CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

¹Sixthly, The people of God are to grow in the solidity and fortitude of their graces, That thereby they may overcome such temptations which the babes of Christ cannot; This solidity is seen in two things: 1. The soundness of their Judgement. 2. The fortitude and heavenly hardship of their hearts: The soundness of judgement, This is a special matter, for we see Rom. 14. and Act. 15. what sad rents and dissentions the weak judgements of some brethren made in the Church, insomuch that the Apostle giveth many directions therein; Those that are new Converts and have felt the power and guilt of sin, and the sweetness of Gods favour have many times strong affections, but weak judgments and upon such the devil with his heretical instruments doth commonly prevail; A• at first he began with Eve to beguile her, and by her to seduce her husband: Oh then let the Children of God look to themselves in the day of their espousals to Christ, when all is honey and ravishment; It's hard for them to consolidate and settle their judgements; Hence the Apostle blameth those that were children, and had not their senses exercised to discern between good and evil, Heb 5.14. Oh then account it an especial matter in Religion, to grow in a sound mind, to be more solid in judgement; This will make thee discern between good and evil, between what is of God and what is of the devil: 2. In fortitude of spirit; The Apostle 2 Tim. 2.3. bids Timothy endure hardship as a Soldier of Christ, and in the Revelation c. 3. The promise is made to him that overcometh, and our Saviour saith, Blessed is he that endureth to the end, Mat. 26. many begin in the Spirit, and end in the flesh; Oh it's an admirable matter to grow hardy in Religion, to be able to endure scoffs, reproaches, and the loss of all dear comforts, as the Apostle said, You have not yet resisted to blood, Heb. 12.4. The people of God are to account all conflicts and encounters light till they come to blood it self, and even then to remember that he who would have his life shall lose it; Our Saviour did train up his Disciples at the very beginning in this hard service; Hence it is that Christianity is compared to a warfare, to running in a race, to fighting not only with flesh and blood but even Principalities in high places, so that thou art not to expect a Bed of Roses in the way to heaven.