A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm

2. Even Duties of Gods Appointment when turned into self-righteousness are Gods great abhorrency, Isa. 66. 2, 3. What hath a good Original may be vitiated by a bad End.

2. Even Duties of Gods Appointment when turned into selfrighteousness are Gods great abhorrency, Isa. 66. 2, 3. What hath a good Original may be vitiated by a bad End.

3. Oftentimes Holiness in the heart is more known by the Opposition that is made there to it, than by its own prevalent working; The Spirits Operation is known by the flesh's opposition. We find a mans strength by the burdens he carries, and not the pace that he goes. Oh, wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death, is a better evidence of Grace and Holiness, than God I thank thee I am not as other men; a heart pressed, grieved, burdened, not by the guilt of sin only, which reflects with trouble on an awakened ⟨p. 352⟩conscience, but by the close adhering power of Indwelling sin, tempting, seducing, soliciting, hindering, captivating, conceiving, restlessly disquieting may, from thence have as clear an evidence of holiness, as from a delightful fruit-bearing. What is it that is troubled and grieved in thee; What is it, that seems to be almost killed, and destroyed; that cries out, complains, longs for deliverance? is it not, the new Creature? is it not the principle of spiritual life, whereof thou art partaker? I speak not of trouble and disquietments for sin committed, nor of fears and perturbations of mind, left sin should break forth to loss, shame, ruin, dishonour; nor of the contending of a convinced Conscience lest Damnation should ensue; but of the striving of the spirit against sin, out of a hatred and a loathing of it, upon all the mixed Considerations of Love, Grace, Mercy, Fear, the beauty of Holiness, Excellency of communion with God, that are proposed in the Gospel. If thou seemest to thy self to be only passive in these things, to do nothing, but to endure the Assaults of sin; Yet if thou art sensible, and standest under the stroke of it, as under the stroke of an Enemy, there is the root of the matter. And as it is thus, as to the substance and Being of Holiness, so it is also as to the degrees of it. Degrees of Holiness are to be measured more by Opposition, than self operation. He may have more Grace, than another; who brings not forth so much fruit as the other; because he hath more opposition, more Temptation,