3. Again, look to the examples of others that are more rjracious. I have as many encouragements to be thankful to God, and fruitful. They enjoy no more means than I ; and yet they abound in assurance, are comfortable in all conditions. I am do\\Ti in a little trouble, subject to passion, to ban-en- ness, and distrust, as if there were no promises of God made to sovving in righteousness. Thus a man may discern he is asleep, by comparing him- self with others that are better than himself.
4. Again, it is evident that we are growing on to a sleepy condition by this, when we find a backwardness to spiritual duties, as to prayer, thanks- giving, and spiritual conference. It should be the joy of a Christian, as it is his prerogative, to come into the presence of Christ, and to be enabled to do that, that is above himself. When what is spiritual in a duty will not down with us, it is a sign our souls are in a sleepy temper. There is not a proportion between the soul and the business in heavenly duties. Whom do we speak to but God ? whom do we hear speak in the word but God ? what should be the temper of those that speak to God, and hear him speak to them ? It should be regardful, reverent, observant. Those that ai'e watchful to the eye of a prince, what observance they shew, when they are to receive anything fi'om him or to put up any request to him. ' Offer this to thy king,' saith the Lord by Malachi, Mai i. 8. When a man comes drowsily to God, to sacrifice, to hear, to pray, &c., offer this carriage to man ; will he take it at thy hands ? Oh the mercy of om' patient God, that will endure such services as we most frequently perform ! By this indis- posedness to duty more or less, may we discover our sleepiness.
5. When the soul begins to admire outward excellencies ; when it awakes much to profits, pleasures, and honours ; when men admu'e gi'eat men, rich men, great places. The strength and fat of the soul are consumed by feeding on these things ; so that when it comes to spiritual things it must needs be faint and drowsy. By these and the like signs, let us labour to search the state of our souls.
Motives against sleepiness. 1. And to stir us up the more, consider the danger of a secure, sleepy estate. There is no sin but a man is exposed unto in a secure estate. Therefore the devil labours all he can to cast men into this temper ; which he must do befoi-e he can make him fall into any gross sin. When he is asleep, he is in a fit frame for any ill action ; he is in a temper fit for the devil to work upon ; to bring into any dream or error; to inflame the fancies and conceits with outward excellencies. The devil hath a facult}' this way, to make outward things great that are nothing worth, and to make such sins little as, if we were awake, would afli'ight us. He works strongest upon the fancy, when the soul is sleepy or a little drowsy.
There is no man that comes to gross sin suddenly. But he falls by little
C.\NT. V. 1.] 'I SLEEP.' 45
and little ; first to slumber, and from slumber to sleep, and from sleep to security; and so from one degree to another. It is the inlet to all sins, and the beginning of all danger. Therefore the Lord takes a contrary- course with his. When he would preserve a state or person, he plants in them first a spirit of faith, to beheve that there is such a danger, or such a good to be apprehended, upon watching and going on in a course befitting that condition ; and then faith, if it be a matter of tkreatening, stirs up fear, which waketh up care and diligence. This is God's method, when he intends the preservation of any.
2. A man in his sleep is Jit to lose all. A sleepy hand lets anything go with ease. A man hath grace and comfort ; he lets it go in his spiritual sleepiness, — grace in a great measure, and the sense and comfort of it alto- gether. A Christian hath always the divine natui'e in him, that works in some degi'ee ; yet notwithstanding in regard of his present temper and feel- ing, he may be in such a case, that he shall differ nothing fi'om a reprobate, nay, he may come to feel more than any ordinary wicked man feels whiles he Uves in the world, as divers good Christians do. And all this, through their carelessness, — that they suffer themselves to be robbed of first beginnings, by yielding to deUghts, company, and contentments. Feeding theu' con- ceits with carnal excellencies, so favoui'ing corruptions, and flattering that that is naught in them, they lose the comfort of all that is good. Who would do this for the gaining of a little broken sleep; I say broken sleep, for the better a man is, the more unquietly shall he sleep in such a state. He shaU feel starthngs and frights in the midst of his carnal delights if he be- long to God.