Annesley - Houston-Packer Collection BX9327 .M6 1664

360 Honqhoreld a çhri.ftian behave hitn felf Serm. is e 1 Sam3o.6. David encourage our felves in our relations to, and intere{} in God, then every,even the heavieft burden,even death it felf, is light,and we can in Chrißs ftrength (hake it off or run away with ìt, as Sampfon will the Gates of the City. But as when the Sun is down or eclipfed the flowers fold up and droop ; or when the face before the Glafs turns away the face in it vanìfheth : Even fo when God hides his face ; and we doubt of our Title and Interelt we are troubled,and then we are as Samp[on when his Covenant broken, and his locks, thefign thereof, cut, we are as other men, our ftrength is gone, any cord will bind us, any burden : fink us,Ifa.64 7. Reaf 8. 8. I might add, It may arife from our difacquaintednefs with aßli &i- ons, as to our expectation and refolution. But for Ufe I. A word to them which are yet in their fins out of Chrift; And it is I. Of Conviction, 2. Counfel, I Convion, and terrour to them which are out of Chrift. If Gods people be lyab!e to inward and outward trouble at once, wherein yet there is not a drop of wrath ; What (hall the vifitation of the reft be wherein there is not a drop of laving pity?If they may be fo hardly pt.t to it which yet are ever fectetly and mightily fupported,whatfhall they do that have no ftren;rh but their own to bear up under the mighty hand of God ? Surely if they fmarc fevenfold ; the wicked muft be avenged feventy times f:venfold. If the cup of aflli5tion,b y reafon of the bitter ingredient of inward perplexity, be fo bitter to them, what becomes of them for whom the dregs of that Cup are referved ? The godly may Prand condemned at their own Bar, but the wicked at Gods too, & nothingremains to them but a cerrainexpee4ation of exccntion without a change. O 1 if7gcob halt, fare Efaasrback and bones mutt be broken; If the righteous be ( by reafon of fharp afflit`fions within and withouc)fcarcely faved, (to whom yet all afi&ions are through grace ever fufferable,fhort,& fandified,) where (hall the firmer appear when his fins and forrows (hall meet togerher ? There be three days wherein thou (halt never be able to hold up thy head,and yet thou muff appear: Fitft, A day of extream Calamity ; Secondly, Of Death ;- Thirdly,of Judgement. Oh ! remember how fad it goes with the godly in a day of outward Calamity becaufe of inward trouble j .yning With it through gradual want of Knowledge, Faith, and Evidence, the venome of fin, unmortified malice of Satan, not yet quite troden under their feet, and the withdrawing of Gods Grace and Countenance in part ? And cone- der how thóu. wilt fpeed, which hall no flying Knowledge, no Faith, no Intereít, art under the raign of fin and Satan, whom the holy and jealous

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