The Fountain of Life Opened

Oh what an advantage have you this way! They that first trusted in Christ, had not such an help as you. You stand upon their shoulders. You have the benefit of their experiences. You that are fallen into the last times, have certainly the best helps to holiness. And yet will not you live strictly and purely? Will you put on the name and profession of Christians, and yet be lofty in your spirits, earthly in your designs; neglective of duty; frothy in your communions? Pray from which of all the Saints did you learn to be proud? Did you learn that from Christ, or any of his? From which of his Saints did you learn to be earthly and covetous, passionate o• censorious, over-reaching and crafty? If you have read of any such evils committed by them, have you not also read of their shame and sorrow, their repentance and reformations? If you have found any such blots in their lives, it was left there designedly to prevent the like in yours. Oh what an help to holiness is this!

Thirdly, And this is not all. You have not only a principle within you, and a pattern before you, but you have also an Omnipotent assistant to help and encourage you throughout your way. Are you feeble and infirm? and is every temptation, even the weakest; ⟨p. 621⟩strong enough to turn you out of the way of your Duty? Lo, God hath sent his Spirit to help your infirmities, Rom. 8.26. no matter then how weak you are, how many and mighty your difficulties and temptations are, as long as you have such an assistant to help you. Great is your advantage for a holy life, this way also. For (1.) First, When a temptation to sin presses sore upon you, he pleads with your consciences within, whilst Satan is tempting without. How often hath he brought such Scriptures to your remembrance, in the very nick of opportunity; as have saved you out of the temptation? If you attend his voice, you may hear such a voice within you as that,