Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses

Object. But if the saints be supported, how is it that they fall so often under temptation and discouragements? Ans. (1.) How long soever they fall at any time, they never fall off; and that is a great matter. They "are kept by the power of of God through faith unto salvation," 1 Pet. i. 5. Hypocrites may so fall, so as to fall off, and fall into the pit, as a bucket falls into a well when the chain breaks. But though the child of God may fall, and that so ⟨p. 208⟩low, as the water goes over his head; yet there is still a bond of union betwixt Christ and him: the chain is not broken: he will not go to the ground: he will be drawn up again, Luke xxii. 31, 32. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not. (2.) The falls of the saints flow from their not improving their union with Christ, their not making use of him by faith, for staying or bearing them up, Psal. xxvi. 13. "I had fainted, unless I had believed." While the nurse holds the child in her arms, it cannot fall to the ground: yet if the unwary child hold not by her, it may fall backwards in her arms to its great hurt. Thus David's fall broke his bones ▪ Psal. • 8. but it did not break the bond of union betwixt Christ and him: The Holy Spirit, the bond of that union, was not taken from him, ver. 11.

Object. But if the saints be supported, how is it that they fall so often under temptation and discouragements? Ans. (1.) How long soever they fall at any time, they never fall off; and that is a great matter. They "are kept by the power of of God through faith unto salvation," 1 Pet. i. 5. Hypocrites may so fall, so as to fall off, and fall into the pit, as a bucket falls into a well when the chain breaks. But though the child of God may fall, and that so ⟨p. 208⟩low, as the water goes over his head; yet there is still a bond of union betwixt Christ and him: the chan is not broken: he will not go to the ground: he will be drawn up again,