The Necessity of Christian Resolution
The necemty qf Christian resolution to upright persevering obediefice g how fidl and extensive it ought to be J and yet humble; by what means we may be assisted to perform that which we resolve*
Having acknowledged my transgressions unto God, and begged forgiveness, and experimentally learned the evil of sin, by the bitterness of
Hiance» I resoWe for the future, to watch against it more narrowly, and against every thing that leads to it: endeavouring to please and honour my God and Saviour, by an upright, obedient, heart and life. And, for the remission of ray former contracted gailt, I trust to Jesus Christ, according to the revelation, made in the gospel, of what he is, hath done and suffered, and continues to do in heaven, for the salvation of repenting sinners, who desire to come unto God by him.
But how often, O my soul! have I mocked God, and deceived myself with formal and faint purposes of amendment! My good resolutions have been all of them “as the* morning cloud, and the early dew, which quickly passed away.” One fresh assault of temptation hath swept away all my good purposes as a spider’s web. I have falsified so many, and broken my word so often, that I dare not trust to any thing I now resolve, or rely on any promises I should far* ther make. Succour me, therefore, O Lord, by thy powerful grace, that what was defective in my former fruitless resolutions may be now rectified. Let me be more humble in the sense of my weakness, more dependent on thy grace, and more heartily seek it, from time to time. Strengthen me with strength in my soul, with might and power in my inward man, that I may so resolve and purpose as to perform; that I may not be one day hot and the next cold; zealous in the beginning, but faint and lukewarm in the progress; fervent and serious only in resolving, but wehk and impotent in the execution.
Having changed my master, my end, and my hojies by retarmog unto God, {rora nvWtxi W^
h3 gone astray, I firmly resolve, through the assistan of his grace, to change my course of life; that, “o. things being done away, all things may become new; that, “being made free from sin,” by pardoning mercy, “and become the servant of Christ, I miq have my fruit unto holiness, that my end may be eternal life.” In the interim, whether I live or die, let it be unto the Lord, resolving, both in life and death, to be absolutely his. And, to that purpose,
my soul! let me seek for continual supplies of grace from Christ my head, to enable me to yield ready obedience in the most difficult, hazardous, painful, and humbling duties. In vain do I resolve it, without the assistance of his mighty power, to strengthen my heart and hands, whenever I am called to such a trial of my sincerity. Without it
1 shall never recover my liberty, or break asunder those bands and cords, wherewith I have formerly been held captive, as the servant of sin and Satan. Such are the weakness and treachery of my own heart, the influence of ill examples,’ and the subtlety and cunning of the tempter, that otherwise I shall quickly change my mind, and return to folly as the dog to his vomit. The spirit is so weak, and the flesh so frail; the snares of the world so many, the power of remaining corruption so strong; and of myself I am so unsettled and wavering, fickle vnd unsteady, and prone to backsliding, that all my strongest purposes will not be sufficient, without daily strength from above. My senses are so deceitful; my passions so ungovernable; the rule and law I am to walk by, so strict, and spiritual, and extensive; criminal omissions may be so frecyient and so easily overlooked; so many several and diflScuIt duties are to be performed; and, by every change of my condition, or of God’s providence, so many new dangers and new duties may arise; that I fear the issue of my firmest resolutions. So strict a watch must always be kept; such humility and caution are every where to be practised; such speedy repentance required after every fall; with thankfulness and contentment in every state, under all calamities, be they ever so many, or ever so pinching’; and perseverance, herein absolutely necessary, though ever so many stratagems be used to discourage me from proceeding, or to entice me to go back, or turn aside to some other path; insomuch that, if God had not promised me his continued presence, and that his grace shall be sufficient for me, and that I shall not be tempted above what I am able to bear, I should utterly despair of making good what I now resolve. But, besides these promises to encourage my resolved obedience, he hath left upon record, in his word, many glorious examples of his assisting and rewarding the courage and resolution of his servants to continue faithful; as in the case of Joseph, Daniel, and his three friends, &c. If Christ stand by and strengthen me, I know I shall be able to do all things; I shall not then be flattered or affrighted out of the way of my duty; no wind that can blow shall then turn me to another point; nothing shall then be able to prevail for my consent to a wilful and deliberate forsaking of God; no argument, no temptation; though privacy, opportunity, impunity firom men, with rewards of worldly gain and honour, should all concur to enforce a temptation. ^lx.)