how many then were seduced by error "^ — or disheartened by the fear of man '^ — or turned aside by the love of the world ^ — or overthrown by unbridled passions'^. What reason then have we to adore the grace that has preserved us /]
3. What would be the probable consequence of our falling —
[Some who have fallen have been restored speedily^ ; 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 V' and either cuts him off by a sudden stroke^, or leaves him to protract a miserable existence, merely that he may bear testi- mony 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 ourselves, 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 neglects; our tamperings with temptations; our indulgence of evil passions; our vain-confident presumption: is it not won- derful 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 P?"]
If we be convinced of these things, let us proceed to consider,
n. The duty of those who experience this mercy —
c Tit. i. 11. 2 Tim. ii. 18.
d 2 Tim. i. 15. and iv. 16. Matt. xxvi. 73, 74.
^ Matt. xiii. 22. 2 Tim. iv. 10. f 1 Tim. v. 11, 12. 2Sam.xi.4.
g John xxi. 15 — 17. '> 2 Sam, xii. 13.
i Ps. Ixxxi. n, 12. k Prov, xxix.l. Actsv. 5, 10.
' Eccl. V. 17. with Prov. xiv. 32.
in 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. 6 — 11.
n Hos. iv. 17. 0 Gen. vi. 3. p Rom. i. 28.
470 PSALMS, LXVl. 8, 9. [605.
There can be no doubt on this subject. If our souls have been upheld in life, we should,
1. Acknowledge God in our steadfastness —
["Who is it that has made us to diiFer" from others 'i? Kave we by nature any more strength than they? or have we of ourselves a more abmidant 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^.]
2. 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 " all that is within us to bless his holy name."
Nor should we be content wdth doing this ourselves : we should invite the whole creation, as it were, to join us. We should labour to stimulate all to love and serve him ; and to make his name known to the very ends of the earth ^.