patient and submissive under it; and yet if the thread of the affliction be spun out to any length, he may turn impatient. I confess, it is not much, the first day that the cross meets with us, to be patient; but let the cross lie on us, then we will cry out, Why is it that God deals thus with me? This is clear in the practice of Job, when first he met with the cross, he could take it in his arms, and cry out, The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be his name. But let the cross lie a little while on Job, then he will cry out, I choose strangling and death, rather than life. A green wound is half whole, (as we use to speak) but let once our wound begin to fester, then we will be impatient.

The second observation which we would have you to take notice of concerning the cross is, there are five sorts of blasphemy, which one that is under a cross may fall into: First, he may fall into that blasphemy of calling God unjust; according to that word, Ezek. xviii. 25, Yet ye say the way of the Lord is not equal, &c. The second sort of blasphemy is, when we call God unfaithful; according to that strange word, Jer. xv. 18, Wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail? O! do we not think that God is not half so good as his word under the cross! The third sort of blasphemy is, when we call God weak: there are some times we are brought to that, Is there no balm in Gilead? And is there no physician there? My stroke is grievous, and my wound is incurable. Sometimes when we are under the cross, we think it is above God's

power to set us free from it. The fourth sort of blasphemy which

a man may have under the cross, is, when he chargeth God with changeableness. I think Christians under the cross, are like men first going to sea, when they first go out from the haven, or by a rock, they think that they are standing still, and the land beside them is moving and stirring: so when first we come under the cross, we think God is changeable, but we are still the same. The fifth sort of blasphemy which one may have under the cross, is, when he chargeth God with forgetfulness: you know that forgetfulness is the property of an ungrateful man; and O! if you call God ungrateful or unthankful, you may call him any thing. I confess, I think Christ forgets nothing of a Christian but his wrongs.

The third observation concerning the cross, is this-it is a speaking evidence of the want of a son-like frame, if the cross do hinder us in the exercise of duties. I confess, little profiting under the cross, speaks this much, that either we are not sons, or have not a son-like frame: for those who are the Lord's children, when folly is bound up in them, the rod of correction drives it away: there are many of us in our afflictions, who are of Ahaz's frame, we sin more and more in our afflictions.

The fourth observation that I would give you concerning the cross, is this there are four things which a Christian should take up concerning his cross: First, He should take up unspeakable wisdom in his cross. Secondly, He should take up unspeakable love therein. Thirdly, He should take up unspeakable justice and holiness in his cross. And fourthly, He should take up these great advantages that flow to him from the spiritual use-making of his

cross.

Some Christians can read wisdom, justice, and holiness on a

cross, before they can read love upon it: but however, it is good to take up all these four in the crosses and sad dispensations which you meet with.

There is this fifthly, which I would say concerning the crossthere is not a cross and sad dispensation which a Christian meets with, but it is a gift and royal donation sent by the hand of Christ to him: there are some who look upon the promises as gifts; but I say to thee, thou must look upon thy crosses as gifts also, Philip. i. 29, For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. And there are some likewise that look upon their sensible enjoyments, but not on their crosses, as gifts. I say, if once a Christian win to know that the cross is a gift, he will likewise win to patience under the cross.

The sixth observation concerning the cross is, there are some peaceable fruits of righteousness that redound to a Christian who is rightly exercised under the cross, Heb. xii. 11, Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby. I say, sometimes the rod of a Christian is like Aaron's rod, it buds and blossoms in a night, and brings forth pleasant fruit.

The seventh observation is-the most rare enjoyments of a Christian are trysted to the time of his being under the cross: when was it that Jacob saw the angels of God descending and ascending upon that ladder? Was it not when he was forced to lie in the open fields? When was it that the three children saw Christ in the likeness of the Son of man? Was it not when they were in a furnace, when it was hot seven times more than ordinary? When was it that John got such a vision of God? Was it not when he was in the isle of Patmos, for the testimony of Christ? When was

it that Ezekiel saw the visions of God? Was it not when he was sitting by the river Chebar, in the land of his captivity? And when was it that Stephen saw the heavens open, and Christ standing at the right hand of God? Was it not when they were stoning him to death for the testimony of Jesus Christ? I say, the most remarkable enjoyments of a Christian are trysted under the cross, according to that word of the Psalmist, To the righteous, there ariseth light in darkness.

The eighth observation that we would propose concerning the cross is oftentimes God trysts joy to a Christian under the cross: when a Christian is beginning to lose his hope, and all things are (as it were) growing dark about him, then doth light arise unto him, according to that wonderful and strange expression, Zach. xiv. 7, At the evening time it shall be light, when there is more appearance of darkness coming on. Yet even at that time it shall be light. Is it not certain, a Christian hath been sitting down at the midnight of his afflictions, crying out, My hope and my strength is perished from the Lord; and yet the Lord hath said to him, even by his dispensations, Thou art a liar? Have we not sometimes been casting away our hope, and the Lord hath loosed our bonds, and we have been as Peter, when he was loosed from his prison; we have been as though we had seen a vision.

