OF XXVI. Creation's groans confidered and im- Rom. viii. 22." For we know that the whole Numb. xiv. 24.-" But my fervant Caleb, because he had another fpirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land where- unto he went, and his feed fhall poffefs it." XXX. The same subject continued, XXXIII. The ftatute-law of difcipleship, Iuke xiv. 26." If any man come to me, and hate. not his father and mother," &c. XXXIV. The same subject continued, Heb. x. 22." Let us draw near with a true heart, in the full affurance of faith," &c. XXXVIII. The fame fubject continued, XXXIX. The fame fubject continued, XLI. The fame fubject continued, XLII. The fame fubject continued, SERM ON S. THE EVIL AND DANGER OF HALTING SERMON XXV. 1 KINGS, xvi. 21.-Elijah faid, How long halt IN N the ordinance of the Lord's fupper, there is to be feen Jacob's ladder, with its foot fet on the earth, and the top thereof reaching unto heaven, Gen. xxviii. 12. We trust ye have been effaying to mount it, though perhaps ye are yet not far from the ground. O that ye may have freely entered upon the first step! I muft, however, warn you, whoever ye be, that are looking upwards towards the place to which the top VOL. II. A reaches, *This difcourfe was delivered immediately after the celebration of the Lord's Supper, in Maxton, Auguft 3. 1718. reaches, namely, heaven, that there is fuch a voice to you from heaven in our text, as came to David from the caftle of Zion, when he fet himself to win it, 2 Sam. v. 6. “ Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither." 1ft, Unless the blind mind and heart that is still wavering in the choice betwixt the Lord and idols be taken away, and thou canst be determined abfolutely and finally for the Lord, ye cannot come in hither. Of this we have difcourfed already *.-There is a fecond voice. Except the lame feet whereby one is still going from fide to fide in practice, betwixt the Lord and idols, be taken away, you cannot come in hither. To this we are now to attend, in confidering, DOCT. II. That an unequal and an unfteady walk, here-away there-away, betwixt the Lord and idols, is an unaccountable and abominable way of walking through the world. In difcourfing from this, it is proposed to shew, III. The causes of this unfteady walking; when we shall also point out fome remedies against it. IV. Make fome improvement.-I am, 1. To fhew what is to be accounted fuch a walking. 1. Random-walking is fuch a walking: Lev. xxvi. 21. “ And if ye walk contrary to me, and will not hearken unto me, I will bring seven times more plagues upon you, according to your fins." The original word, contrary, may be rendered, as by accident, at random, at all adven tures. * See Vol. I. p. 389. There is a generation that are at best but. random-customers to religion, who take no more of it than they readily meet with. Their religion fits fo light on them, that in their way through the world they take it as it comes to them. As the fashion of the time turns, they face as the ftream runs about. They conform themselves to the. taste and humour of whatever company they fall in with; they become a prey to every temptation, and are picked up like straying beasts by the first finder. Beware of this; that day ye get to heaven in this way, God and Baal fhall be reconciled. Set up your mark in religion, and prefs unto it. Lay down a principle for God, and hold by it, however times, companies, or temptations may feduce you: Phil. iii. 15. "I prefs towards the mark for the prize of the high-calling of God in Chrift Jefus." Acts, xi. 23. " And exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should cleave unto the Lord;" that is, abide by his fide with full purpose, laid down and determined beforehand. I obferve, tures. 2. Wavering-walking is fuch a walking: Heb.. x. 23. "Let us hold faft the profeffion of our faith, without wavering." When men are ftill unsettled in their way, hither and thither, are wavering in their purposes and practice, one day. for God, another for the devil, and their lufts. like men in an ague, with their hot and cold fits by turns, at one time deftroying what at another time they were building up, they are never fixed. Hence they will be one day at the table of the Lord, another at the table of drunkards. Like water-fowls, fometimes they will be foaring aloft towards heaven in the exercises of religion, and quickly again fwimming in their lufts, and over head and ears in the cares, profits, pleasures, and vanities A 2 |
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