7. It follows, that none of these wandering thoughts (whatever unwary persons have affirmed, thereby grieving whom the Lord had not grieved) are inconsistent with perfect love. Indeed if they were, then not only sharp pain, but sleep itself would be inconsistent with it: sharp pain; for whenever this supervenes, whatever we were before thinking of, it will interrupt our thinking, and of course draw our thoughts into another channel: yea, and sleep itself, as it is a state of insensibility and stupidity: and such as is generally mixed with thoughts wandering over the earth, loose, wild, and incoherent. Yet certainly these are consistent with perfect love: so then are all wandering thoughts of this kind.

IV. 1. From what has been observed, it is easy to give a clear answer to the last question, What kind of wandering thoughts may we expect and pray to be delivered from?

From the former sort of wandering thoughts, those wherein the heart wanders from God; from all that are contrary to his will, or that leave us without God in the world, every one that is perfect in love, is unquestionably delivered. This deliverance, therefore, we may expect: this we may, we ought to pray for. Wandering thoughts of this kind imply unbelief, if not enmity against God. But both of these he will destroy, will bring utterly to an eud. And indeed, from all sinful wandering thoughts we shall be absolutely delivered. All that are perfected in love are delivered from these; else they were not saved from sin. Men and devils will tempt them all manner of ways. But they cannot prevail over them.

2. With regard to the latter sort of wandering thoughts, the case is widely different. Till the cause be removed, we cannot in reason expect the effect should cease. But the causes or occasions of these will remain, as long as we remain in the body. So long therefore we have all reason to believe, the effects will remain also.

3. To be more particular. Suppose a soul, however holy, to dwell in a distempered body. Suppose the brain be so thoroughly disordered, as that raging madness follows:

will not all the thoughts be wild and unconnected, as long as that disorder continues? Suppose a fever occasions that temporary madness, which we term a delirium, can there be any just connection of thought, till that delirium be removed? Yea, suppose what is called a nervous disorder to rise to so high a degree, as to occasion, at least, a partial madness, will there not be a thousand wandering thoughts? And must not these irregular thoughts continue, as long as the disorder which occasions them?

4. Will not the case be the same, with regard to those thoughts which necessarily arise from violent pain? They will more or less continue, while that pain continues, by the inviolable order of nature. This order likewise will obtain, where the thoughts are disturbed, broken, or interrupted, by any defect of the apprehension, judgment, or imagination, flowing from the natural constitution of the body. And how many interruptions may spring from the unaccountable and involuntary association of our ideas? Now all these are directly or indirectly caused by the corruptible body pressing down the mind. Nor therefore can we expect them to be removed, till "this corruptible shall put on incorruption.

5. And then only, when we lie down in the dust, shall we be delivered from those wandering thoughts which are occasioned by what we see and hear, among those by whom we are now surrounded. To avoid these, we must go out of the world. For as long as we remain therein, as long as there are men and women round about us, and we have cyes to see, and ears to hear, the things which we daily see and hear, will certainly affect our minds, and will more or less break in upon and interrupt our preceding thoughts.

6. And as long as evil spirits roam to and fro in a miserable, disordered world, so long they will assault (whether they can prevail or not) every inhabitant of flesh and blood. They will trouble even those whom they cannot destroy they will attack, if they cannot conquer. And from these attacks, of our restless, unwearied enemies, we must not look for an entire deliverance, till we are lodged

"where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the weary are at rest.'

7. To sum up the whole: To expect deliverance from those wandering thoughts, which are occasioned by evil spirits, is to expect that the devil should die or fall asleep; or at least should no more go about as a roaring lion. To expect deliverance from those which are occasioned by other men, is to expect either that men should cease from the earth; or that we should be absolutely secluded from them, and have no intercourse with them; or that having eyes we should not see, neither hear with our ears, but be as senseless as stocks or stones. And to pray for deliverance from those which are occasioned by the body, is in effect to pray that we may leave the body. Otherwise it is praying for impossibilities and absurdities; praying that God would reconcile contradictions, by continuing our union with a corruptible body, without the natural, necessary consequences of that union. It is as if we should pray to be angels and men, mortal and immortal at the same time. Nay, but when that which is immortal is come, mortality is done away.

8. Rather let us pray both with the spirit and with the understanding, that "all these things may work together for our good: "that we may suffer all the infirmities of our nature, all the interruptions of men, all the assaults and suggestions of evil spirits, and in all be "more than conquerors." Let us pray, That we may be delivered from all sin, that both root and branch may be destroyed: that we may be "cleansed from all pollution of flesh and spirit," from every evil temper, and word, and work: that we may "love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our mind, with all our soul, and with all our strength;" that all the fruits of the Spirit may be found in us; not only love, joy, peace; but also "long-suffering, gentleness, goodness; fidelity, meekness, temperance.' Pray that all "these things may flourish and abound, may increase in you more and more, till an abundant entrance be ministered unto you, into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ."

SERMON XLIV.

ON SATAN'S DEVICES.

2 CORINTHIANS II. 11.

"We are not ignorant of his devices."

1. THE devices whereby the wise god of this world labours to destroy the children of God, or, at least, to torment whom he cannot destroy, to perplex and hinder them in running the race which is set before them, are numberless as the stars of heaven, or the sand upon the sea-shore. But it is of one of them only that I now propose to speak, (although exerted in various ways) whereby he endeavours to divide the gospel against itself, and by one part of it to overthrow the other.

2. The inward kingdom of heaven, which is set up in the hearts of all that repent and believe the gospel, is no other than "righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." Every babe in Christ knows we are made partakers of these, the very hour that we believe in Jesus. But these are only the first-fruits of his Spirit: the harvest is not yet. Although these blessings are inconceivably great, yet we trust to see greater things than these. We trust to love the Lord our God, not only as we do now, with a weak though sincere affection, but "with all our heart, with all our mind, with all our soul, and with all our strength." We

look for power to "rejoice evermore, to pray without ceasing, and in every thing to give thanks;" knowing, "this is the will of God concerning us in Christ Jesus."

3. We expect to be "made perfect in love," in that which casts out all painful fear, and all desire but that of glorifying him we love, of loving and serving him more and more. We look for such an increase in the experimental knowledge and love of God our Saviour, as will enable us always"to walk in the light, as he is in the light." We believe the whole mind will be in us which was also in Christ Jesus: that we shall love every man, so as to be ready to lay down our lives for his sake:" so as by this love to be freed from anger, and pride, and from every unkind affection. We expect to be "cleansed from all our idols, from all filthiness, whether of flesh or spirit:" to be "saved from all our uncleannesses," inward or outward; to be "purified, as he is pure."

4. We trust in his promise who cannot lie, that the time will surely come, when in every word and work we shall do his blessed Will on earth, as it is done in heaven: when all our conversation shall be seasoned with salt, all meet to minister grace to the hearers: when, whether we eat, or drink, or whatsoever we do, it shall be done to the glory of God: when all our words and deeds shall be " in the Name of the Lord Jesus, while we give thanks unto God, even to God the Father, through him."

5. Now this is the grand device of Satan, to destroy the first work of God in the soul, or, at least, to hinder its increase, by our expectation of that greater work. It is therefore my present design, First, To point out the several ways whereby he endeavours this: and, Secondly, To observe how we may retort these fiery darts of the wicked one: how we may rise higher, by what he intends for an occasion of our falling.

I. 1. 1 am, First, to point out the several ways whereby Satan endeavours to destroy the first work of God in the soul, or, at least, to hinder its increase, by our expectation of that greater work. And, 1. He endeavours to damp our