[♦] “auguish” replaced with “anguish”
[¹] Acts viii. 20.
[²] Canticles viii. 7.
The unreasonableness of these fears.
2. These, or such-like thoughts, may arise in the minds of those who begin to conceive the nature and excellency of religion. They have spied the land, and seen that it is exceeding good, that it floweth with milk and honey; but they find they have the children of Anak to grapple with, powerful corruptions to overcome, and they fear they shall never prevail against them. But why should we give way to such discouraging suggestions? Why should we entertain such unreasonable fears, which damp our spirits and weaken our hands, and augment the difficulties of our way? Let us encourage ourselves with those mighty aids we are to expect in this spiritual warfare; for greater is he that is for us, than all that can rise up against us. The eternal God is our refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. Let us be strong in the Lord, and the power of his might; for he it is that shall tread down our enemies. God hath a tender regard to the souls of men, and is infinitely willing to promote their welfare. He hath condescended to our weakness, and declared with an oath, that he hath no pleasure in our destruction. There is no such thing as despite in the bosom of that ever blessed being, whose name and nature is love. He created us at first in a happy condition, and now when we are fallen from it, he hath laid help upon one that is mighty to save[¹], hath committed the care of our souls to no meaner a person than the eternal Son of his love. It is he that is the captain of our salvation, and what enemies can be too strong for us, when we are fighting under his banner? Did not the Son of God come down from the bosom of his Father, and pitch his tabernacle amongst men, that he might recover them to the divine life, and restore the image of God in their souls? All the mighty works he performed, all the afflictions he sustained, had this for their scope and design: for this did he labour and toil; for this did he bleed and die. He was with child, he was in pain, and hath he brought forth nothing but wind[²]? Hath he wrought no deliverance in the earth? Shall he not see of the travail of his soul[³]? Certainly it is impossible that this great contrivance of heaven should prove abortive, that such a mighty undertaking should miscarry. It hath already been effectual for the salvation of many thousands, who were once as far from the kingdom of heaven as we. And our high priest continueth for ever, and is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him[⁴]. He is tender and compassionate; he knoweth our infirmities, and had experience of our temptations. A bruised reed will he not break, and smoaking flax will he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory[⁵]. He hath sent out his Holy Spirit, whose sweet but powerful breathings are still moving up and down in the world, to quicken the souls of men, and awaken them unto the sense and feeling of those divine things for which they were made. He is ready to assist such weak and languishing creatures as we are, in our essays towards holiness. And when once it hath taken hold of a soul, and kindled in it the smallest spark of divine love, will he not preserve and cherish, and bring it forth into a flame, which many waters shall not quench[⁶]. Whenever this day begins to dawn, and the day-star to rise in their heart[⁷], it will dispel the powers of darkness, and make ignorance and folly, and all corrupt affections, flee away as fast before it as the shades of night, when the sun cometh out of his chambers. For the path of the just is as the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day[⁸]. They shall go on from strength to strength, till every one of them appear before God in Sion[⁹].
[¹] Psalms lxxxix. 19.
[²] Isaiah xxvi. 18.
[³] Isaiah liii. 11.
[⁴] Hebrews vii. 24, 25.
[⁵] Matthew xii. 29.