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 Reprefentation of the Cafe of a Soul, which, finding itfelt 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 fecure our Building whilft we have Time to do it. Ah, foolish Man! who hears thy Word, How infinite the Ruin is Of a loft Soul, cut off from thee! WHEN the Even was come, they brought unto him many that were poffeffed with Devils; and he caft out the Spirits with his Word, and healed all that were fick. Mat. viii. 16. O my God, make the Sinner throughly fenfible that he falls into the Power of the Devil, when he refufes to have Thee for his Lord and Mafter. The Poffeffed with Devils are not to be feen without Horror: but what is this Poffeffion, if compared to that of the Soul? How terrible to the Devil is the Word of Jefus Chrift! Let us with Faith and Confidence employ it against his Temptations. Let us blefs God for having left this Word to his People, to be the Scourge of the Devil. It is Chriftian Prudence, by conftant Reading to fill our Hearts therewith, to the End that the Devil may always meet there with this Safeguard and Defence. which the Word of God in the Mouth of Christ, performs in a Moment, it performs by Degrees in the Sinner who feeds upon it. O the Goodness of Chrift! not to reject any fick Perfon. O wonderful Power! to heal them all. Let none therefore despair under the Sight and Senfe of their Miferies. That My felf no longer let me be IF F I caft out Devils by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God is come unto you. Mat. xii. 28. 301 None but Chrift can deftroy the Kingdom of the Devil. Wherever the Spirit of God is, there is alfo the Kingdom of God. --- The Deftruction of That of Satan, is a Proof, and an Effect of the Incarnation. --- Chrift by freeing the Bodies of the Poffeffed, fhews plainly what he came to do in the Soul. Exert thy Power upon mine, O Jefus, and by thy Spirit prevent all the Attempts against thy Rights, which the evil Spirit would other wife there make. Speak the Word, and we fhall be From all our Bands releas'd; By Satan long oppreft: Q avenge us of our Foe, For ever bruife his Head. Come, O come, all-gracious LORD, Bare thine Arm, and give the Blow, O For ever bruise his Head. OR R elfe, how can one enter into a ftrong Man's House, and fpoil his Goods, except he firft bind the strong Man? and then he will spoil his Houfe. Mat. xii. 29. Men, thro' Sin, are become the House of Satan, having, of their own Accord, furrendered themselves up to the unjuft Poffeffor. --Whoever gives up his Soul to Sin, gives it up to the Devil. Chrift alone can deliver from this Bondage, and bind the Power of this Strong One. --- Return into thy Houfe, and into thy Rights, O my God; and take Poffeffion again by Chrift of my Heart and Mind, and of all the good Things wherewith thou haft been pleased to furnish me. Stronger than the ftrong Man, Thou His Fury can't controul, Satan's Kingdom overthrow, On all the Pow'rs of Darkness tread, O avenge us of our Foe, For ever bruise his Head. HE E that is not with me, is against me; and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth abroad. Mat. xii. 39. In vain do Men seek for Ways of Accommodation to foften the Gospel. There is no Medium between loving God, and being his Enemy; between belonging to Chrift, or to the Devil; between being governed by the Love of Chrift, or by Self-love. If we would belong to Chrift as we ought, we must give ourselves entirely to him: He alone has paid down the Price for us, He alone ought to be our Lord When Jefus Chrift, his Truth, his Precepts, and his Children, are openly affaulted, how can a Man avoid declaring for them, without incurring the Guilt of deserting and betraying them? How many are there in the World who are really against Chrift and fcatter abroad, who yet flatter themfelves, that they are Workers together with him, and in the Number of his Friends ? By not appearing on thy Side And dar'd my Lord oppofe : But lo, henceforward I abhor The bafe Neutrality, Wage 'gainst thy Foes eternal War, |