36. That those precious promises, which are given to insure his happiness, do not supersede those directions which are laid down for him to seek after happiness

Another principle by which a believer should walk, is this: That those precious promises, which are given to insure his happiness, do not supersede those directions which are laid down for him to seek after happiness.

Thus saith the Lord, I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them. As those under the law were not without a gospel to save them; so those who are under the gospel are not without a law to rule them. There is the same impropriety in divorcing those who are united, as in uniting those who are divorced.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Continued gospel importunity, is the most powerful oratory. Man's importunity has no meritorious claim upon God; God has a right to the former, but we have no right to the latter. He who

Q 3 enables us to find him, enjoins us to seek him. The Lord delights neither to see us slothful seekers, nor doubtful seekers.

He who refuses to hear the voice of Christ, shall never see the face of Christ. He that saith, he abideth in him; ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. Then only does the watch of our lives move regularly, when the hand of mercy winds it up. The law condemns those as criminals, who lay claim to the crown royal, when they are not of the blood royal. Many would be like Christ in bliss, who would not be like him by grace. They are willing to have those promises which confirm them in happiness, but dislike those precepts which are to regulate their conduct.

The Lord is our Judge; the Lord is our Law-giver; the Lord is our King; he will save us. Wheresoever the Lord is a Priest for pardon, he is a Prince for dominion. He is always a Ruler, where he is a Saviour. As Jesus Christ is the foundation of our happiness, so is he the fountain of all our holiness.

Reader, remember, if Christ be not a refiner's fire in you, he will be a consuming fire to you. Those mine enemies, who would not that I should reign over them, bring them hither, and slay them before me. Thus, if you refuse him to reign over you, he will refuse you to reign with him.

As many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them. To tread in any other path on earth, is to miss your way to heaven. If the golden chains of love to God do not bind you to duty, the iron chain of darkness will bind you eternally. He who abuses his liberty in one world, will for ever lose it in another.

Blessed are they who do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life. To look upon a promise without a precept, is the high road to presumption; to look upon a precept without a promise, is the high road to desperation. One is like the cork in the net, to preserve it from sinking; and the other is like lead to the net, to keep it from floating.

A believer is like the mariner's compass; which is governed by the constant heavens, and not by the variable winds. Reader, will you make him a stone of stumbling, whom God has made a stone to build upon? Remember, the fire can consume the dross, as well as refine the gold. The strength of a rock is seen not only in supporting the house which is built upon it, but in breaking the ships which dash against it. The pillar of a cloud was as terrible in the darkness it occasioned to the Egyptians, as it was glorious in the light it gave to the Israelites.

Whenever Christ takes the burden of guilt from a sinner's shoulders, he then lays a yoke of obedience upon his neck. Though God can give a pardon to the greatest sin, yet he cannot grant a patronage to the least sin. To be lascivious, because God is gracious; what is this, but to drown yourself in that river, in which you should wash yourself? To live a life of gospel obedience, is the liberty of God's children; but to give your licentious appetite the reins, is the bondage of Satan's slaves.

That soul was never related to Christ, who was never devoted to Christ. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father, who is in heaven. Subjection to the will of God is not only a test of our present duty, but it is also an evidence of our future glory. To expect to see God in heaven, and not to seek him on earth, is as foolish as if a husbandman should throw his plough into the hedge, and then look for a rich harvest.

Sitting birds are the fowler's marks; while those which soar as the eagle are in safety. When men are out of the way of their worldly callings, it is easy to call them out of their heavenly way. God works with and without means. With, that man should not be indolent; and without, that he should not be self-confident. Jacob makes his prayers to an heavenly Father, and yet presents his gifts to an angry brother. David went out against Goliah in the name of the God of Israel, and yet repaired to the brook for his smooth stones.

The sword of Joshua must go with the prayers of Moses, and the prayers of Moses accompany the sword of Joshua. Had they fought and not prayed, they would have obtained no victory, because God will not be neglected: had they prayed and not fought, they would have obtained no victory, because he will not be tempted.

This is he who came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ. He did not come by water without any blood, or by blood without any water. He came not to pardon and to leave the soul unpurged; or to purge and to leave it unpardoned. Wheresoever the death of Christ clears a soul from guilt, the spirit of Christ cleanses that soul from filth. A man may be justified without immediate glorification; but not without concomitant sanctification. The law by which God rules us, is as dear to him as the gospel by which he saves us.

Many would use faith as an eye to see with, but not as a foot to walk with. They look for the crown of victory, but are unwilling to fight the good fight of faith. That faith which sets men to oppose their internal enemies, sets God also to oppose their external adversaries. Prayer is the midwife of the promises. The promises are wells of comfort to the church, and believing prayer is the vessel to draw the water out of the wells.

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