19. The true Believer prays God to give him strength to resist sin

EXHORTATION.

"Let not sin reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof: neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin; but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God."—Rom. vi. 12, 13. Sin is a departure from God, a transgression of the divine law; it is the essence of all that is wrong. But a true believer is loath to depart from God, or to transgress the divine command, or to do wrong; but it is his desire that Jesus should live in him, and that the Holy Ghost should direct him, but as he cannot entirely accomplish this at all times, he must contend against sin. 1. The true believer knows that he who is born of God does not sin, that is to say, wilfully and designedly, and therefore he is on his guard not to offend God with design or intention.

2. But as this is not enough for him, as he desires to consecrate and sanctify all his heart, soul, spirit and life to his God, so he is often disturbed at a single sinful word which has escaped him, or at a sinful thought which suggests itself, and if he really offends God, or his neighbor, he is deeply grieved. TO GIVE HIM STRENGTH TO RESIST SIN.

3. In these straits and troubles, he takes refuge with Jesus Christ, and implores him for his powerful aid, to vanquish sin and the world.

4. He must not only pray with the greater devotion, the more he feels the force of temptation, but must also keep a watch upon his rising thoughts and desires, and avoid the places and the persons through whom and through which he may be led into sin.

5. If he preserves this state of holy effort, and endeavors to serve God with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his mind, he may be assured that he who has bestowed the will, will also give the power; that the blood of Jesus will cover his failings and shortcomings, and that the Lord will be well pleased with his anxious desire to serve him. Strong and almighty God! thou who knowest everything that is in man. O thou seest what a fierce struggle I have against sin. I would fain be and remain truly pious of heart, regulate my life according to thy holy word, and execute thy holy will; but I feel another law within my members, which resists the law that is in my mind. When I seem to myself to stand firmly in my good intentions, I suddenly find to my humiliation, that pride, self-will, ambition, envy, THE TRUE BELIEVER PRAYS GOD perverseness against my neighbor, manifest themselves, that sinful thoughts enter my heart, yea, that I sin with thoughtless words and unseemly works. O I grieve to be so full of uncleanness; do thou purify me, Lord, and I shall be clean. By thy grace, I understand that sin is a great evil, of which I would gladly be rid, wherefore I resist it with thy strength, and yet I am sometimes overthrown. But this miserable condition in which I am, greatly grieves me; what will become of me at last, if I am pious to-day and wicked to-morrow, and if my piety has no endurance? Thou seest, my God! how I am frightened at myself, but that I cannot help myself with my own powers: therefore I come to thee, and beseech thee to give me strength to resist sin; let thy holy spirit dwell within me, and cleanse my heart. Give me the performance also, strengthen my inward man, that by thy power I may throw off sin after sin. Make me stronger and stronger to overcome the world within me, and without me. I can do all things through him who makes me powerful, even Christ. O help me, my God, and grant that I may be pious in heart, that my religion may be sincere and righteous, and not seeming or hypocrisy. Amen. TO GIVE HIM STRENGTH TO RESIST SIN.

1. From the world let me be covered,

Though still in the world I hide;

For in it I have discovered

What I never can abide;

Insolence, deceitful, smiling,

Pride and haughtiness, beguiling,

Hatred, envy, wrath and feud,

Quarrels, strifes, and thirst of blood.

2. I will look with detestation

Ever on such things as these

By the Spirit's ministration

Keep afar from such disease;

Unto God alone I'll tender

My affections, and surrender

All my heart unto his will;

It is his, 'twill serve him still.

Though for some time, to my sorrow

I must hold this world of sin,

Yet my heart shall never borrow

Form from what it settles in.

I will ask the Lord's protection

'Gainst the world's despis'd infection;

Howsoe'er my life may go,

Be my conscience pure as snow.

4. For if thus I strive unceasing

From the world to keep away,

Unto God I will be pleasing,

He will ever with me stay.

THE TRUE BELIEVER OFFERS HIMSELF

Though my form on earth remaineth,

Yet the spirit heavenward straineth;

So my body is at peace,

And my soul in endless bliss