wearied by its persistence, nor driven from your hold by its boldness;
stirring up of the graces that are to be set at work in that duty. Let Jacob come first into the world; or, if prevented by the violence of Esau, let him lay hold on his heel, to overthrow him and obtain the birthright. As soon as Peter cries to our Saviour, "Master, spare yourself," he replies, "Get behind me, Satan." So ought we to say, "Begone, you law of sin, you present evil;" and it may be of the same use to us. So get grace up to duty, and be early in the rebukes of sin.
3. Though it do its worst, never let it conquer. Be sure you are not wearied by its persistence, nor driven from your hold by its boldness; do not faint by its opposition. Take the apostle's advice, Hebrews 6:11, 12,
"We desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end: that you are not slothful."
Still hold out in the same diligence. There are many ways whereby men are driven from a constant holy performance of duties, all of them dangerous, if not pernicious to the soul. Some are diverted by business, some by company, some by the power of temptations, some discouraged by their own darkness; but none so dangerous as this, when the soul gives over, as wearied by the aversion of sin to it, or to communion with God in it. This means that the soul has given itself up to the power of sin; which, unless the Lord break the snare of Satan, will prove ruinous. Our Saviour's instruction is, that "we ought always to pray, and not to faint," Luke 18:1. Opposition will arise, - none so bitter and keen as that from our own hearts; if we faint, we perish. "Take heed lest you are wearied," says the apostle, "and faint in your minds," Hebrews 12:3. Such a fainting as attended with a weariness, with giving place to the aversion working in our hearts, is to be avoided, if we would not perish. The caution is the same with that of Romans 12:12, "Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer;" andl with that of chap. 6:12,
"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that you should obey its lusts."