vantages, and every thing confpires to make them operate with their full force upon the heart; what is there that can destroy the influence of fuch dangerous attractions, and refcue us from prefent ruin? Can honour, can intereft, can reputation, or those most watchful natural guardians of our virtue, pride and fhame? These, alas, whatever they may do in fome trifling instances, are found to be weak and flender ties, "as flax burnt with fire *," when opposed to the violence of some pasfions, and the fhock of fome temptations. It is here then faith fteps in to our relief, and interposes, between us and danger, that HEAVENLY SHIELD, which is proof against all affailants, or, to use the more forcible and expreffive language of fcripture, "where"with we shall be able to quench all the

fiery darts of the wicked one +." Of this every fincere believer may have, whenever he pleases, experimental conviction. For if he will but frequently and seriously meditate on thofe awful doctrines which the Christian revelation fets before him; that there is a

*

Judges xv. 14.

+ Eph. xi. 16.

G 3

moral

moral governor of the universe, infinite in wisdom, justice, power, and holiness; that in his presence we continually live and act; that his all-feeing eye is conftantly fixed upon us, "is about our bed, and about our "path, and spieth out all our ways;" that there is not fo much as a word in our "mouth, or a thought in our heart, but he "knoweth it altogether *;" that, when the glory of this world has paffed away, there will be a general refurrection to another, a future ftate of existence, a moft folemn day of retribution; that our great judge will then require a ftrict account of all our thoughts, words, and actions, and will make it known to the whole world, that, " verily there is a "reward for the righteous, doubtless there is " a God that judgeth the earth +:" if, I say, the fincere Chriftian will but take care, by frequent meditation and recollection, to imprefs a deep fenfe of these momentous truths upon his foul, and render them familiar to his thoughts, he will by degrees so increase his faith, and fo accuftom himself to this train of reflexions, that the moment temptation + Pfalm lviii. 11.

• Pfalm cxxxix. 3, 4•

affaults

affaults him, they will habitually and mechanically recur to his mind; the rewards and punishments of a future world will inftantly present themselves to his view; the fear of the Lord will come upon him, and he will fay with the patriarch on a like occafion, "how can I do this great wickedness, "and fin against God *?"

V. There is still one thing more remaining, which, though occafionally touched upon before, is of fuch great importance as to require in this place a distinct confideration, fince without it all our other resources will be ineffectual, and that is the affiftance of God's Holy Spirit. To our great comfort we are affured, that, although the powers of our own weak and corrupt nature may frequently be infufficient to carry us fuccefsfully through the difficulties we have to encounter, yet the grace of God will be at all times, and in the greatest exigencies, sufficient for us. This divine and powerful inftrument of our deliverance is, as we are informed, always to be obtained by prayer. "Our heavenly Father will give his Holy

• Gen. xxxix. 9.

+ 2 Cor. xii.

G4

9.

Spirit

Spirit to them that ask him. Whatsoever we ask in prayer, believing, we shall re"ceive *." But then it is not in time of need only we must seek the Lord;" in the moment of danger we may be reduced to fuch ftraits that nothing but a miracle can fave us. We must therefore make God our friend long before, and provide against the evil day while it is yet afar off, and all feems peace and fecurity around us. His Holy Spirit is not to be made fubfervient to a prefent purpose, to be invoked in our neceffity, and flighted in time of fafety; he muft either abide conftantly with us, or for ever remain a stranger to us. It is not an occafional ejaculation, vented by accident or extorted by fear, that will bring him down from heaven; it is only upon repeated folicitations, and a due preparation for his reception, that this divine. gueft will condefcend, to take up his abode with us. We are, as the apoftle expreffes it in his ftrong manner of fpeaking, "to pray

always with all prayer and fupplication, "and watch thereunto with all perfeve"rance." And this will not only draw down upon us a plentiful effufion of Divine

Luke xi. 13. Matth. xxi. 22. † Eph. vi. 18.

grace,

grace, but improve and confirm our own internal strength; will engage our attention, excite our industry, encrease our caution, and even fuggeft to us every human means of deliverance. For prayer has of itself a natural tendency to obtain its own purposes, and we grow infenfibly better whilst we wish to be so.

It is, in fhort, on our own vigilance, circumfpection, and self-discipline, added to our moft earnest prayers for the divine affiftance, that all our virtue here, and all our happiness hereafter, through the merits of our Redeemer, entirely depend. If a man will throw himself in the way of danger, and venture to the very brink of vice; if he will fuffer his thoughts to wander, or dwell upon improper objects; if he knows his weak parts, and yet leaves them without defence; if he fees a growing appetite, and instead of checking, feeks every opportunity to feed and to inflame it; if he confines his views to prefent enjoyments, nor ever spends a thought upon futurity; if, in fine, he lives without God in the world, without any awe of his presence, any trust in his affistance, or any fear of his judgements, he must expect that the slightest temptations will get ter of his virtue, already half subdued.

ΙΟ

the bet

But