because of its frequency and importunity ; unless we humble ourselves more for these, strive and pray against these, cut off the right hand, and pluck out the right eye, Mat. v. 29, 30, it will be your ruin, and the stumbling-block of your iniquity, like Judas' covetousness, Herod's uncleanness, and the young man's worldliuess. It will be the ground of our apostasy in the time of temptation.