764.]
thou shalt become a plain." See how Paul taught the first Christians to triumph, whilst yet in the midst of all their con- flicts : " Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or nakedness, or peril, or sword ? No : in all these things we are more than con- querors ' :" so then may the weakest of us triumph, if we call in our blessed Lord to our aid: for " through Clirist strengthen- ing us, we can do all things ™."]
But to form a right judgment of our duty, we must yet more distinctly notice,
II. The particular instruction relating to it —
We must keep our heart " with all diligence." Our attention to it must be,
1. Earnest —
[It is not a slight or superficial attention to it that will suffice. The work is too great to be effected in such a way. To keep the heart from sin amidst so many temptations on every side, and to keep it in the exercise of all holy and hea- venly graces, from every one of which it is by nature alienated; this is a great work indeed, and requires the utmost possible exertion on our part. The metaphors by which the Christian's life is set forth, sufficiently shew what efforts are called for on our part. A race is not to be won without straining every nerve : an adversary, whether in fight or in wrestling, is not to be over- come without putting forth all our strength. Can we then suppose, that, when our contest is not with flesh and blood only, but with all the principalities and powers of hell, the victory can be gained without the most strenuous exertions ? No ; it cannot : and our Lord plainly tells us that it cannot : "Strive," says he, " to enter in at the strait gate ; for many shall seek to enter in, and not be able." Know then, that what- ever you have to do in the keeping of your heart, you must " do it with all your might."]
2. Constant —
[The work which we have to do, is not like that of a painter or a statuary, who may leave his work for a time, and find it afterwards in the state in which he left it : it is rather like that of one who is rolling up hill a stone, which will return upon him, as soon as ever he intenuits his labour. Our hearts of themselves are " bent to backslide from God," ever ready to "start aside as a deceitful bow :" and Satan is ever on the watch to di'aw us aside. If he intermit his labours, it is in appearance only, and not in reality : for he is ever " going about, as a
1 Rom. viii. 3o, 37. "» Phil. iv. 13.