The Fountain of Life Opened

And it is not the least privilege of Christs Subjects to have a seasonable and sanctified rod to reduce them from the ways of sin. Psal. 23.3. thy rod, and thy staff they comfort me. Others are suffered to go on stubbornly in the way of their own hearts. Christ will not spend a rod upon them for their good. Will not call them to account for any of their transgressions: but will reckon with them for altogether in Hell. Thirdly, Another Regal Act of Christ, is the restraining and keeping back his servants from iniquity, and withholding them from those courses which their own hearts would incline and lead them to. For even in them there is a spirit bent to backsliding, ⟨p. 199⟩but the Lord in tenderness over them, keeps back their souls from iniquity; and that when they are upon the very brink of sin: my feet were almost gone; my steps were well nigh slipped, Psal. 73.2. Then doth the Lord prevent sin, by removing the occasion providentially: or by helping them to resist the temptation; graciously assisting their spirits in the trial. So that no temptation shall befall them, but a way of escape shall be opened, that they may be able to bear it, 1 Cor. 10.13. And thus his people have frequent occasions to bless his name for his preventing goodness, when they are almost in the midst of all evil. And this I take to be the meaning of Gal. 5.16 This I say then, walk in the spirit; and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh. Tempted by them ye may be, but fulfil them ye shall not. My spirit shall cause the temptation to die, and wither away in the womb, in the embryo of it; so that it shall not come to a full birth. Fourthly,¹ He protects them in his ways, and suffers them not to relapse from him into a state of sin and bondage to Satan any more. Indeed he is restless in his endeavours to reduce them again to his obedience; he never leaves tempting and soliciting for their return; and where he finds a false professor he prevails: but Christ keeps his that they depart not again.