Third, again, he that wdU walk aright in God's ways, he must be resolute against all opposition whatsoever, for we meet with many lets, hindrances, and scandals,* to drive us out of the way. Sometimes the ill lives of those who walk in these ways, sometimes their slips and falls, sometimes perse- cution, and our own natures, are full of scandals, subject to take this and that oflence, and then we are ready to be snared on the right hand, or feared and scared on the left. And our nature, so far as it is unsanctified, is prone to catch, and ready to join with the world ; therefore we have need of resolution of spii'it and determination. As David, ' I have determined,
0 Lord, and I will keep thy laws ; I have sworn that I will keep thy right- eous judgments,' Ps. cxix. 106. This is a resolute determination.
Fourth, and then again, pray to God with David that he xvould direct our tvays. ' Oh, that my ways were so directed to keep thy laws !' Ps. cxix. 3.
1 see that my nature is ready to draw me away to evil, and perverse crooked courses. I see, though I determine to take a good coiu'se, that there is much opposition ; therefore, good Lord, direct me in my course, direct thou my thoughts, words, and carnage. Therefore, that we may walk stedfastly, let us resolve with settled determination, praying to God for strength ; otherwise resolution, with dependence on our owti power, may be a work of the flesh. But resolve thus, these are right ways and straight, thej lead to heaven, happiness, and glory ; therefore I will walk in them, whatsoever come of it. We have aU the discouragement which may hinder us in the ways of God. For as we are travellers, so we are soldiers, warfaring men that meet with many rubs, thorns. Therefore to walk amidst such danger- ous ways we must be well shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, that is, patience, and reasons taken from thence. God hath provided spiritual armour in the word against all oppositions that meet ■«ath us, so that b}' resolution and prayer to him, using his means, we may go through all.
Now for a further help for us to walk constantly and resolutely in the ways of God.
1. Take first the help of r/ood company. If we see any man to walk in a good way, let him not walk alone, but let us join ourselves with those that walk in God's ways ; for why doth God leave us not only his word to direct us which way to go, but likewise examples in all times, but that we should foUow those examples ? which are like the pillar of fii-e which went before Israel unto Canaan. Wo have a cloud and a pillar of examples before us, (unto which he alludes, Heb. xii. 1), to lead us unto heaven, not only the word, but examples in all times. ' Walk, as you have us, for an example, Philip. * That is, ' stumbling-blocks.'— G.
428 THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON XVI,
iii. 17, saith Paul. Therefore it is a character of a gracious disposition to join with the just, and those who walk in the ways of God. We see there is in all the creatures an instinct to keep company with their own kind ; as we see in doves, sheep, geese, and the like. So it comes from a superna- tural gracious instinct of grace, for the good to walk and comjjany with the good, helping them on in the way to heaven. It is therefore a point of special wisdom to single out those for our company, who are able to help us thither, as it is for travellers to choose their company to travel with.
2. Again, if we would walk aright iu the ways of God, let us have our end in our eye, like nnto the traveller. Look on heaven, the day of judgment, those times either of eternal happiness or misery, which we must all come to. The having of these in our eye, will stern* the whole course of our life ; for the end infuseth vigour in our carriages, and puts a great deal of hfe in the use of the means, breeding a love of them, though they be harsh. Therefore we must pray and labour for patience, to conllict with our own corruptions, and those of the times we live in. This is unpleasant to do ; but when a man hath his aim and end in his eye, this inspires such vigour and strength iu a man, that it makes him use means and courses contrary to his own natural disposition, offering a holy violence unto himself. As thus, it is not absolutely necessary that I should have this or that, or have them all, or in such and such a measure ; but it is absolutely necessary that I should be saved, and not damned ; therefore this course I will take, in these ways I will and must walk which lead to salvation. Let us there- fore with Moses have in our eye, ' the recompence of the reward,' Heb. xi. 26 ; and with our blessed Saviour, the head of the faithful, have before our eyes ' the joy that was set before him,' which will make us pass by all those heavy things that he passed through. Let us with the holy men of ancient time, have ' the prize of that high calling' in our eye, to make us, notwith- standing all opposition, press forward towards the mark.