Abernathy - Houston-Packer Collection BX9178.A33 S4 1748 v.3

Wifdom the Strength of the Mind. Y I r juft fenfe of the one is led to confider the S E R nt, other as its infeparable attendant; accor- IV. dingly, force of the wifer heathens have ex- preffed themfelves excellently on this fubjet, and one of their poets faith, concerning the virtuous man, That if the frame of nature were diffolved, he would meet its ruins un- terrified. But our divine religion explain- eth the confidence of a good man very fully, and fheweth the true grounds of it, which are fo firm and fo clear, that it is unworthy of a chriflian, of his privileges, his charac- ter, and the vocation wherewith he is called, not to retain his confidence, and the rejoicing of his hope, /ledfàfl to the end. One would think it fufficient to recom- mend true piety and chrifiian virtue, if it giveth fuch confidence and fecurity of mind which is fo very defirable in our prefent flate, a ¡late of difcipline and trial, wherein there is much vanity arid vexation of fpirit, and, as Solomon obferveth, God hath wifely given travel and grief to the children of men, as a part of their portion under the fun. But ílill let us remember there is no other foun- dation upon which we can be firong, in the fenfe of the text, or attain to firmnefs and fe}enity of mind, but wifdom, or the pra Lice

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