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duty to preserve. And there is none who hath the least grain of spiritual wisdom, but may understand of what sort these temptations are which he is obnoxious unto. Here, then, faith sets the soul on its watch and guard continually, and makes it ready to combat every temptation on its first appearance, for then it is weakest and most easily to be subdued; it will suffer them to get neither time, nor ground, nor strength : so it presei-ves an humble frame, — dehvers it frequently from the jaws of this devourer.
6. Although the soul finds satisfaction in this condition, though it be never sinfully weary of it, nor impatient under it, yea, though it labour to grow and thrive in the spirit and power of it, yet it is con- stantly accompanied with deep sighs and groanings for its deliverance. And these groanings respect both what it would be delivered from and what it would attain unto; between which there is an interposi- tion of some sighs and groans of nature, for a continuance in its present state.
(1.) That which this groaning respects deliverance from is the re- maining power of sin ; this is that which gives the soul its distress and disquietment. Occasionally, indeed, its humility, mourning, and self-abasement are increased by it ; but this is through the efficacy of the grace of Christ Jesus, — in its own nature it tends to hurt and ruin. This the apostle emphatically expresseth in his own person, as bearing the place and state of other believers, Rom. vii. 24.
And this constant gi'oaning for deliverance from the power of sin excites the soul to pursue it unto its destruction. No effect of faith, such as this is, Ls heartless or fruitless; it will be operative towards what it aims at, — and that in this case is the not-being of sin : this the soul gi'oans after, and therefore contends for. This is the work of faith, and "faith without works is dead:'' wherefore it will continually pursue sin unto all its retirements and reserves. As it can have no rest from it, so it will give neither rest nor peace unto it ; yea, a con- stant design after the not-being of sin, is a blessed evidence of a saving faith.
(2.) That which it looks after is the full enjoyment of glory, Rom. viii. 23. This, indeed, is the grace and duty of all believers, of all who have received the first-fruits of the Spirit ; they all in their mea- sure groan that their very bodies may be delivered from being the subject and seat of sin, — that they may be redeemed out of that bon- dage. It is a bondage to the very body of a believer, to be instru- mental unto sin. This we long for its perfect deliverance from, which shall complete the grace of adoption in the whole person. But it is most eminent in those who excel in a state of humiliation and repent- ance. They, if any, groan earnestly, — this they sigh, breathe, and pant after continually; and their views of the glory that shall be re-
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vealed give them refresliment in their deepest sorrows ; they wait for the Lord herein more than they that wait for the morning. Do not blame a truly penitent soul if he longs to be dissolved; the greatness and excellency of the change which he shall have thereby is his pre- sent life and relief.
(3.) But there is a weight on this desire, by the interposition of nature for the continuation of its present being, which is inseparable from it. But faith makes a reconciliation of these repugnant inclina- tions, keeping the soul from weariness and impatience. And this it doth by reducing the mind unto its proper rock : it lets it know that it ought not absolutely to be under the conduct of either of these desires. First, it keeps them from excess, by teaching the soul to regulate them both by the word of God : this it makes the rule of such desires and inclinations ; which whilst they are regulated by, we shall not offend in them. And it mixeth a grace with them both that makes them useful, — namely, constant submission to the will of God. " This grace would have, and this nature would have ; but," saith the soul, " the will and sovereign pleasure of God is my rule : ' Not my will, holy Father, but thy will be done.'" We have the example of Christ himself in this matter.
7. The last thing I shall mention, as that which completes the state described, is abounding in contemplations of things heavenly, invisible, and eternal. None have more holy and humble thoughts than truly penitent souls, none more high and heavenly contempla- tions. You would take them to be all sighs, all mourning, all de- jection of spirit ; but none are more above, — none more near the high and lofty One. As he dwells with them, Isa. Ivii. 15, so they dwell with him in a peculiar manner, by these heavenly contemplations. Those who have lowest thoughts of themselves, and are most filled Avith self-abasement, have the clearest views of divine glory. The bottom of a pit or well gives the best prospect of the heavenly lumi- naries; and the soul in its deepest humiliations hath for the most part the clearest views of things within the vail.