But let not any of you be influenced by him, to despair of finding mercy. For it is not the greatness or number of our crimes, but impenitence and unbelief, that will prove our ruin: No, were our sins more in number than the hairs of our head, or of a deeper die than the brightest scarlet; yet the merits of the death of JESUS CHRIST are infinitely greater, and faith in his blood shall make them white as snow.
Answer always, therefore, his despairing suggestions, as your Blessed LORD did, with an “It is written.” Tell him, you know that your Redeemer liveth, ever to make intercession for you; that the LORD hath received from him double for all your crimes: And tho’ you have sinned much, that is no reason why you should despair, but only why you should love much, having so much forgiven. A
_Second_ device that Satan generally makes use of, to get an advantage over young converts, is, to tempt them to _presume_, or to think more highly of themselves than they ought to think.
When a person has for some little time tasted the good word of life, and felt the powers of the world to come, he is commonly (as indeed well he may) most highly transported with that sudden change he finds in himself. But then, Satan will not be wanting, at such a time, to puff him up with a high conceit of his own attainments, as if he was some great person; and will tempt him to set at nought his brethren, as though he was holier than they.
Take heed therefore, and let us beware of this device of our spiritual adversary; for as before honour is humility, so a haughty spirit generally goes before a fall; and GOD is obliged, when under such circumstances, to send us some humbling visitation, or permit us to fall, as he did _Peter_, into some grievous sin, that we may learn not to be too high minded.
To check therefore all suggestions to spiritual pride, let us consider, that we did not apprehend CHRIST, but were apprehended of him. That we have nothing but what we have received. That the free grace of GOD has alone made the difference between us and others; and, was GOD to leave us to the deceitfulness of our own hearts but one moment, we should become weak and wicked, like other men. We should farther consider, that being proud of grace, is the most ready way to lose it. “For GOD resisteth the proud, and giveth more grace only to the humble.” And were we endowed with the perfections of the seraphim; yet if we were proud of those perfections, they would but render us more accomplished devils. Above all, we should pray earnestly to Almighty GOD, that we may learn of JESUS CHRIST, to be lowly in heart. That his grace, through the subtlety and deceivableness of Satan, may not be our poison. But that we may always think soberly of ourselves, as we ought to think. A
_Third_ device I shall mention, which Satan generally makes use of, “to get an advantage over us,” is to tempt us to _uneasiness_, and to have _hard thoughts of_ GOD, when we are dead and barren in prayer.
Though this is a term not understood by the natural man, yet, whosoever there are amongst you, who have passed through the pangs of the _new birth_, they know full well what I mean, when I talk of deadness and dryness in prayer. And, I doubt not, but many of you, amongst whom I am now preaching the kingdom of GOD, are at this very time labouring under it.
For, when persons are first awakened to the divine life, because grace is weak and nature strong, GOD is often pleased to vouchsafe them some extraordinary illuminations of his Holy Spirit; but when they are grown to be more perfect men in CHRIST, then he frequently seems to leave them to themselves; and not only so, but permits a horrible deadness and dread to overwhelm them; at which times Satan will not be wanting to vex and tempt them to impatience, to the great discomfort of their souls.
But be not afraid; for this is no more than your blessed Redeemer, that Spotless Lamb of GOD, has undergone before you: witness his bitter agony in the garden, when his soul was exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. When he sweat great drops of blood, falling on the ground; when the sense of the Divinity was drawn from him; and Satan, in all probability, was permitted to set all his terrors in array before him.