Lastly, I would say this to commend the cross, there are strange expressions in the Scriptures, that may make out to a Christian that the cross is not such a thing as many take it to be. The first expression is in that word, James i. 2, My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations. There are two things in that expression which may make it strange: 1. A Christian should count it all joy: it had not been so strange if he had said, count it joy, or rejoice when ye are afflicted; but O! that is strange, Count it all joy when ye are afflicted. That, 2. makes it strange, Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; that is, rejoice ay more and more when ye meet with many crosses. Then there is this second expression, which may commend the cross, and it is in that word, Job v. 17, Happy is the man whom God correcteth, &c. There is very much happiness in such a lot and dispensation. Some of us think, there are no people so cursed as those who are afflicted. But say, a Christian's afflictions are no small mercies and blessings. The third strange expression, which may commend the cross, is in that word, Job v. 22, At destruction and famine shalt thou laugh, &c. Not to have a sad look (as it were) for all the crosses and afflictions that may come. The fourth strange expression, which may commend the cross, is in that word, Rom. v. 3, We glory in tribulations,

I

&c. The last strange expression, which may commend the cross, is this, the glorious ends that are upon those persons, who are exercised under the cross; according to that word, James i. 12, Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life. I say, let a Christian comfort himself in this, That in six evils he will deliver him, and in seven no evil shall come near him. Let a Christian be put to never so much affliction, let him comfort himself with this, That his Saviour was put to walk up and down in the earth, and had not whereon to lay his head. And let him likewise comfort himself with this, That the day is coming, when he shall enter into these glorious and excellent habitations. What is the cross of a Christian? Is there not much in heaven to comfort him against his crosses? I shall not say much to press Christian submission under the cross; I think it is more suitable to be enquiring after duty under a cross, than to be enquiring how to escape from under it. It is good to put all in Christ's hand concerning the cross, the manner of it, and the lengthening of it, and also the outgate from under it. Now, to him who is able to make all things work together for the best (even afflictions) unto his people, we desire to give praise.

THE

SPIRITUAL WARFARE.

SERMON I.

ROM. vii. 24.-O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

WHEN the sword of the justice of God was coming down upon us, then our blessed Lord Jesus, in the infinite depth of his unsearchable love and compassion to self-destroying sinners, cried out with a loud voice, that justice might hold the hand. And as that ram sacrificed for Isaac, so was he willingly content to be caught in a thicket, and to become a spotless and everlasting sacrifice for sinners. He was content to be bruised, that so we might pass free, and his Father's hand might be turned from the little ones; but notwithstanding he died for our sins, and has risen for our righteousness; yet he hath given to all his followers a spiritual warfare to accomplish, so that they should be continually taken up in contending against principalities and powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places; or as the words are rendered by some, we conceive more appositely, In heavenly things. And certainly, there is no discharge in this war, neither any interruption, while we are on this side of eternity. We confess, God might easily have served an inhibition on all our spiritual enemies, that they should no more oppose themselves against a believer after justification. He, in the depths of his unsearchable wisdom, and we may say likewise infinite love towards his own, hath so contrived their way to heaven, that through many afflictions and tribulations in our spiritual warfare, we must enter there. It is much indeed for a Christian to die a victor after war, though not a triumpher; that must come after death, and the trophies and rewards of our victory, shall then be fully given to us, when our feet shall stand within the gates of the New Jerusalem, and when we shall receive those two glorious and everlasting badges of our victory, a crown set upon our head, having this written upon it, It endureth for ever— a motto which could never be engraven upon any crown here below; and a palm put into our hands; then indeed we shall sing, as those that divide the spoil, when we have led captivity captive, and sat down upon a throne which is established for And we conceive, much divine reflection and holy contemplation upon that precious recompense of reward, and that high

ever.

and inconceivable pitch of dignity, unto which believers and overcomers are to be advanced, would make us with much more cheerfulness and alacrity undergo this spiritual warfare. And yet all our triumphing is not suspended till our war be ended: believe me, there is more real joy in the victory and vanquishing of one lust; yea, more divine satisfaction in a serious pursuit and contending with them, though with very small success to our apprehension, than in the actual enjoyment and fruition of all thy lusts. Thou mayest hide sin under thy tongue, and have it pleasant to thy taste, yet at last it shall be as the gall of asps, and the poison of dragons. O! put out so much holy generosity and spiritual ambition, that though Satan should offer unto thee all the kingdoms of the world, to fall down to him and worship him, thou mayest cry out in holy zeal and indignation, Get thee behind me, Satan. O that deceitful oratory and malicious guile wherewith he ensnareth immortal souls, and brings them in subjection! O but the depths of Satan are subtile and great! and he is a man of understanding that can draw them out, and not be ignorant of his devices; and except we be helped by the candle of the Lord, that discovereth the inward parts of the belly, to know these mysterious subtilties of him whose name is a deceiver, they will remain still riddles and mysteries unto

us.

But since we are compassed about with this body of death, and there is a law in our members rebelling against the law of our mind, we should be much in groaning for the day of our redemption, when the lawful captive may be delivered, and the prey taken from the mighty, and that blessed decree may come forth, O prisoners of hope, go forth and show yourselves! We are afraid that the Christians of this generation have proclaimed a cessation of arms, and have concluded a treaty of peace with their lusts, and a league not only offensive, but (shall I add this) even defensive; not only that we shall not offend our lusts, but shall defend them: and if once we have sealed this treaty and agreement with our idols, what can they require more at our hands? we conceive, we may sadly allude unto that word, There is not one amongst forty thousand in Israel, with whom there is a spear and shield seen, in contending in this holy warfare. O can such a delusion as this overtake you, that ye can be an overcomer without fighting! Is your strength- greater than those who have gone before you, that you think you can accomplish this war in one day, and pursue your enemies till ye overtake and consume them? O when shall that day be, when we shall be groaning out daily this mournful ditty, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

In the words we conceive, First, There is a sweet and pleasant emphasis in that word me; speaking this much, that if infinite power and grace were capable of any limitation, and there could be any bounds fixed to it, Paul did conceive he was the bounds and limits of infinite power and grace; if there were an impossibility for grace to save any sinner, it should be impossible for grace to have saved him, who was the chiefest of sinners, and less than the least of all saints. And if each Christian did look upon himself as the greatest