letters, which directly we cannot; so we may do here, in this highest of spiritual objects. The same Apostle, that give us our charge, gives us, withal, our direction: Wherefore, saith he, brethren, give all diligence to make your calling and election sure: dià Tâν кaλŵv čрywv as divers copies read it; by good works. For if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly, into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ; 2 Pet. i. 10, 11.

Lo, first, our calling; then, our election. Not that we should begin with heaven, and thence descend to the earth: it is enough for the angels on that celestial ladder of Jacob, to both descend and ascend: but that we should from earth ascend to heaven; from our calling, to our election; as knowing, that God shews what he hath done for us above, by that which he hath wrought in us here below.

Our Calling, therefore, first: not outward and formal; but inward and effectual. The Spirit of God hath a voice, and our soul hath an ear. That voice of the Spirit speaks inwardly and effectually to the ear of the soul, calling us out of the state of corrupt nature, into the state of grace; out of darkness, into his marvellous light.

By thy calling, therefore, mayest thou judge of thine Election. God never works in vain: neither doth he ever cast away his saving graces; whatever become of the common. But, whom he did predestinate, them also he called; and whom he called, them he justified; and whom he justified, them also he glorified; Rom. viii. 30.

"This, doubtless," thou sayest, "is sure in itself; but how is it assured to me?" Resp. That, which the Apostle adds, as it is read in some copies, By good works, if therein we also comprehend the acts of believing and repenting, is a notable evidence of our election. But, not to urge that clause, which, though read in the Vulgate, is found wanting in our editions; the clear words of the text evince no less: For, if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. Here is our negative certainty. And, for our positive: So an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly, into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Lo, if we shall never fall, if we shall undoubtedly enter into the kingdom of Christ, what possible scruple can be made of the blessed accomplishment of our election?

What then are these things, which must be done by us? Cast your eyes upon that precious chain of graces, which you shall find stringed up in the foregoing words. If you add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to

brotherly kindness, charity; 2 Pet. i. 5, 6, 7. If you would know what God hath written concerning you in heaven, look into your own bosom: see what graces he hath there wrought in you. Truth of grace, saith the divine Apostle, will make good the certainty of your election.

Not to instance in the rest of that heavenly combination, do but single out the first and the last, faith and charity.

For Faith, how clear is that of our Saviour, He, that believeth in him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but hath passed from death to life! John v. 24. Lo, what access can danger have into heaven? All the peril is in the way: now the believer is already passed into life. This is the grace, by which Christ dwells in our hearts; Eph. iii. 17. and whereby we have communion with Christ, and an assured testimony of and from him: for, He, that believeth in the Son of God, hath the witness in himself; 1 John v. 10. And what witness is that? This is the record, that God hath given us eternal life; and this life is in his Son. He, that hath the Son, hath life; vv. 11, 12. O happy and sure connection! Eternal life, first: this life eternal is in and by Christ Jesus: this Jesus is ours by faith: this faith witnesseth to our souls our assurance of life eternal.

Charity is the last: which comprehends our love both to God and man: for, from the reflection of God's love to us, there ariseth a love from us to God again. The beloved disciple can say, We love him, because he loved us first; 1 John iv. 19. and from both these resulteth our love to our brethren. Behold, so full an evidence, that the Apostle tells us, expressly, that we know we are passed from death to life, because we love the brethren; 1 John iii. 14. For the love of the Father is inseparable from the love of the Son: He, that loveth him that begets, loves him that is begotten of him; 1 John v. 1.

Now then, my son, deal unpartially with thine own heart. Ask of it seriously, as in the presence of the Searcher of all Hearts, whether thou dost not find in thyself these unfailing evidences of thine election. Art thou not effectually, though not perfectly, called out of the world and corrupt nature? Dost thou not inwardly abhor thy former sinful ways? Dost thou not think of what thou wert with detestation? Dost thou not heartily desire and endeavour to be in all things approved to God, and conformed to thy Saviour? Dost thou not gladly cast thyself upon the Lord Jesus, and depend upon his free all-sufficiency for pardon and salvation? Dost thou not love that Infinite Goodness, who hath been so rich in mercies to thee? Dost thou not love and bless those gleams of goodness, which he hath cast upon his Saints on earth? In plain terms, dost thou not love a good man, because he is good? Comfort thyself in the Lord, my son: let no fainting qualms of fear and

distrust possess thy soul: Faithful is he, that hath called thee, who will also preserve thy whole spirit, and soul, and body blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; 1 Thess. v. 24, 23.

CHAP. III.

COMFORTS AGAINST TEMPTATIONS.

SECT. 1.

Christ himself assaulted.— Our trial is for our good.

THOU art haunted with Temptations: that, which the enemy sees he cannot do by force or fraud, he seeks to effect by importunity :

Can this seem strange to thee, when thou seest the Son of God in the wilderness, forty days and forty nights, under the hand of the Tempter? He, that durst thus set upon the Captain of our Salvation, (Heb. ii. 10.) God blessed for ever, how shall he spare frail flesh and blood? Why should that Saviour of thine, thinkest thou, suffer himself to be tempted, if not to bear thee out in all thy temptations? The keys of the bottomless pit are in his hands: he could have shut up that Presumptuous Spirit under chains of darkness, so as he could have come no nearer to him than hell; but he would let him loose, and permit him to do his worst, purposely, that we might not think much to be tempted, and that he might foil that great enemy for us.

