Immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood. GAL. i. 16. For the king's commandment was urgent; much more the commandment of the King of kings. DAN. iii. 22. Therefore, be not slothful in business, but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. ROM. xii. 11. THE speediest and easiest method to accomplish our desire of overcoming the evil and doing the good, is an immediate compliance with our first convictions, without conferring with flesh and blood. If we delay the work, we give room to other people without, and to Satan and to our sinful hearts from within, to persuade us to the contrary; by which the flesh can easily renew its strength, and the spirit will be weakened. And what will be the consequence of this? but that either we miscarry in our design, or that the conflict will be afterwards so much sharper, and the good work, if not stifled, dropt entirely; yet if it be done, it will not be done so completely, and with such singleness of heart, as it should be. But if we narrowly watch our hearts, and directly engage with even the least opposition when it stirs, then our enemies will not be so strong, and we shall have no reason to despair. JESUS, mighty to renew, Take away my darling sin, Make me willing to receive What thy goodness waits to give. Then my soul shall praise thy grace, Yield not your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin; but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead; and your members as instruments of righteousness. Rom. ROM. vi. 13. Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God. Rom. xii. 1. IF GOD has my members as weapons and instru ments in his hands, I shall certainly be able not only to work, but also to conquer, since he understands full well how to manage them. May the LORD only give me grace not to wind myself out of his hands, else I must needs be like a dead, useless carcase; for how can a pen write alone, without being in the hand of a writer? It is true, indeed, it is very hard, nay impossible, to be really good, and to do all that is good, if we undertake it alone; but God himself living and working in us, and we truly delighting in him, it is very easy and pleasant. Therefore care is only to be taken that our hearts may be always the working-place, and our members the instruments, of GOD, in which and through which he can perform everything himself. Now GOD I serve; to him alone To him my members I present, His glory deigns to use. Come then, my soul, to GOD the LORD, In holy ardour come; Obey the precepts of his word, Until he calls thee home. A slave to sin too long thou wast The fear of man bringeth a snare. PROV. xxix. 25. Be not conformed to this world. Roм. xii. 2. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 JOHN ii. 15. How many people swell with pride and vanity, for such things as they would not know how to value at all, but that they are admired in the world. How fearful are many of having their houses poorly furnished, or themselves meanly clothed, for this only reason, lest the world should make no account of them, and place them amongst low and mean people. How often would a man have yielded to the haughtiness and ill-nature of others, and shown a submissive temper, but that he dares not pass for such a poor-spirited man in the opinion of the world! How many wish to be real Christians, and would practise Christian temperance and sobriety, were it not for the censure the world passes upon such a life! Others have frequent intentions of living up to the rules of Christianity, from which they are frighted by considering what the world would say of them. Thus does the impression which we have received from living in the world enslave our minds, that we dare not attempt to be eminent in the sight of GOD and holy angels, for fear of being little in the eyes of the world. Reader, how is it with thee? Art thou still hanging between GOD and the world? Consider for a moment; what can the world give thee in exchange for the favour of GOD? What can it help thee in sickness, death, and judgment? Reflect seriously on this with prayer unto God, and the snares of the world will be broken. Lord, save me from the fear of man, Which surely brings a snare; And make me hear their scoffs and jests X At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth. DAN. ix. 23. Continuing instant in prayer. Roм. xii. 12. OH comfortable and encouraging thought! that in the same moment the supplication ascended, the gracious answer descended. When we pray with simplicity and earnestness of soul, the return of grace and love meets our request before it hath ascended half way to heaven: and when the LORD is going to bless us, he pours out a spirit of prayer, and raises a desire for that particular blessing he is going to communicate. Therefore, when we are enabled to pray earnestly, we may be sure that blessings are coming, and that we shall certainly receive in due time a seasonable and visible help. Then let us only go on, and put, as it were, one weight of prayers after another upon the scales of the sanctuary. But it is well to be observed, that we must also be watchful, and not act contrary to the intent of our prayers, which might provoke the LORD to delay his help. But when he tarries long, it is not his intention to give us a denial, but rather make us more desirous and earnest, that he may bestow the more upon us afterwards; for this delay he will certainly well recompense, and grant us abundantly above all that we could ask or think. Lord, I will not let thee go Joined to his it cannot fail; When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also to her husband with her, and he did eat. GEN. iii. 6. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin, &c. JAMES i. 15. THUS HUS one sin always begets another; by the eyes it rushes into the heart; from the heart it proceeds into the mouth, hands, and feet; from us it is transferred upon others, and thus we go on sinning, and falling deeper and deeper. Therefore, we must set a strict guard over our eyes and ears; be very cautious, and resist the least beginnings of sin, not making light of any; for the least spark of worldly lust being entertained and cherished, we eat of the forbidden tree, standing every way before us, and thereby a great fire may be kindled. But having always our eyes fixed, and all our conversation upon the presence of GOD in CHRIST, so as to walk continually in the light, and directly to quell the least inward motions of evil, they will never break forth into gross outward sins, but we shall daily grow in grace. May the LORD enable me to practise this good lesson, and may he himself watch continually over my heart, eyes, lips, and all other senses and thoughts. With my whole heart I seek thy face, O let me never stray From thy commands, O GOD of grace, Nor tread the sinner's way. Thy word I hide within my heart, To keep my conscience clean, And be an everlasting guard From every rising sin. |