1. By faith fill thy soul with a due consideration of that provision which is laid up in Jesus Christ for this end and purpose, that all thy lusts, this very lust wherewith thou art entangled, may be mortified by Faith; ponder on this, that though thou art no way able in or by thy self to get the conquest over thy distemper, though thou art even weary of contending, and art utterly ready to faint, Luke 16.17. yet that there is enough in Jesus Christ, to yield thee relief Phil. 4.13. It staid the prodigal when he was ready to faint, that yet there was bread enough in his father's house; Though he was at a distance from it, yet it relieved him, and staid him, that there it was. In thy greatest distress and anguish, consider that fullness of Grace, those Riches, those ⟨p. 164⟩Treasures of strength, might and help, that, are laid up in him, for our support,1 Joh. 1.16. Col. 1.19. Let them come into, and abide in thy mind. Consider that he is exalted and made a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance unto Israel, Act. 5.31. and if to give Repentance, to give Mortification, without which the other is not, nor can be, Christ tells us that we obtain purging Grace by abiding in him, Joh. 15.3. To act faith upon the fullness that is in Christ for our supply, is an eminent way of abiding in Christ, for both our insition and abode is by Faith, Rom. 11.19, 20. Let then thy soul by faith be exercised with such thoughts and apprehensions as these. I am a poor weak Creature; unstable as water, I cannot excel. This corruption is to hard for me, and is at the very door of ruining my soul: and what to do I know not: My soul is become as parched ground and an habitation of Dragons; I have made promises and broken them; vows and engagements have been as a thing of nought; many persuasions have I had, that I had got the victory and should be delivered, but I am deceived; so that I plainly see, that without some eminent succour and assistance, I am lost, and shall be prevailed on, to an utter relinquishment of God; but yet though this be my sta•e and Condition, Yet ⟨p. 165⟩let the hands that hang down be lifted up,2 and the feeble knees be strengthened; behold the Lord Christ that hath all fullness of Grace in his heart, all fullness of power in his hand; He is able to slay all these his enemies. There is sufficient provision in him for my relief and assistance:
1. By faith fill thy soul with a due consideration of that provision which is layed up in Jesus Christ for this end and purpose, that all thy lusts, this very lust wherewith thou art entangled, may be mortified by Faith; ponder on this, that though thou art no way able in or by thy self to get the conquest over thy distemper, though thou art even weary of contending, and art utterly ready to faint, Luke 16.17. yet that there is enough in Jesus Christ, to yield thee relief Phil. 4.13. It staid the prodigal when he was ready to faint, that yet there was bread enough in his father's house; Though he was at a distance from it, yet it releived him, and staid him, that there it was. In thy greatest distress and anguish, consider that fullness of Grace, those Riches, those ⟨p. 164⟩Treasures of strength, might and help, that, are laid up in him, for our support,1 Joh. 1.16. Col. 1.19. Let them come into, and abide in thy mind. Consider that he is exalted and made a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance unto Israel, Act. 5.31. and if to give Repentance, to give Mortification, without which the other is not, nor can be, Christ tels us that we obtain purging Grace by abiding in him, Joh. 15.3. To act faith upon the fulness that is in Christ for our supply, is an eminent way of abiding in Christ, for both our insition and aboade is by Faith, Rom. 11.19, 20. Let then thy soul by faith be exercised with such thoughts and apprehensions as these. I am a poor weak Creature; unstable as water, I cannot excel. This corruption is to hard for me, and is at the very door of ruining my soul: and what to do I know not: My soul is become as parched ground and an habitation of Dragons; I have made promises and broken them; vowes and engagemens have been as a thing of nought; many perswasions have I had, that I had got the victory and should be delivered, but I am deceived; so that I plainly see, that without some eminent succour and assistance, I am lost, and shall be prevailed on, to an utter relinquishment of God; but yet though this be my sta•e and Condition, Yet
- 1Isa. 40.28, 29, 30, 31.
- 2Joh. 1.16. Mat. 28.18.
