Hereupon it foUoweth that weakness may stand with the assurance of salvation ; the disciples, notwithstanding all their weaknesses, are bidden to rejoice, Luke x. 20, that their names are written in heaven. Failings, with conflict, in sanctification should not weaken the peace of our justifica- tion, and assurance of salvation. It mattereth not so much what ill is in us, as what good ; not what corruptions, but how we stand afiected to them ; not what our particular failings be, so much as what is the thread and tenor of our lives ; for Christ's mislike of that which is amiss in us, redounds not to the hatred of our persons,:}: but to the victorious subduing of all our infirmities.
Some have, after conflict, wondered at the goodness of God, that so little and shaking faith should have upheld them in so great combats, when Satan had almost catched them. And, indeed, it is to be wondered how much a little grace will prevail with God for acceptance, and over our enemies for victory, if the heart be upright. Such is the goodness of our sweet Saviour, that he delighteth still to shew his strength in our weakness.
Use 1. First, therefore, for the great consolation of poor and weak Christians, let them know, that a spark from heaven, though kindled under greenwood that sobs (7) and smokes, yet it will consume all at last. Love once kindled is strong as death, much water cannot quench it, and therefore it is called a vehement flame, or flame of God, Cant. viii. 6, kindled in the heart by the Holy Ghost ; that little that is in us is fed with an everlast- ing spring. As the fire that came down from heaven in Elias his time, 1 Kings xviii. 38, hcked up all the water, to shew that it came from God, so will this fire spend all our corruption ; no aftliction without, or corrup- tion within, shall quench it. In the morning we see oft clouds gather about the sun, as if they would hide it, but the sun wasteth them by little and little, till it come to its full strength. At the first, fears and doubts hinder * ' And it is,' in A. j ' That . . . lieth,' added first in B. % ' Person,' in A and B.
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the breaking out of this fire, until at length it gets above them all, and Christ prevails ; and then he backs his own graces in us. Grace conquers us first, and we by it conquer all things else ; whether it be corruptions within us, or temptations without us.
The church of Christ, begotten by the word of truth, hath the doctrine of the apostles for her crown, and tramples the moon, that is, the world, and all worldly things, ' under her feet,' Eev. xii. 1 ; ' every one that is born of God overcometh the world,' 1 John v. 4. Faith, whereby espe- cially Christ rules, sets the soul so high, that it overlooks all other things as far below, as having represented to it, by the Spirit of Christ, riches, honour, beauty, pleasures of a higher nature.
Now that we may not come short of the comfort intended, there are two things especially to be taken notice of by us : 1. Whether there be such a judgment or government set up in us, to which this promise of victory is made. 2. Some rules or directions how we are to carry om'selves, that the judgment of Christ in us may indeed be victorious.
The evidences whereby w^e may come to know that Christ's judgment in us is such as will be victorious, are, 1, If we be able from experience to justify all Clirist's ways, let flesh and blood say what it can to the contrary, and can willingly subscribe to that course which God hath taken in Christ, to bring us to heaven, and still approve a further measure of grace than v/e have attained unto, and project and forecast for it. No other men can justify their courses, when their conscience is awaked. 2. When reasons of religion be the strongest reasons with us, and prevail more than reasons fetched from worldly policy. 3. When we are so true to our ends and fast to our rule, as no hopes or fears can sway us another way, but still we are looking what agrees or differs from our rale. 4. When we * can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth,' 2 Cor. xiii. 8, as being dearer to us than our lives ; truth hath not this sovereignty in the heart of any carnal man. 5. "WTien if we had liberty to choose under whose government we would live, yet out of a delight in the inner man to Christ's government we would make choice of him only to rule us before any other, for this argues, that we are like-minded to Christ, a free and a voluntary people, and not compelled unto Christ's sei-vice, otherwise than by the sweet constraint of love. When we are so far in liking with the government of Christ's Spirit, that we are willing to resign up ourselves to him in all things, for then his kingdom is come unto us, when om' wills are brought to his will. It is the bent of our wills that maketh us good or ill.