fear of man*' — or turned aside by the love of this world*-— or overthrown by unbridled passions ^ What reason than have we to adore the grace that has preserved i/s J]
3. What would be the probable consequence of our falling —
[Some who have fallen have been restored speedily S; and some after a lapse of time'^: but thousands have fallen to rise no more. The progress of declension is for the most part rapid. The heart becomes averse to holy duties : from secret neglects proceeds a backwardness to social conference and public ordi- nances. The conscience is gradually weakened, till it ceases to perform its office, or speaks in so faint a voice, that it is scarcely heard. The besetting sin then gains an entire ascendant, and leads him captive ; till at last, God, filled with indignation against the base apostate, " gives him up to a reprobate mind'/' and either cuts him off by a sudden stroke^, or leaves him to protract a miserable existence, merely that he may bear testimony against his own impieties, and proclaim to those around him the foretastes which he already feels of his eternal destiny''.
Such examples we have seen': what a mercy it is that we our- selves, instead of being warned by others, are not made a warning to others !]
4. What occasion we have given to God to let us fall—
[Let us call to mind our own backslidings ; our secret neg- lects ; our tampering with temptations ; our indulgence of evil passions ; our vain-confident presumption : is it not wonderful that God has not long since said respecting us, *' Let him alone™;" " My Spirit shall strive with him no longer":" " He likes not to retain God in his knowledge ; so I will give him up° ?"]
If we be convinced of these things, let us proceed to consider,
II. The duty of those who experience this mercy — ■ There can be no doubt on this subject. If our souls have been upheld in life, we should,
J . Acknow-
■' 2 Tim. i. 15. & iv. l6. Matt. xxvi. 73, 74.
* Matt. xiii. 22. 2 Tim. iv. 10. ^ 1 Tim. v. 11,12. 2 Sam. xi. 4. e John xxi. 15—17. *" 2 Sam. xii. 13.
* Ps. Ixxxi. 11, 12. J Prov. xxix. i. A.cts v. 5, 10. ^ Eccl, V. 17. with Prov. xiv. 32.
' This was preached on occasion of a person that had made a pro- fession of religion, going back to drunkenness, and dying in a drunken fit. See other examples, 1 Cor. x. (j — 1 1.
'" Hos. iv. 17. " Gen. vi. 3. " Rom. i, 28.
220 PSALMS, Lxvi. 8, 9. [378,
1. Acknowledge God in our stedfastness —
["Who is it that has made us to differ" from others p? Have we by nature any more strength than they ? or have we of ourselves a more abundant measure of goodness ? No : it is ^' by the grace of God we are what we are'': we have been as much indebted to his protecting hand, as a new-born infant is to its mother's care. We should then acknowledge, that " of him our fruit is found'";" that " it is he who hath wrought us to the self-same thing ^;" and that to him belongs all the glory of our stability *.]
1. Bless and adore him for his great goodness —
[It is not by cold acknowledgments merely that we are to requite the Lord, but by fervent and devout thanksgivings. It is not possible for language adequately to express the obliga- tions we owe to him : and therefore we should call upon " ail that is within us to bless his holv name."