sion. This all who make profession do, whether they build upon’
the rock or upon the sand. And when this house is built, “the rain will descend, and the floods will come, and the winds will blow and beat upon it.” Profession will be assaulted and pressed by all manner of hazardous and dangerous oppositions. And if the house be not well secured, it will fall,—if our profession be not well guarded, it will be lost. What our Lord Jesus told Peter with respect unto this very matter, is even so concerning all professors. When he was led to speak with much confidence,—which his present convictions of duty and resolutions for its performance prompted him unto,—that he would abide in his profession, and never forsake him, whatever other men might do; he answers, “Simon, Simon, Satan hath sought to winnow thee,” Luke xxii. 31, 32. He minds him,that although he had called him Peter, for the unmovableness of that Rock which his faith was fixed on, yet he would appear in himself to be but Simon still,—a man, exposed to danger, and easy to be prevailed against; and therefore he might do well, in the midst of his confidence, to consider his dangers and the surprisals that he might be overtaken withal. And the same is the condition of all professors, the best and meanest, the strongest and weakest,
From this opposition, our continuance in profession is called * enduring,” Matt. xxiv. 18, ‘O 6: broweiag sig rédos, obrog owhyoera, —‘ He that patiently tolerateth” (beareth opposition) “unto the end shall be saved.” So we render drouo4, Rom. ii. 7, “ patient continuance.” And to the same purpose are the words apooxaprepin, Acts ii, 42, and spooxaprépynois, Eph. vi. 18, used, and of the same signification,—“ constantly to abide and endure against oppositions,” So is the word commonly applied. Men endure hunger, cold, bonds, imprisonment, the pains of death. They are hard things that men endure. “ Durate” is the word of encouragement in difficulties: “ Durate et vosmet rebus servate secundis. Durare, est verbum quod perferendis malis convenit,” Donat in Virg. Ain.i. 211. There is, then, a supposition of a conflict with all sorts of evil, where we are enjoined to “endure;” that is, to continue in our course with patience, courage, and constancy. Hence are the multiplied cau-
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tions that are given us, especially in this epistle, to take heed that we be not prevailed against and cast down from our stability by these oppositions. See 2 John 8; Rev. ii. 24-26, iii. 2.
Weare exceedingly apt to deceive ourselves in this matter. De- sires, false hopes, appearing helps, do insinuate themselves into our minds, and prevail to ingenerate a persuasion that we shall not meet with any great difficulties in our profession. And these self-deceivings do exceedingly unprepare the mind for what we have to encounter, which the apostle warns us against, 1 Pet. iv. 12, 13.
The principles, causes, reasons, and means, of the opposition that is made to the profession of believers, are commonly handled. Could we take but one view of that constant preparation which there is amongst “principalities and powers,” those “ spiritual wickednesses in high places,” in the world and all its fulness, and in the deceit- fulness of sin which dwelleth in us, for an opposition unto our pro- fession, we would either constantly stand upon our guard to defend it, or presently give it up as that which is not tenable. See Eph. vi. 10-13.
Obs. II. It is our duty, in the midst of all oppositions, to hold our profession firm and steadfast unto the end. This is the substance of what we are here exhorted and pressed unto, and the great de- sign of the apostle in this whole epistle; which also we have occa- sionally insisted on in sundry precedent passages.
What this profession is hath been declared. The principle of it is “faith in God” by Christ Jesus. .The fruits of it are the whole “obedience of faith,” or “a conversation in all things becoming the gospel,” “adorning the doctrine of our Saviour” in all holiness and godliness. And it is expressed by a constant observation of all the ordinances and institutions of worship appointed by Christ or his authority, with an open confession of him at all times. For by such institutions did God in all ages try and exercise the faith and obe- dience of the church, whence they were the means of giving glory to himself in the world. And from this expression of them do our faith and obedience take the denomination of “ profession.” And thereby are they proved in this world, and must be tried at the last day.
_ This profession we are to hold in the manner expressed in the opening of the words; that is, with watchfulness, diligence, constancy, and our utmost endeavour in all of them. And this duty hath re- spect unto the contrary sins, which the apostle dehorts us from. Now these fall under two heads:—1. Apostasy, or a total desertion of our profession. 2. Declension, or going back gradually from our diligence, progress, and attainments in it; which make way for the former evil.
1, Some totally fall off from their profession. These the apostle describes and reflects upon, chap. vi, x. In which places we must take their sin and punishment under consideration. And against