Let it not be said, We require too much. It is not man, but God, that requires these things : and he has promised that " his grace shall be sufficient for us ;" so that, however the work may exceed all human power, we need not be discou- raged : we are authorized, every one of us, to say with the Apostle, " I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." Only " walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh '^."]
The argument with which this advice is enforced, is such as no human being can withstand —
[We have before observed, that our Lord assumes this as an acknowledged and indisputable truth, namely, that eternal misery in hell must be the consequence of indulging one single sin. From hence he argues, that " it is expedient" to part with sin, rather than incur that tremendous punishment. The pleasure of sin will surely he too dearly purchased at such a price as this. Whatever we design to procure, we always con- sider what its value is : no man would give a large estate for a worthless insignificant bauble : nor would any man gratify his palate with a poisonous draught, which he knew would fill him with excruciating agony to the latest hour of his life. We grant then that sin is pleasant, just for the moment : but will that momentary enjoyment repay an eternity of misery, of such misery too as no imagination can conceive 1 We grant too that something may be gained by sin : but can the gain ever equal the loss that will be sustained ? " If a man should gain the whole word, what would it profit him, if by that means he lost his own soul ? "
f Col. iii. 5. Rom. vi. fj. ^ Gal. v. 10.