But from the whole, take it as it comes from God altogether, the truth is thus much, that a Christian, who is fiivy to his own soul of good intentions
824 THE saint's safety in evil times.
to abstain from all ill for the present, may presume that God will assist him, against all ill works for the time to come. I say a Christian, that hath his conscience telling him that he means to be better, and is not in league with any sin, may believe this for the time to come, that God will keep him from evil works. I speak this, because many who are yet sinners think it in vain to strive, for they shall never be better. What dost thou talk, man 9 Hast thou a mind to be better ? God will meet thee one time or other. Is thy will at liberty ? He that gives thee the will, will also give thee the deed. Is not this the promise, that God will deliver thee from every evil work ? And, therefore, away with all discouragements.
Obj. 0 but there are sons of Anak, mighty giants, that molest me ; my sins are as so many giants to stop my proceeding ; I shall never be better !
Solution. Say not so ; nay, rather thou ivilt not be better. Thou art in league with some secret sin, thy heart riseth against those that reprove thee of it, thine own conscience tells the ■ that thy heart is naught ; for if thou wouldst set thyself to obey God in truth, assuredly he would deliver thy soul. And therefore the apostle, to prevent such doubts, speaks of deliverance from evil works as coming from God.
Obj. But some may object. We sin every day; and 'if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us,' 1 John i. 8.
Ans. You must not understand this phrase legally, in the rigour of it, as that God will deliver us from every ill thought, or rising in the heart, or from every outward slip and faihng, &c. ; but by every evil work, the apostle means every reproachful sin that breaks the peace of our conscience, that swallows up a man's salvation. From such kind of sins that bring a stain and discredit unto a man's profession, that wound his soul, and may discourage others, the Lord will deliver his ; he will keep them from greater sins altogether, and from being in league with lesser. You know in falls there are several degrees ; there is a slip, a falling, and a falling on aU four; as we say, a flat falling. Now God will deliver his childi-en from falling so foully.
2. Hotv God delivers from ill works by not delivering. Nay, sometimes he -will deliver them from evil works, by not delivering them from evil works. He will deliver from great ill works, by letting them alone in lesser ill works. God delivers from evil divers ways ; he delivers from falling into ill, and he delivers out of ill when we are fallen ; he delivers from ill like- wise by supporting us ; nay, which is more, he delivers from ill works by iU works.
Quest. How is that ?
Solution. How do physicians deliver fi-om an apoplexy? from a lethargy? Is it not by casting the sick person into an ague, to awaken that dull sick- ness ? So God, to cure the conscience of a man, when he sees him in danger of security by those soul-killing sins, pride, covetousness, looseness, hypocrisy, and the like, suffers him sometimes to fall into less offences, to awake his conscience, that being roused up he may fly to God's mercy in Christ. So infinite is God's care this way, that he will deliver either from ill works, or from the evil of ill works ; or, if he deliver not from ill works, yet he will deliver us from worse works by those ill works. Austin saith, I dare presume to say, it is profitable for some men to fall.* If a man bo of a proud, peremptory disposition, or of a blockish, dull, and
* ' It is profitable for some men to fall.' Consult ' Confessio Book I., xi. 18; and Book VII. xx. 26.— G.
THE saint's safety IN EVIL TIMES. 325
secure nature, it is good he should be acquainted what sin he carries in his breast, where his corruptions are, &c., that so he may know himself and his danger the better.
Use. I beseech you make use of this, to help your faith and thankful- ness. When we are delivered from evil works, it is God that doth it. The consideration whereof, methinks, should strengthen oiu- faith against Satan and all his fiery darts, and encourage us to set confidently upon any corruption that we are moved to by others, or our own natural inclination. It is God's enemy, and it is my enemy ; it is opposite to God's will, and it is an enemy to my comfort. God vdW take my part against that which is opposite to him. He hath promised me to assist me against every evil work by his Holy Spirit. A Christian is a king, Rev. i. 6 ; and he hath the triumphing Spirit of Christ in him, which will prevail over all sin iu time.