rable piece! there will not be left then the least vestage of all the mountains that stood between heaven and them; the threshing mountains will then be blown away with the wind, and they will lay by the flail as an instrument they have no more use for.
Object. But have not others as well as worm Jacob, mountains of difficulties in their way, which they become ministers of at length.
Answ. This world is so mountanious that none can get through it, without meeting mountains in their way: Carnal men make a shift to creep through some of them; but they can thresh none of them as worm Jacob doth, they want his hand and staff. John xv. 5 Without me thou can do nothing. They creep into others of them, and nestle in them: the mountains of their corruptions, which in a special manner stand between heaven and them, and at length they will be eternally buried under them.
Use 1. Here is a touchstone for the trial of true Christians and worthy communicants, worm Jacob threshing the mountains.
First, They have a heart and spirit for threshing of mountains in their way to heaven: They are peremptory and resolute to break through them without exception, as men that must be in;——these shall not perish, Matth. xi. 12. The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.——Though they have long threshed in vain to their own sense; yet they are resolved to hold on (because they see him who is invisible); and, like Paul, press forward toward the mark, for the prize of the calling of God in Christ, Phil iv, 15.——The fearful and unbelieving, they are so delicate and faint-hearted in this case, that they are not for threshing the mountains, they are for the easier task, but have no heart or hand for that work:—These, I am sure, are the fearful, Rev. xxi. 8. They are like the unbelieving spies and people of the wilderness.—Take heed here how ye stand.
(1.) To
