Brethren, "you must be born again, and be made new crea- tures in Christ Jesus." No power, but that which formed the universe at first, can ever make you what you ought to be ; and what you must be, if ever you would behold the face of God in peace ]
2. The difference between sin and grace, as affected by our habits —
[You have seen the terrible effect of habit in relation to sin. But it is far different in relation to grace : for though it is true that gracious habits render the exercise of grace more easy, they will never, in any degree, supersede the need of fear and watchfulness. Behold David, the man after God's own heart : he catches but a glimpse of Bathsheba, and what be- comes of all his gracious affections ? See Peter, also, who was so bold that he would die with his Divine Master : a maiden does but point him out as a follower of his Lord, and he denies him with oaths and curses. The truth is, that habits of sin increase the corrupt bias that is in the soul, and render its departure from a right line more easy and more certain than it was before : but habits of grace are only like an augmenting of a man's power to roll a stone up hill : but if he intermit his labour, whatever advance he may have made, the stone will instantly roll down, and he will have all his labour to begin again. " Let him, then, that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he falla." Still has the most eminent amongst us " the flesh lusting against the Spirit, as well as the Spirit lusting against the flesh b." Yes, and still has the corrupt principle within him the force of " a law, which wars against the law of his mind, and brings him more or less into captivity to the law of sin which is in his members c." And this I say to humble you, and to put you on your guard. Yet, let not any of you be discouraged : for " the grace of Christ is amply sufficient for you," if you will but seek it ; " nor shall any temptation occur to you without a way to escape, that so " you may be able to bear itd." Be weak, then, in yourselves, and "strong in the Lorde :" so shall " his strength be perfected in your weaknessf," and his name be glorified in your salvation.]
a 1 Cor. x. 12. b Gal. v. 17. c Rom. vii. 23.
d 1 Cor. x. 13. e Eph. vi. 10. f 2 Cor. xii. 9.