such they are a direct resistance to the Spirit of love, joy, and peace; and, therefore, become actual sins and specific matter of repentance. Now if we can trace in ourselves the increase of these indulged feelings in frequency, duration, or power, we may justly fear that we are not advancing. But if not, then let all other feelings of fear, discouragement, and sadness, be cast away as temptations against faith, hope, and love, the three great gifts of the Holy Spirit, the three fountains of obedience and perseverance. There is an unclean Spirit of sadness, which is a special enemy of Christians; and the most subtil of all, because so like an angel of light. It is he that comes and personates the angel of repentance, to lead us into deeps, where we may "be swallowed up of overmuch sorrow." This is the sorrow that worketh death;" but "we are not ignorant of his devices." 991 2. And then, having reduced our self-examination to definite points, let us, from the sins we have so detected, choose out some one against which to direct our chief watchfulness and strength. Whatever be our besetting sin, let us take that; be it our worst, or our oldest, or the sin we oftenest commit. With that for awhile let our whole contest lie. As the king of Syria com 1 2 Cor. ii. 11. 2 2 Cor. vii. 10. manded the captains of his chariots, "Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel;" so let us turn the whole of our care, watchfulness, and recollection, upon that one. The benefit of such a rule is, that it strengthens our self-discipline, by bringing it all to bear at once upon one point. Our chief danger is vagueness, and the weakness of wandering up and down without aim, plan, or perseverance. In this way we shall overcome no sin. Like an army making scattered and unsupported attacks over the whole seat of war, instead of concentrating its strength, by solidity and unity of force, for some decisive stroke; so when people try to overcome all their sins at once, they are overcome themselves by each in turn. And, further: the self-discipline required to conquer one sin is as full and as complete as if we were engaged against the whole array. The very same habits of mind are all called into action, and a twofold good is the result; first, that while we are consciously engaged only with one, we really are, at the same time, more effectively keeping down the rest; and next, that when one is mastered, the whole principle of self-discipline has gained the victory over the whole principle of sin. In conquering one, we have virtually conquered all. In taking the king, we 1 1 Kings xxii. 31. Great conversions been wrought by We read of some If, have scattered all the host. even of hardened sinners have the observance of a single rule. whose whole change of life began by saying once a-day, "God be merciful to me a sinner;' or by kissing the ground every day, and saying, "Tomorrow I may be dead;" or by coming to a friend or spiritual guide every time they committed some one particular sin; all the rest being for a time left without discipline, and seemingly, because really it could not be, without care. then, people would take selfishness, or personal vanity, or impatience in argument, or bitter words against others, or indulged envy, or any sin of the senses or of the thoughts, or the like, and whensoever they commit it, make it known to some one whom they may choose, they would find, by God's grace, that their whole religious life would put off the moody, complaining, disheartening emotions which overcloud their faith, and become definite, practical, and cheerful. We should then have a mark by which to know the ebb and flow of the tide; and we should leave no room for temptations, which, when they sadden our hearts, shake our filial trust in God. Of course, in giving these two rules so barely and nakedly, I leave to be understood all that belongs to the higher sources of help and strength. I suppose that people of sincere minds, such as I have spoken of, will make these self-examinations and confessions on their knees, and that they will not resolve with any confidence in their own power, but will offer their resolutions with special prayers for aid, at some solemn time, as in the Holy Communion, to God. Our only hope, not only of advancement in the spiritual life, but of perseverance and of stedfastness, is in fellowship with Him. In our ignorance we know not what is best for us. "There be many that say, Who will shew us any good?" But one thing we do certainly know to be good: "It is good for me to hold me fast by God;" and then nothing can fail. Whatsoever be our trial, we know that 'going through this vale of misery, we may use it for a well," whereon at noon, in the burden of the day, as at Sychar, we may sit and rest with our Lord; and that, by His presence and help, we shall " go from strength to strength, till we appear every one of us before" His face in Zion. For He is "the way" foretold by the prophets : "Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." 1 Ps. iv. 6. 2 Ps. lxxiii. 27, Psalter in Book of Common Prayer. 3 Isaiah xxx. 21. |