4. Having spoken in particular, then he comes to the general, wherein he wraps up all : 'I can do all things, but in Christ that strengthens me.' Here is,
1. First of all. The blessed apostles ahility, ' I can do all things.'
2. And then here is, secondly, the spring of his ability, whence he hath it: ' I can do all things, but in Christ that strengthens me.'
In the apostle's ability you have,
1. His strength itself. 2. The enlargement of it.
' I am able.' And what to do ? A few things ? No ; * all things.' The point of doctrine ofiered is this, that a Christian man is an able man. Whosoever hath the Spirit of Christ is an able man, and his ability is a large ability ; he is able to do all things. Take domg in a transcendent sense, not only to do, but take it to resist ill, to resist temptation, to sufi'er aflliction, to enjoy prosperity, to break oflf sinful courses, and to take a new course, to practise all duties ; for so the apostle means ' I can do,' that is, I can carry myself in all conditions, I can express all graces, I can resist all temptations, I can sufi'er all afflictions, I can do all this. What is the reason a Christian is so able ?
1. Because, first of all, he hath a stronqer and abler spirit than his own. The Spirit of God is a spirit of strength, 2 Tim. i. 8. It is the Spirit of power, which is the soul of his soul, and the life of his life. Now the strength of a man is in his spirit. The stronger spirit makes the abler man,
182 THE ART OF CONTENTMENT.
hikI the Spirit of God being the strongest of spirits, indeed the strength of spirits, it makes a Christian in whom it dwells the ablest man.
2. And then again, A Chrintian is a new crcntitre ; therefore he is furnished with abilities tit for the new creature. When Adam was created he vvas endued with all graces fit for an entire state. As when God made heaven he made stars to beautify heaven ; when he made the earth, he made trees and flowers ; so, when he made man, bo furnished him with graces, and fitted him for that estate. Now after the fall, when God brings a man in Christ to bo a new creature, be bath abilities to furnish him for that new condition.
3. And then again, Kvcnj particular f]racc of the new creature is a grace of strength. As the Spirit is a strong Spirit, so the spirit of love is as strong as death, it hath a ' constraining power,' 2 Cor. v. 14. The Spirit of God is so strong in his children, that are truly his, that it makes them even with willingness to lay down their lives, that is dearest to them in this world. Here is a sweet kind of tyranny in the affection of love, that will carry a man through thick and thin, through all, and that with pleasure, willingly and comfortably too ; as the apostles were glad to suflcr anything for Christ's sake, their hearts were so enlarged with a spirit of love. The spirit of faith it is a strong and mighty spirit, an able spirit. It conquers God himself, as Jacob wrestled with the wrestlings of God, and by the strength of God overcame God, Hosea xii. 3, 4. And the woman of Canaan overcame Christ by the strength she had from Christ, Mat. xv. 28. In the sense of God's displeasure it will believe God's favour in Christ, and is able to break through the thickest clouds of discomfort whatsoever, and to see the loving face of God. In a base condition it can struggle with God, saying with Job, ' Though be kill me, yet will I trust in him,' Job xiii. 15. It is a strong grace. Faith prevails with almighty God. It prevails in all inferior conditions whatsoever. You see the fruit and strength of all graces is attributed to faith, Heb. xi. 33. By faith they overcame, by faith they were strong, and did this and that ; insinuating that faith is not only a strong grace in itself, but it gives vigour and strength to all graces. And so we see love, 1 Cor. xiii. 4, it is not only a strong grace, but the office of other graces is attributed unto it. It suffers long, which is the office of patience. What should I speak of other graces, these radical and funda- mental graces being of such force ? Now every Christian in some measure hath a spirit of faith and a spirit of love, and these are very strong, to carry him through all estates and conditions ; and that with such glory and lustre that every one may wonder at the condition of a Christian. Even in the worst estate he hath a spirit not of the world but above the world. This faith overcomes the world ; and he that is in them, the Spirit of God, is stronger than he that is in the world, 1 John iv. 4.
To proceed to a further demonstration of a Christian man's ability, which is intimated unto us in his very name. What is the name of a Christian ? ' Anointed.' The Spirit of God is compared to oil. What is the virtue of oil ? It is to make nimble, for the Spirit of God makes Christians nimble ; and oil it makes strong. The wrestlers were wont to be anointed before- hand with oil ; so the Spirit of God makes Christians strong. The virtue of oil anointing is to be above. Jumble it together with other liquors, it is a regal liquor, it will have the pre-eminence, and be above. So grace, although it be mingled with corruption, the Spirit of grace and faith at last will apear, the Spirit of God will be above all, at length it will w^ork itself clear. In all temptations, a Christian as a Christian is an able man. If