A ND if thy right Hand offend thee, cut it off, and caft it from thee for it is profitable for thee that one of thy Members fhould perish, and not that thy whole Body fhould be caft into Hell. Mat. v. 30. This is to fhut the Gate against the Enemy, namely, to fhut our Senfes against dangerous Objects, to avoid the Occafions of Sin, and to deprive ourfelves of ALL that is most dear to us, in order to fave our Souls. Men often part with the Members of the Body, at the Discretion of a Surgeon, that they may preferve the Trunk, and die a little later, and yet they will not deprive themselves of a Look, a Touch, a fmall Pleafure, to fave the Soul, and fecure themselves from dying eternally. It is not enough to fhut the Eye, nor to ftop the Hand; the one must be plucked out, and the other cut off. Neither is this yet enough, we muft caft them both from us. Not one Moment's Truce with Luft, it must be rooted up and destroy'd. Forbid it, Lord, that I fhould ftrive Rather from all I leave behind, Mine Idols to conceal, Or keep one Bofom-Luft alive, My naked Soul fhall flee, WHofoever heareth these Sayings of mine, and doth them, I will liken him unto a wife Man which built his House upon a Rock. Mat. vii. 24. We must build upon the Rock, which is Jefus Chrift, doing that Good by Love which we know by Faith.--- True Wisdom confifts in working on the Building of our Salvation, in making it firm, by keeping close to the Word and the Maxims of the Gospel, and in conforming our Lives thereto. And when, in order to this, we lean upon nothing but the Grace of Chrift, we then build upon a folid Rock. Rock of everlafting Love, I build my Hoafe in Thee; On thy dying Love I ftand, I hear thy Words and keep them toe, A ND the Rain defcended, and the Floods came, and the Winds blew, and beat upon that House: and it fell not, for it was founded upon a Rock. Mat. vii. 25. It is the Practice of the Word of God, which renders our Calling and Election fure, and which fecures our Salvation against the Divine Wrath and the laft Judgement. There are three Kinds of Trials and Temptations. 1. Those of temporal Afflictions, which come from above like the Rain. 2. Those which proceed from the Paffions of Men, which are like Floods. 3. Thofe which, like impetuous Winds, arise from the Devil -- It is Love, and not Light alone, which can enable us to stand against so Temptations. Let the Rain defcend, the Flood The Houfe can never fail: many Built on CHRIST the Rock it ftands, Man, who keeps his God's Commands, ND every one that them not, shall be his House upon the Sand. heareth these Sayings of mine, and doth likened unto a foolish Man which built Mat. vii. 26. He who knows and does not, builds upon the Sand and is a Fool. --- How many Fools on Earth pafs for Men of Wifdom! and very often he who pities them is himself of the Number. --- It is a great Misfortune not to know the Gospel; but it is a greater to know its Truths, and to make no Use of them. Render us faithful in this Matter, O eternal Wisdom, and give us that Wisdom which confifts in knowing how to be saved. Lord, tho' thou fill my Flesh withPain, I muft thy Righteoufnefs declare, With Bitterness my Cup, And let me in my Sins remain To fill the Measure up: Whate'er on Earth 1 feel, Who am not yet in Hell. AND the Rain defcended, and the Floods came, and the Winds blew, and beat upon that House: and it fell, and great was the Fall of it. Mat. vii, 27. This is a lively Representation of the Cafe of a Soul, which, finding itself at the Hour of Death without that Faith which works by Love, has nothing to reft upon. --- Knowledge alone cannot fupport a Soul against Temptations, nor against the Judgement of God: it will ferve only to overwhelm it the more. The Fall of the Soul is irreparable, and without Remedy, after this Life. Let us ftrengthen and secure our Building whilst we have Time to do it. Ah, foolish Man! who hears thyWord, |