Caution. Yet let us know that grace is increased in the exercise of it, not by virtue of the exercise itself, but as Christ by his Spirit floweth into the soul, and bringeth us nearer unto himself the fountain, and instilleth such comfort in the act, whereby the heart is fm-ther enlarged. The heart of a Christian is Christ's garden, and his graces are as so many sweet spices and flowers, which his Spirit blowing upon makes* them to send forth a sweet savour : therefore keep the soul open for entei-tainment of the Holy Ghost, for he will bring in continually fi'esh forces to subdue corruption, and this most of all on the Lord's day. John was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, even in Patmos, the place of his banishment, Rev. i. 10 ; then the gales of the Spirit blow more strongly and sweetly. As we look, therefore, for the comfort of this doctrine, let us not favour our natm-al sloth, ' but exercise om-selves to godliness,' 1 Tim. iv. 7, and labour to keep this fixe always burning upon the altar of our hearts, and dress our lamps daily, and put in fresh oil, and wind up our souls higher and higher still : resting in a good condition is contrary to gi-ace, which cannot but promote itself to a further measure ; let none turn this ' gi-ace into wantonness,' Jude 4. Lifirmities are a ground of humility, not a plea for negligence, not an encouragement to presumption. We should be so far from being ill, because Christ is good, as that those coals of love should melt us ; therefore those may well suspect themselves in whom the consideration of this mildness of Christ doth not work that way : surely where grace is, corruption is as ' smoke to their eyes, and vinegar to their teeth,' Prov. x. 29. And therefore they will labour in regard of their own comfort, as likemse for the credit of religion and the glory of God, that their light may break forth. If a spark of faith and love be so precious, what an honour mil it be to be rich in faith ! Who would not rather walk in the hght, and in the comforts of the Holy Ghost, than to Uve in a dark, perplexed estate ? and not rather to be carried with fuU sail to heaven, than to be tossed always with fears and doubts ? The present trouble in conflict against a sin is not so much as that disquiet which any corruption favoured will bring upon us afterward ; tnie peace is in conquering, not in yielding. The comfort in this text intended is for those that would fain do better, but find their corruptions clog them ; that are in such a mist, that ofttimes they cannot tell what to think of themselves ; that fain would beheve, and yet oft fear they do not beheve, and think that it cannot be that God should be so good to such sinful WTetches as they are ; and yet they allow not themselves in these fears and doubts.
5. And among others, how do they ^^Tong themselves and him, that wiU have other mediators to God for them than he ? Are any more pitiful than he, who became man to that end, that he might be pitiful to his o\a71 flesh ? Let all at aU times repair to this meek Sa^^our, and put up all our suits in his prevailing name. What need we knock at any other door ? can any be more tender over us than Christ ? AVhat encom-agement have we to com- mend the state of the church in general, or of any broken-hearted Chris- tian, unto him by our prayers ? Of whom we may speak mito Christ, as they of Lazarus, Lord, the church which thou lovest, and gavest thyself * ' Maketh,' in A and B.
76 THE BRUISED REED
for, is in distress : Lord, this poor Christian, for whom thou wert braised, Isa. liii. 5, is bruised and brought very low. It cannot but touch his bowels when the misery of his own dear bowels is spread before him.
G. Again, considering this gracious nature in Christ, let us think with ourselves thus : when he is so kind unto us, shall we be cruel against him in his name, in his truth, in his children ? how shall those that delight to be so terrible ' to the meek of the earth,' Zech. ii. 3, hope to look so gracious a Saviour in the face ? they that are so boisterous towards his spouse, shall know one day they had to deal with himself in his church. So it cannot but cut the heart of those that have felt this love of Christ, to hear him wounded who is the life of their lives, and the soul of their souls : this maketh those that have felt mercy weep over Christ, whom they have pierced with their sins. There cannot but be a mutual and quick sympathy between the head and the members. When we are tempted to any sin, if we will not pity ourselves, yet we should spare Christ, in not putting him to new torments. The apostle could not find out a more heart-breaking argument to enforce a sacrificing ourselves to God, than to conjure us by the mercies of God in Christ, Rom. xii. 1.