3. And they are the cleanest and holiest ways of all; having this excellent property in them, that as they lead to comfort, so they end in comfort ;
430 THE RETUBNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON XVI.
they all end in heaven, Ps. xix. 9. Therefore let us not be weary of God's ways, of Christianity and our particular callings ; wherein what we do, let us do as God's ways, having sanctified them by prayer, and do it in obedi- ence to God. They are God's ways when they are sanctified, God hath set me in this standing, I expect his blessing therein, and what blessing I find, I will give him the praise. God hath appointed that in serving man I serve him ; therefore we must go on in our particular ways, as the ways of God, doing everything as the work of God, and we shall find them the comfortablest and pleasantest ways which end in joy, happiness, and glory.
Use 1. The use hereof may be first reprehension unto those ivho can talk but not walk, that have tongues but not feet, to wit, aifections ; that come by starts into the narrow way ; but yet be never well till they turn back again into the world, that broad way which leads unto destruction.
Use 2. Secondly, it is for instruction, to stir us up to ivalk in God's ways ; as Ps. i. 1, 2, * Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the un- godly, &c. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in that law doth he meditate day and night.'
Use 3. Thirdly, this is for consolation ; if this be our walk, then God will ivalk with us, and the angels of God shall have charge of us to keep us in all our ivays, Ps. xxxiv. 7 ; and though, hke David, we slip out of the way, yet this not being our walk, we come to the way again. Though God's children miss of their way, yet their resolution, choice, and en- deavour was to walk in the way ; therefore such are still in a blessed estate, and keep their communion with God. A man is not said to alter his v/ay till he alter his choice and resolution. The best man may have an ill passion, and miss the way, but he will not turn from it willingly. And the worst man may have a good passion, and come into the way, but never continue in it to make this walk.* From all which it appeareth that they are only lighteous persons who continue to walk in the ways of God. It is therefore consolation unto them who take that course. Though all the world go another way, yet they must imitate just men. And for us, we must imitate these just men, though they be never so few in the world and despised. If we would be counted the servants of God, we must imitate those that walk in those paths.
II. Now it is said that the other sort, wicked men, the ways of God shall have quite a contrary course in them,
' But the transgressors shall fall therein.'
As one and the selfsame cloud was both light to the Israelites and darkness unto the Egyptians, Exod. xiv. 20 ; so the same ways of God prove both light and darkness, life and death, to the godly and wicked. As the apostle speaks, unto 'the one they are the savom: of life unto life, and unto the other the savour of death unto death,' 2 Cor, ii, 16, Therefore now here is the conclusion of all. If no wai'uing will serve the turn of all what hath been given and said, yet the word of God shall not return empty, it shall effect that for which it was sent, Isa. Iv. 11 ; one work or other it will do, even upon the most perverse.
* The transgressors shall fall therem.'
Obs. Whence we see and may observe, that the same word which is a word of life and salvation to the godly, is an occasion of sin and perdition unto the wicked. The same sun which makes flowers and herbs to smell sweet, makes carrions to smell worse. The same word which made the apostles believe and confess Christ, did also make many others of his disciples go * Qu, ' to make it his walk? ' — G.
HOSEA XIV. 9.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 431
back from him, saying, ' This is a hard saying, who can bear it ?' John xiii. 60. So, Acts xiii. 48, the same word which made the unbeHeving Jews blas- pheme, did make ' as many as did belong mito eternal life believe.' And when Chi-ist preached, many blasphemed, and said he had a devU ; others trusted and defended him. So saith Paul, the same word to some is, ' the savour of death unto death, and to some the savour of life unto Ufe,' 2 Cor. ii. 16 ; and so in another place he speaks of the same word, 'But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks fooUshness ; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God,' 1 Cor. i. 23, 24. To this purpose, Peter speaks of Christ, ' Unto you therefore who believe, he is pre- cious ; but unto them which are disobedient, &c., a stone of stumbling, and a rock of ofience, even unto them who stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto also they were appointed,' 1 Pet. ii. 7, 8. The reasons are,