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THE HEART'S CONFLICTING STATE UNDER A SENSE OF IMPOTENCY.

ROMANS vii. 19.

In our present inquiry it will be our object to ascertain, what may be the nature of that experience through which the soul passes when, according to what was last shewn, the blessed operation of the Holy Ghost is so far possessed, as to enable the heart to exclaim in sincerity, "To will is present with me!" An advance of experience is of course to be expected, but it is not always the privilege of the soul to be able rightly to interpret the exercises which accompany such a progress. It may therefore be profitable to the mind in many respects, that we should investigate this subject.

It is not enough for the upright mind, to feel that a blessed change has been produced in the tendency of the will. Great as this privilege is, the restless heart longs for more, and unfeignedly sighs after a power to accomplish what is now decidedly loved. It would embrace the whole commandment with practical energy; and, whilst contemplating the revelation with holy approbation, would exhibit its excellency in living demonstration. The language of such an one agrees with

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that of the Psalmist, "O that my ways were made so direct that I might keep thy statutes always." Psalm exix. 5.

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In consequence of this restless excitement, the endeavour is put forth towards triumphing over those evils which the will has renounced, and attaining to those excellences which it approves, "I made haste and delayed not to keep thy commandments." Psalm cxix. 60.

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One of the first objects attempted is the visible separation from the world which the gospel prescribes, with the fervent desire that the change may not only be experienced within, but known by all men. In order to this, new society is sought after, and the believer longs to be admitted into the number of those who are really the saints of the Lord, and amongst whom he may be known to have an abiding fellowship. He endeavours to demonstate this, by his courteous overtures to the people of God, by seeking to obtain introduction to their society, and by a regular adherence to all those places where these assemble together; he desires to be considered a brother, and one of their own company; Acts iv. 23; ix. 26. This purpose of heart he seeks to intimate amongst his nearer connexions of family or friends, venturing upon religious observations, seeking to turn conversation upon subjects that may edify, and if he is in circumstances which give him opportunity or authority, proposing and establishing family worship. He declines the invitations

which the world presents, not now, as formerly, under a cloak and with lying subterfuges, but openly testifying that he considers it necessary to renounce the pursuit of carnal pleasures, and preferable to consecrate his time to higher and abiding delights. He wishes it to be understood, that he is not the same man he once was, and supplicates God thus to to glorify himself in showing forth this wonderful change. Gal. i. 15, 16, 23, 24.

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The inward region of his heart is now also under a close inspection, and an upright scrutiny : he resolves upon the severest discipline, and that no rival of his God shall remain within his breast. His honest intention is to mortify all his corrupt affections, and to crucify the flesh. Nor does he shrink from the design when interests that are nearest his heart stand before his recollection; on the contrary a holy ambition glows in his bosom whilst he contemplates these occasions of trial, and he is ready to press towards the mark and say, "I will not offer unto the Lord of that which doth cost me nothing," 2 Sam. xxiv. 24. He has no wish to conceal any secret of his breast, no intention to withhold any possession that he has, nothing is more deprecated by him than the idea of doing the Lord's work superficially, and thus animated by the spirit of integrity, he sets forth in prosecution of his devoted purpose to bring his all unto the Lord.

In unison with this affection, he resolves upon

living, to the utmost of his power, a visible and open pleader for truth, and as far as ability may be afforded to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. He emulates the zeal of others who have stood forward for their God, and longs to be enrolled in the number of bold and resolute advocates for the cause of Christ. This he resolves upon attempting in simplicity, with impartiality, and with courage, that so his witness may be added to that of the Lord's anointed ones in the service of holiness, and for the salvation of men.

This is the disposition of an upright Will that has been brought under holy government; it binds the whole man willingly and cheerfully to the obligation of universal obedience, and of open discipleship.

These efforts of integrity serve however to produce a very different experience to that which the soul anticipated. Usually the inexperienced believer expects that he has only to will a thing, and it is done; and he puts forth his purpose with an assurance of immediate gratification to his best desires; whereas, to his surprise and mortification, he finds a developement of trial awaiting him, rather than of victory, and has painfully to learn that he requires an operation of which he was not aware in order to be able to will and to do. The knowledge he has hitherto attained of the subjects of Revelation, as it respects the evil and strength of indwelling sin, has been more by

intellectual than by experimental light. He has indeed seen it to be truly the abominable thing which God righteously abhorreth, he also has learnt unfeignedly to abhor it as evil; but he has not discovered its deep malignity, as the obstinate and mysteriously determined foe to the new life that is in him. This he has to learn, through his upright abhorrence of it, and by encountering it in the resolution of faith; it is then that the strength of the foe is felt and owned. Thus when beginning to open the war and to resist the world, it is found not quite so easy to overcome this formidable adversary as it appeared ere it was encountered; and although the Will to separate from it is strong and faithful, old habits are found very obstinate, and hard to be overcome; they encumber and entangle those who have been long in the custom of mixing with the world, so that the soul is continually coming short of its own resolutions. Natural affections also raise up powerful obstacles: the fear of giving pain—the dread of seeming to be ungrateful, the horror of wearing an appearance of presumption, or of inducing family discord and inconvenience, all subtlely reason against the practical decision which is designed; and although these are adversaries which are not obeyed by the upright will, they produce a painful conflict, and many difficulties. When putting forth the hand to crucify the flesh and tear down the idols of the heart, and cleanse out the filthy chamber where so many

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