standing. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength'." He, Christian brethren, will not permit us, if we be faithful, to sink beneath the load of that sin, which unrepented of, would work our ruin. Moreover, in mourning we shall find a blessing. For, 2" when the heart is made tender and soft by a long exercise of mortification, a less temptation troubles it more, than formerly a greater would." And "none so much complain of the strength and power of their sins, as those, in whom it is unto some good degree mortified; because they have that contrary principle of grace in them, which makes them sensible of the least risings and motions" of sinful lusts and appetites. In such, sin, though it remain, like the Canaanites in the land, is made subject after the fashion of the Gibeonites. In our mourning, then, as I said, we shall find a blessing. And besides, looking to the Author and Finisher of our faith, we see that "we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin 3." And then, "In that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted"." What have we then to do, but to drink of the brook by the way,-to humble ourselves that we may be exalted in due time. Thus prepared,-sanctified by the Spirit to the fullest and most assured faith in the atoning blood of Christ, – 1 Isa. xl. 28, 29. 2 See Bp. Hopkins' Works, "The Great Duty of Mortification," vol. iii. pp. 510, 511. 3 Heb. iv. 15. * Ibid. ii. 18. we shall be ready to strike our tents and depart hence. "Then, all tears shall be wiped out of our eyes, and all sins wiped out of our hearts. Now is the time of our warfare, and every battle that we fight is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; then shall we for ever triumph, and sing an eternal song of victory, clothed in garments made white with the blood of the Lamb. Now we are at a perpetual discord with ourselves; thoughts bandying against thoughts; affections against affections; will against will; and all within us in an uproar and tumult: but then an eternal peace and calm shall fill our souls; not a thought shall whisper rebellion: the whole tide and current of our wills and affections, with a full and undisturbed stream, shall run into that boundless ocean of all felicity, even God himself "." "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord"." And the "God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen 7" 66 "O Lord, we beseech thee, mercifully hear our prayer, and spare all those who confess their sins unto thee; that they, whose consciences by sin are accused, by thy merciful pardon may be absolved; through Christ our Lord. Amen "." 8 62 Cor. vii. 1. 8 Collect Com. Serv. "Much hurt hath grown to the Church of God through a false imagination, that fasting standeth men in no stead for any spiritual respect, but only to take down the frankness of nature, and to tame the worldliness of flesh. Whereupon the world being bold to surfeit, doth now blush to fast, supposing that men, when they fast, do rather bewray a disease than exercise a virtue.” Hooker, Eccles. Pol. v. 72. have we committed, the and yet clean pass them “O Lord, what heaps of grievous transgressions best, the perfectest, the most righteous amongst us over unsorrowed for, and unrepented of, only because the Church hath forgotten utterly how to bestow her wonted times of discipline, wherein the public example of all was unto every particular person a most effectual means to put them often in mind, and even in a manner to draw them to that which now we all quite and clean forget, as if penitency were no part of a Christian man's duty."-Ibid. "Repentance is not, like the summer fruits, fit to be taken a little, and in their own time; it is like bread, the provision and support of our life, the entertainment of every day, but it is the bread of affliction' to some, and 'the bread of carefulness' to all; and he that preaches this with the greatest zeal, and the greatest severity, it may be, he takes the liberty of an enemy, but he gives the counsel and assistance of a friend."-Jer. Taylor. Beus propitius esto mihi peccatori! JOEL ii. 13. "Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God." IT needs scarce be observed that the rending of Reuben, for example, the vesture was a sign of woe. when he returned unto the pit, "and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit,-rent his clothes." Jacob, likewise, when the coat of many colours was brought unto him stained with blood, "rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days1." This rending of their garments betokened the rending of their heart. But sorrow, Christian brethren, is not always real, and many there be, who though outwardly appearing to mourn, have nevertheless no searchings of heart. The inward man is not moved. Hence the exhortation of our blessed Lord, "When ye fast, be not, as VOL. I. 1 Gen. xxxviii. 34. Ꮓ |