>Qi that btavnly MiUtapcy I shall b« prM«rvod faumUe tmperat, chaste, patient, thankful, sel&denying, crucified to the world, and bold fa«t my integrity till I die; still perfecting Iiolioesa in the fear of God, growing in grace, and in the knowledge of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ; waxing stronger from day to day* be seldomer surprised, offend less, repent OQore quickly, and watch more narrowly afterwards, till at last I receive the crown«
Especially, let me watch against my conatitotional sins, such as 1 am most inclined to, and where a temptation doth most easily enter; where the devil can take the fastest bold, and be least suspected; where he hath formerly sprung a mine and made a breach. J have known some humble watchful Christians, after being recovered from their backslidings, who abhorred every temptation to that sin by which they had been defiled and wounded; they can hardly put up a prayer, but they mention it; hardly have their hearts affected in any ordinance, but they are inwardly ashamed of it; hardly hear of any one guilty of the like, but they are ready to burst out into tears.
Fi^9 therefore, I beseech thee, most gracious God!
my unfeigned resolutions of cleaving to thee with
full purpose of heart, and show thy strength in my
weakness, by enabling me to do what I now resolve!
To that end, teach me to watch over my heart, to
keep it with all diligence, to be more conversant
with my own thoughts, examine the motiona that
arise in my heart, whence they come, and whither
they go, and what they tend to, that I may auppreas
the beginnings of aiut The unsearchable deQtitful-> nd8S of the hartf the rovings, straggliogi, and wanderiogSy of the thoughts, the ungoveruable mo* tions and stirringf of the passions and affections, with the corrupt inclinations that are ready to comply with temptation, make such a constant watchfulness necessary. Let me live no longer as a stranger to myself, but by self-reflection dwell more at home, reckoning my principle work to be within doors, to keep my own vineyard. Teach me to watch over my senses, to guard the door of my lips, to govern my passions; to be wary in the choice of my company, and in the right use of it; to be circumspect in every step of my daily walk, to call myself fre* quently to a reckoning, to cast up my accounts at the foot of every page, (by every day’s review of my actions,) to live always as in God’s presence, and be awed every where by the thought of his holy eye, to shun the occasions and appearances of evil, &c.
By a neglect of this, spiritual distempers will insensibly creep upon us. There is such a venom, and malignity, in sin, to wound and weaken the soul, to put us off the hinges, to disorder and unfit us for any spiritual service, to make our hearts vain and frothy, lasy and listless, that we shall easily let slip our opportunities, lose our seasons, and languish and pine away, notwithstanding all the means of thriving and growth. And hence it is, that so many professors mourn and complain, lick the dust, and lie among the clods, are dead under the most awakening minbtry, and barren under the roost fruitful means. Hence it is they do little good, as well as taste little comlbrt; some duties are neglected, and others performed slightly; and in none of theuv do 0^^^ xcix.
with that sweetness and satisfaction, that refreshment and advantage, fruit and benefit, as formerly. And all from the neglect of watchfulness, making bold with temptation, and not standing upon their guard in the use of their Christian armour.
And, because no place, no condition, no employment, is exempted from temptations, let me fortify myself every morning, against all assaults for that day, by serious prayer, as holy David was wont to do: “My voice (saith he) shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” Let the law of God be my daily and delightful study, that I may be able presently to bring my words and actions to the touchstone; and know how to manage the sword of the Spirit, on all occasions, against the fiery “darts of the devil;” that, knowing the rule, I may not be doubtful, or at a loss: whenever I am tempted, I may not make a stand to parley, but immediately summon all my forces to resist and reject the snare; being assured from God, that the continuance of this warfare shall end in a most glorious victory. “He will shortly tread down Satan under my feet* Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ, my Lord.”