Weaknesses* so considered, howsoever they be matter of humiliation, and the object of our daily mortification, yet may stand with boldness with God, neither is a good work either extinguished by them, or tainted so far as to lose all acceptance with God. But to plead for an infirmity is more than an infirmity; to allow ourselves in weaknesses is more than awealmess. The justification of evil sealeth up the lips, so that the soul cannot call God Father with that child-like liberty, or enjoy sweet communion with him, imtil peace be made by shaming ourselves, and renewing our faith. Those that have ever been bruised for sin, if they fall they are soon recovered. Peter was recovered with a gracious look of Christ ; David by Abigail's words. Tell a thief or a vagrant that he is out of the way, he regards it not, because his aim is not to walk in any certain way, but as it serveth his own turn.
For the further clearing of this, we must conceive, 1, That wheresoever sins of infirmity are, there in that person must be the hfe of gi-ace begun. There can be no weakness, where there is no life. 2. There must be a sincere and general bent to the best things ; though for a sudden a godly man be drawn or driven aside in some particulars, yet by reason of that in- terest the Spirit of Christ hath in him, and because his aims ai-e right for the main, he will either recover of himself, or yield to the counsel of others. 3. There must be a right judgment allowing of the best ways, or else the heart is rotten, and infuseth corruption into the whole conversation, so that all their actions become infected at the spring-head ; they justify looseness, and condemn God's ways, as too much strictness ; their principles whereby they work are not good. 4. There must be a conjugal love to Christ, so
* ' Weaknesses' . . to 'perfecteth liis strength.' This paragraph first added in B.
70 THE BRUISED BEED
as upon no temis tliey will change their Lord and husband, and yield themselves absolutely over to be ruled by their own lusts, or the lusts of others.
A Christian's carriage towards Christ may in many things be very oifen- sive, and cause some strangeness ; yet he will own Christ, and Christ him ; he will not resolve upon any way wherein he knows he must break with Christ.
Where the heart is thus in these respects qualified, there we must know this, that Clu'ist counteth it his honour to pass by many infirmities, nay, in infirmities he perfecteth his strength. There be some almost invincible infirmities,* as forgetfulness, heaviness of spirit, sudden passions, fears, &c., which though natural, jet are for the most part tainted with sin ; of these, f if the life of Christ be in us, we are weary, and would fain shake them ofi", as a sick man his ague ; otherwise it is not to be esteemed weakness so much as wilfulness, and the more will, the more sin ; and little sins, when God shall awake the conscience, and 'set them in order before us,' Ps. 1. 21, will prove gi'eat burdens, and not only braise a reed, but shake a cedar. Yet God's children never sin with full will, because there is a contrary law of the mind, whereby the dominion of sin is broken, which always hath some secret working against the law of sin. Notwithstanding:};, there may be so much will in a sinful action, as may wonderfully waste our comfort after- ward, and keep us long upon the rack of a disquieted conscience, God in his fatherly dispensation suspending the sense of his love. So much as we give way to our will in sinning, in such a measure of distance we set ourselves from comfort. Sin against conscience is as a thief in the candle, which wasteth our joy, and thereby weakeneth our strength. We must know, therefore, that wilful breeches in sanctification will much hinder the sense of our justification.
Quest. What course shall such take to recover their peace ?
Ans. Such must give a shai-p sentence against themselves, and yet cast themselves upon God's mercy in Christ, as at their first conversion. And now they had need to clasp about Christ the faster, as they see more need in themselves, and let them remember the mildness of Christ here, that will not quench the smoking flax. Ofttimes we see that, after a deep humiliation, Christ speaks more peace than before, to witness the truth of this recon- ciliation, because he knows Satan's enterprises in casting down such, lower, and because such are most abased in themselves, and are ashamed to look Christ in the face, by reason of their unkindness. We see God did not only pardon David, but after much bruising gave him wise Solomon to suc- ceed him in the kingdom. We see in the Canticles, chap. vi. 44, that the church, after she had been humbled for her slighting of Christ, Christ sweetly entertains her again, and falleth into commendation of her beauty. We must know for our comfort that Christ was not anointed to this great work of the mediator for lesser sins only, but for the greatest, if we have but a spark of true faith to lay hold on him. Therefore, if there be any bruised reed, let him not except himself, when Christ doth not except him ; * Come unto mc, all ye that are weary and heavy laden,' &c.. Matt. xi. 28. Why should wc not make use of so gracious a disposition ? we are only therefore poor, because we know not our riches in Christ. In time of temptation, rather believe Christ than the devil, believe truth from truth itself, hearken not to a liar, an enemy, and a murderer.