Use. Let this teach us thus much, that in all the changes and alterations which the faith of man is subject unto, he is sure of one thing : all the troubles, and all the enemies of the world shall not hinder his salvation. * If it be possible the elect should be deceived,' Mat. xxiv. 24 ; but it is not possible. 0 what a comfort is this, that in the midst of all the oppositions andplottings of men and devils, yet notwithstanding, somewhat we have, that is not in the power of any enemy to take from us, nor in our own power to lose, namely, our snlration. Set this against any evil whatsoever, and it swallows up all. Put case a man were subject to an hundred deaths, one after another, what are all these to salvation ? Put case a man were in such grief, tliat he wept tears of blood ; alas ! in the day of salvation all tears shall
* This is ono of many inslaiicos, in Sibbes, of a peculiar use of the intcrjoction ' Alas !' Sec also last liue of this page. — G.
THE DIFFICULTY OF SALVATION. 397
fee wiped from his eyes. Set this, I shall he saved, against any misery you can imagine, and it will unspeakably comfort and revive the soul beyond all.
Ohj. But it is here said, he shall scarcehj he saved.
Ans. This is not a word of doubt, but of difficulty. It is not a word of doubt of the event, whether he shall be saved or no — there is no doubt at all of that — but it is a word of difficulty in regard of the way and passage thither. So it is here taken, which leads me to a second point, that the tvay to come to salvation is full of difficulties.
1. Because there is much ado to get Lot out of Sodom, to get Israel out of Egypt. It is no easy matter to get a man out of the state of corruption. 0 the sweetness of sin to an unregenerate man ! 0 how it cuts his very heart to think what pleasures and what profits, and what friends, and M'hat esteem amongst men he must part withal ! What ado is there to pull him out of the kingdom of Satan, wherein the stronfi man, Luke xi. 21, held him before !
2. Again, it is hard in regard of the sin that continually cleaves to them in this world, which doth, as it were, shackle them, and compass them about in all their performances. ' They would do well, but sin is at hand,' Rom. vii. 21, ready to hinder and stop them in good courses; so that they cannot serve God with such cheerfulness and readiness as they desii'e to do. Every good work they do, it is, as it were, pulled out of the fire ; they can- not pray, but the flesh resists ; they cannot suifer, but the flesh draws back. In all their doing and suficring they carry an enemy in their own bosoms that hinders them. Beloved, this [is] no small affliction to God's people. How did this humble Paul, when no other affliction lay upon him ! * 0 wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death ? ' Rom. vii. 24. It was more troublesome to him than all his irons and pressures whatsoever.
3. Besides, it is a hard matter in regard of Satan ; for he is a great enemy to the peace of God's children. \Vhen they are once pulled out of his king- dom, he sends floods of reproaches and persecutions after them, and pre- sently sends hue and cry, as Pharaoh after the Israelites. Oh, how it spites him ! What ! shall a piece of dust and clay be so near God, when I am tumbled out of heaven myself! Though I cannot hinder him from salvation, I will hinder his peace and joy; he shall not have heaven upon earth.* 1 will make him walk as uncomfortably as I can. Thus the devil, as he is a malignant creature, full of envy against God's poor saints, so he is a bitter enemy of the peace and comfort which they enjoy; and therefore troubles them with many temptations from himself and his instruments, to interrapt their peace, and make the hearts of God's people sad all he can.
4. Then, by reason of great discouragements and ill-usage which they find in the world from wicked men, who are the devil's pipes, led with his spirit to vex and trouble the meek of the earth ; for, though they think not of it, Satan is in their devihsh natures ; he joins and goes along with their spirits in hating and opposing the saints of God ; for, indeed, what hurt could they do but by his instigation ? How are good men despised in the world ! How are they made the only buttf to shoot at! Alas! beloved, we should rather encourage men in the ways of holiness. We see the number of such as truly fear God is but small, soon reckoned up. They are but as grapes after the \antage, or a few berries after the shaking; one of a city, two of a tribe, Micah vii. 1, Jer. iii. 14. They have little encouragements from any, but discouragements on all sides.