Canst thou think, that he, who now sits at the right hand of majesty, commanding all the powers of heaven, earth, hell, could not easily keep off that Malignant Spirit from assailing thee? Canst thou think him less merciful, than mighty? Would he die to save thee? and will he turn that ban-dog of hell loose upon thee to worry thee?

Dost thou not pray daily to thy Father in Heaven, that he would not lead thee into temptation? If thou knowest thou hast to do with a God that heareth prayers, O thou of little faith, why fearest thou? Lo, he, that was led by his own Divine Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of that Evil Spirit, bids thee pray to the Father, that he would not lead thee into temptation; as implying, that thou couldst not go into temptation, unless he lead thee; and, while he that is thy Father leads thee, how canst thou miscarry?

Let no man, when he is tempted, say, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil; neither tempteth he any

man; James i. 13. God tempteth thee not, my son: yet know, that, being his, thou couldst not be tempted without him; both permitting and ordering that temptation, to his own glory, and thy good. That grace, which thy God hath given thee, he will have thus exercised, thus manifested. So we have known some indulgent father, who, being assured of the skill and valour of his dear son, puts him upon tiltings, and barriers, and public duels; and looks on with contentment, as well knowing, that he will come off with honour. How had we known the admirable continency of good Joseph, if he had not been strongly solicited by a wanton mistress? How had we known David's valour, if the Philistines had not had a giantly challenger to encounter him? How had we known the invincible piety of the three children, if there had not been a furnace to try them? or of Daniel, if there had been no lions to accompany him? Be confident thy glory shall be according to the proportion of thy trial: neither couldst thou ever be so happy, if thou hadst not been beholding to temptations.

SECT. 2.

The powerful assistance of God's Spirit; and the example of St. Paul.

"How often," thou sayest, "have I beaten off these wicked suggestions: yet still, they turn upon me again, as if denials invited them; as if they meant to tire me, with their continual solicitations; as if I must yield and be over-laid, though not with their force, yet with their frequence?"

Know, my son, that thou hast to do with spiritual wickednesses; Eph. vi. 12: whose nature is therefore as unweariable, as their malice unsatisfiable. Thou hast a spirit of thine own: and, besides, God hath given thee of his : so he looks thou shouldst, through the power of his gracious assistance, match the importunity of that Evil Spirit, with an indefatigable resistance: Be strong, therefore, in the Lord, and in the power of his might; and put on the whole armour of God, that thou mayest be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand; Eph. vi. 10, 11, 13.

Look upon a stronger champion than thyself, the blessed Apostle: thou shalt find him in thine own condition: see the messenger of Satan sent to buffet him; 2 Cor. xii. 7: and he did it to purpose: how soundly was that Chosen Vessel buffeted on both sides, and how often! Thrice, he besought the Lord that it might depart from him; but, even yet, it would not be : the temptation holds; only a comfort shall countervail it; My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness; v. 9.

It is not so much to be considered, how hard thou art laid at, as how strongly thou art upheld. How many, with the blessed martyr Theodorus, have, upon racks and gibbets, found their consolations stronger than their pains! While, therefore, the goodness of thy God sustains and supplies thee with abundance of spiritual vigour and refreshment answerable to the worst of thine assaults, what cause hast thou to complain of suffering?

The advice is high and heroical, which the Apostle James gives to his compatriots: My brethren, count it all joy, when ye fall into divers temptations; James i. 2. Let those temptations be rather trials by afflictions, than suggestions of sin: yet, even those, overcome, yield no small cause of triumph; for, by them, is our faith no less tried, and the trying of our faith worketh patience, and the perfect work of patience is a blessed entireness of grace. The number of enemies adds to the praise of the victory, to overcome single temptations, is commendable; but, to subdue troops of temptations, is glorious.

SECT. 3.

The restraint of our spiritual enemies; and their overmatching by the power of God.

"ALAS," thou sayest, "I am overlaid, not with multitudes only, but with power. In all challenges of duels, there is wont to be respect had to the equality, both of the combatants and weapons but, woe is me, how am I overmatched! For me, I am a weak wretch and we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers; against the rulers of the darkness of this world; against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places; Eph. vi. 12. Behold the Amorite, whose height is like the height of the cedars, and their strength as the strength of oaks; Amos ii. 9. What are we, but poor pismires, in the valley, to these men of measures? Who can stand before these sons of Anak?"

I did not advise thee, my son, to be strong in thyself: alas, we are all made up of weakness! one of those powers of darkness were able to subdue a whole world of men: but, to be strong in the Lord, whose lowest angel is able to vanquish a whole hell of devils; and, in the power of his might, who commandeth the most furious of those infernal spirits to their chains. Woe were to us, if we were left to our own hands: there were no way with us, but foiling and death. But, our help is in the name of the Lord, who hath made heaven and earth; Ps. cxxiv. 8. The Lord is our strength and our shield; xxviii. 7. He is our rock and our salvation: he is our defence; so as we shall not