V. 17, *' For the flesh kisteth against the spirit, and

*' the spirit against the flesh. And these are con- ** trary the one to the other ; so that ye cannot da " the things that ye would," but are sincerely de- sirous and habitually aiming to submit it. Do ye, from the ungracious struggle against the crook^ turn away to the struggle with your own heart to bring it to submit, believing the promise, and using the means for it, being grieved from the heart with yourselves, that ye cannot submit it ^ This is submitting of your lot, in the favourable construction of the gospel, Rom. vii. 17 — 20. 2 Cor. viii. 12. If ye had your choice, would ye rather have your heart brought to submit to the crook, than the crook evened to your heart's de- sire? Kom. vii. 22, 23. And, do ye not sincere- ly endeavour to submit it over the belly of the re- luctancy of flesh ? Gal. v. 1 7.
2. Where is the Christian sflf-deiiial^ and taking up of the cross^ without submitting to the crook?
• This is the first lesson Christ puts in the hands of his disciples. Matt. xvi. 24. " If any man v/ill " come after me, let him deny himself, and take up "his cross, and follow me." Self denial would procure a reconciliation with the crook, and an ad- mittance of the cross : but while we cannot bear our corrupt self to be denied any of its cravings^ and particularly that which God sees meet espe- cially to be denied in, we cannot bear the crook ia our lot, but fight against it, in favour of self.
3. Where is our conformitij to Christ, while we cannot submit to the crook ? We cannot evidence
70 The Crack in the Lot.
ourselves Christians without conformity to Christ. ** He that saith he abideth in him, ought himselt *^also to walk even as he walked," 1 John ii. 6. There was a continued crook in Christ's lot, but he submitted to it, Phil. ii. 8. '^ And being found *' in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and ** became obedient unto death, even the death of *'the cross," Rom. xv. 3. For even Chrit pleased V'Ot himself^ &c. And so must we, if we will prove ourselves Christians indeed, Matt. xi. 29. 2 Tim. ii. 11, 12.
4. How will we prove ourselves the genuine kindly children of God, if still warring with the crook? We cannot pray. Our father^ — TAi/ -will be dene on earthy &c. Matt. vi. Nay, the language of that practice is, we must have our own will, and God's will cannot satisfy us.
Motive 4. The trial by the crook here will not last long, 1 Cor. viii. 31. What though the work be sore, it may be the better comported with, that It will not be longsome ; a few days or years at far- thest will put an end to it, and take you off your trials. Do not say, I will never be eased of it ; for if ye be not eased before, ye will be eased s>i it at death, come in the room of it after what will. A serious view of death and etemit}', might make fiB to set ourselves to carry lightly under our crook •while it lasteth.
5. If ye would, in a Christian manner, set your- selves to bear the crook ye would find it easier than ye imagine. Matt. xi. 29, 30. **• Take my **yoke upon you, and learn of me — and ye shall *' find rest to your souls." ver. 30. " For my yoke *' is easy, and my burden is light." Satan has no readier way to gain his purpose, than to persuade men it is impossible that ever their minds should
The Crook in the Lot. ft
ply with the crook ; that it is a burden to them al« together insupportable ; as long as you believe that> be sure ye will never be able to bear it. But the Lord makes no crook in the lot of any, but what may be so borne of them acceptably, though not sinlessly and perfectly, Mat. xi. 30. For there is strength for that effect secured in the covenant, 2 Cor. iii. 5, Phil. iv. 13. and being by faith fetch- ed, it will certainly come, Psalm xxviii. 7.
6. If ye carry Christianly under your crook here, ye will not lose your labour, but get a full reward of grace in the other world, through Christ, 3 Tiai. ii. 12. 1 Cor. xv. 58. There is a blessing pronounced on him that endureth on this very ground, James i. 12. "Blessed is the man *"* that endureth temptation; for, when he is tried "he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord "hath pomised to them that love him." Heaven is the place into which the approven, upon the trial of the crook, are received, Kev. vii. 14. " These " are they which cameoutof great tribulation, and " have washed their robes, and made them white ** in the blood of the Lamb." When we come there, no vestiges of it will be remaining in your lot, nor will ye have theleast uneasy remembrance of it; but it will accent your praises, and screw up your joy.
7. If you do not carry Christianly under it, ye will lose your souls in the other world, Jude, ver. 15, 16. Those who are at war with God in their lot here, God will have war with them for ever. If they will not submit to his yoke here, and go qui- etly under it, he will wreathe his j^oke about their neck for ever, with everlasting bonds that shaH never be loQsed, Job ix. 4.
7Z The Crook in the Lit,
Lastlify Whatever crook is in the lot of any, ii u> ver}- likely there is a public crook abiding the gen- eration, that will be more trying. This is a da\- of sinning, beyond the days of our fathers ; a dav wherein God is making great crooks in the lot ut the dearest to himself; but these seem to prcsagc- stich a general public cruok to be abiding the gen oration, as will make our now private ones of ver) little weight, \ Pet. iv. 17,18. Therefore, set yourselves to carry rightly under the crook in your lot.
If you ask what way one may reach that ; for direction we propose,
DocT. III. The considering' the crook in the lot, as the work ofGod^ is a proper means tobrini; one to carry rightly under it,