Yet the sinner merits nothing by any doings of his.  The true penitent is sensible of it.  He relies on grace alone; and asks mercy of God for the sake of him “who died for his offences, and rose again for his justification.”  He seeks in the use of appointed means because it is the way of duty, and the way in which God is wont “to have mercy, on whom he will have mercy;” who are commonly chosen from among those who seek his face.

As fear puts some on duty, it excites others to that which is not duty—­puts them on doing things which are not required.  Such are the pilgrimages and penances of the Romanists; and such the severities which some others have practised on themselves with a view to atone for sin and render Deity propitious.

These have no tendency to conciliate heaven.  A curse is more likely to follow them than a blessing; yet in this way some have thought to atone for sin and make peace with an offended God!*

* Vide Sermon on Colossians ii. 8.

IV.  There is yet one other kind of fear which leads to destruction —­that which causes men to shrink from the hardships of religion; and decline the difficulties which lie in the way of duty.

Difficulties and temptations were not peculiar to the first ages of Christianity.  St. Paul, after mentioning his own, declares them, in a measure, common to all Christ’s followers—­“Yea, and all who will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution.”

The trials and difficulties of the righteous are divers, but none escape them.  Many arise from indwelling corruption—­many from an insnaring world—­many from Satan’s malice and devices.

In fallen man there is a bias to error and wickedness.  Not to suffer his own lusts to draw him away, and entice him to sin, requires great self denial.

From a wicked world temptations also arise and difficulties spring up.  In this land, the enemies of religion, have not power to kill and destroy the faithful; but they have power to pour contempt upon them.  Cruel mockings may severely try those who fear neither the gibbet, nor the stake.  These do try the people of God at this day.

Neither do the powers of darkness cease to trouble and afflict—­to assault the faithful with their temptations, and to lay snares to entangle them.

“Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”  Satan’s devices are without number—­his attacks are made from every quarter; and he is often so hidden that it is difficult to discover him.  Sometimes he assumes the mark of religion —­is “transformed into an angel of light,” the more effectually to cover his dark designs.  Such is his enmity that he is indefatigable in his endeavors to seduce and to destroy—­such his craft and experience, that he is wise to accomplish his nefarious designs:  And against the saints his rage is the greater, because he knoweth that his time is short.