Vol. 2

—30 ST. MARK.devil seeks either to discourage them, or to pufF themup. We must lay deep foundations of humility andthe love of God, before vi^e can possibly raise thebuilding of perfection. Love will furnish us with allmaterials, and humility will preserve them.*'23. And no man putteth new wine into oldbottles ; else the new wine doth burst the bottles,and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred :but new wine must be put into new bottles."Let us wait till God has strengthened the heartby the new spirit, ere we endeavour to fill it with theseverer truths of the gospel. The mind of newpenitents is often very forward, and full of a livelywarmth, which makes them fancy themselves able todo every thing which they find themselves willing todo: but the flesh notwithstanding is weak and infirm.It is the duty of a wise pastor to use thelatter tenderly, and to moderate the former. Themeans for a man to avoid relapses is, to fear his ownweakness, and not to go too fast.Sect. IILThe ears of corn pinched.The observationof the Sabbath," 23. f And it came to pass, that he went throughthe corn-fields on the sabbath-day ;and his disciplesbegan, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn."Christ, in suffering hunger while his disciples eat,teaches us, that a master, a superior, or a spiritualdirector, ought to be more perfect than his disciples.He never once wrought a miracle to feed himself orhis disciples, though often in very great need, as hedid to feed the people;on purpose to instruct them,not to have recourse on their own account to extra-