Perhaps there may be some present, who from. being unacquainted, with the depth of the Enemy's devices, or the extent of the heart-work- : ings through corruption, may be in the very moment I am speaking, fainting under the assaults of sin, and Satan, and exclaiming with one of old, I shall certainly perish by the hand of the Enemy.

And it is more than possible, there may be others here also, much bowed down with soul distresses, from the various impediments which obstruct their path: that their hearts are discouraged like Israel in the wilderness, because of the way.

Our subject if it be graciously directed by the Holy Ghost, will minister relief to such cases as these or at least answer one general purpose, in teaching every true believer, where to look for aid, and from what source alone, it is to be expected. Every faithful follower of Jesus, may adopt the language of the Apostle, in this particular, and say, as he did; though I can do nothing by myself, yet I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

And for those characters, if any of that description be present, who are totally unacquaint

ed,

ed, with the conflicts which arise between grace and corruption, and induce faintness in the heart, all that can be said concerning them, is this; they know nothing of religion, who know nothing of those workings. And the most deplorable state of all states is to be at peace, and rest, while the strong man armed keepeth the palace.

What I propose, from our present subject, is in the first place, to illustrate that faintness of soul, which ariseth from the contentions of grace and corruption, amidst the various exercises of it.

And secondly I shall go on to shew, that however faint the true believer is, in this spiritual warfare, he is yet pursuing, the prize of his high calling of God, in Christ Jesus; and is enabled to hold on, and hold out, through the grace of Christ, which is sufficient for him, and whose strength is made perfect in weakness.

First I am, according to my proposal, to illustrate the doctrine, of that faintness of soul which ariseth out of the contentions, between grace, and corruption, in the believer's experience.

And this view, of the renewed nature of man, if traced from its beginning, and carefully followed

followed up, through all its progress, until it be consummated, in glory; opens one of the most interesting subjects possible; though I confess, at the same time, it becomes very humbling to the pride of the human mind to contemplate.

From the very commencement of the renewed life, when God who commandeth the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in the heart; the eye of the soul, like the eye of the body, suddenly emerging from blindness, to behold the wonderful objects around, is dazzled with the overpowering brightness, and from the weakness of vision, will see things but as it were through a glass darkly.

The new born-babe of Christ, (as one of the Apostles, calls the newly regenerated believer,) like the natural infant, comes in to life, in a state of helplessness. And when that state be considered, as opposed to all the powers, of the old-man, who though crucified, is not dead; and though gradually perishing, yet as creatures in their dying pangs, are known sometimes to send forth the strongest efforts, for the recovery of life, so his oppositions to grace, will not unfrequently burst forth, with redoubled violence: When this state of irreconcileable opposition, between the old, and new nature, be considered, nothing can more fully demonstrate, with what

languor,

1

languor, the believer is introduced, into his spiritual life.

And hence those expressive figures, by which the holy scriptures represent it. It is called, a day of small things. And indeed it is so small, as to be scarcely perceivable, and so inconsiderable when seen, that it seems to promise nothing. A grain of mustard seed, is the comparison also, by which it is described. And this, not only, from its being the smallest of all seeds, but from its being cast into the heart of man, where it is apparently buried, and lost, amidst an heap of corruption. In respect of strength, the bruised reed, is its truest emblem; which cannot even stand of itself and is broken with the least touch. And in reference to a warmth of piety, nothing can better represent it, than the smoking flax, which hath no flame, and but little heat. Such are the characters, the word of God gives, of the renewed nature, and in such a state of weakness is the believer's introduction, into the renewed life.

And as in entrance, so in progress. It is all in creature weakness, divine strength is perfected. What from corruptions, of the heart within, and oppositions of the world from without, he may well be said, to be but faint in his strongest

moments.

Some

Some of you who best know the various exercises of the soul, in the struggles of grace, with corruption, like the Shulamite of old, of the two armies, in their uninterrupted skirmishes, can best describe, the faintness induced therefrom.

If my Brother, God the Holy Ghost, hath given you to see, and feel, the plague of your own heart, (and that he must have done, if you are the happy partaker of grace) and you are led to behold, the effects of it, marking all the way, as you have come along: when from heart sins, you have experienced, heart sorrows; and when from great heaviness, induced by great trials, you have feared grace, was withering in the soul and ready to die; speak, for you can best say, what fainting of the heart that is, when like the Church of old, you have been prompted to cry out, My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord!

Neither is this all. The soul doth not droop, and hang the head, through sorrow of heart only, from corruption within, or opposition from without, but Hell itself, is up in arms, to oppose the child of grace, in his warfare, and to dispute, inch by inch, with him, every step he takes through all the way.