And then we are in danger by sin, and that is more than I can express ; for by drowsiness oftentimes we fall into sins whereby we olfend God and the good angels, and give Satan advantage, and grieve the good Spirit of God, and put a sting into all other troubles. Yea, sin makes the blessings of God which we enjoy, no blessings, and hinders us from praising God as we ought for his blessings. So that thus we may see we are in danger to sin and hg sin. Therefore we have need to keep a spiritual watch.
Reason 2. Again, consider in ichat relation ive are in this world, and what the life of a Christian is compared unto. We are travellers through our enemies' country. This is Satan's place where he reigns, being ' god of this world ;' therefore we had need to have our wits and senses about us.
And then again, the worst enemy is within us, our own hearts ; which joins with Satan to betray us to the world, he being the god of this world. Now carrying an enemy in our own bosom, therefore we need to watch, for that is the condition of travellers through their enemies' country. We also carry a jewel, a soul, a precious jewel in a brittle glass. If once the vessel break, all is lost.
Pieason 3. And then again, we run in a race. Now those that run need have the goal in their eye, the price* of their high calling; they had need look upon that which may encourage them. And of all men runners need be watchful. We are all runners ; therefore you see the necessity of a watch.
Reason 4. Again, our whole life is not only a race but a warfare. And of all conditions a warfare needs watching ; for we have enemies to fight against that never sleeps. Satan our enemy never sleeps, ' but goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour,' 1 Peter v. 8. We sleep, but Satan sleeps not, nor those that are his instruments. The poor dis- ciples slept, but Judas slept not. The traitors of the church sleep not, the poor disciples they fall asleep, and sufi'er Christ to manage his own cause. They have a time, and they will be sure to take it. We being therefore not only runners in a race, but born fighters, for every Christian is born so, therefore we must needs strive.
Now the strongest enemy is in our own bosom. Satan is said to depart from Christ for a time, but he never departs from us. We have an enemy, * That is, ' prize.'— G.
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that is, corruption, which hinders us from good, and taints that good we do. We carry corruption in us that seeks to betray us, and will give us no rest at all.
Reason 5. Again, not only thus, but we are all also stewards, and we have all of us ' talents,' of which we are to give an account. Now an estate of account ought to be a watchful estate.
We are all subject to give an exact account of that we have done in the flesh. Being therefore to give a strict account, we ought to be watchful.
Reason 6. Again, men that are wider observation need be watchful. Now there is no Christian but is in perpetual observation, for there is in him a conscience. Though it be asleep for a time, yet that conscience will awake and stare him in the face. You know what is said in Genesis of Cain, * Sin lieth at the door,' Gen. iv, 7. Conscience, like a sleepy dog, lieth at the door, and will fly in our face when we are going out of this world, and then it wiU be a heavy time. Thus we are in observation of conscience within us.
We are likewise in observation of Satan, that watches all whatsoever we speak or do.
And then God observes all that we do. All our sins are written with a ' pen of iron,' that they can never be gotten out of the soul without repentance.
If conscience fail, yet God will not fail. Therefore, being under obser- vation, we had need be watchful.
I hope there is none that will deny this, but that they ought to watch.
Now, beloved, since our life is a vigil, a watching time, a warring time, and a race, we are therefore to stand in perpetual watch.
Let us now consider how we may be stirred up to watch. I will not speak all that may be said, but only give you a few things to shew you how we may keep the Lord's watch.
1. And that we may keep it the better, let us labour to have ivakinrj con- siderations, that we may preserve our souls, because consideration is a help to watchfulness. Know and beheve that there is a God that watches, and an enemy that watches, and [thatj conscience will do his ofhce first or last ; to know and believe also that there is a day of judgment wherein we must answer all that we have done.
2. Again, consider the end wherefore ive live here ; and let us also consider how "suitable our actions are to that end, and whether they be for our good and the salvation of our souls.