364 Haw ihould a Chriflian behave Ilmfelf Serm. 15. Faith; this again is the order the great Phyfitian of our Souls pre - fcribes, 7obn r 4.t. Let not your hearts be troubled,why how (hall they prevent or help it ? believe ! they were believers already. O l but they muff [till in reference to every change and condition, or occasion of life,efpecially in order to this,that they may not be troubled in trouble, that theitorm get not into their hearta,to fhake ,and 'hatter them with- in, they mua believe, i, e. they muff be much in the acting and exer- citing of Faith,upon the grounds thereof ; 'cis fad that I fhall now fay. We come to fome Christians in their dumps and defpondencies, Phew them the Promife, Christ in it, the way to it, they are fo to Peek, that they fcarce know what we mean ; we are as Barbarians to them , they are ready to faint under our hand, before we can (as it were) Ranch their bleeding, or apply arry platter, or cordial, or make them under- hand their way and ground of fupport and comfort and all this for want of ufe and exercife of Faith ; the aging of any faculty (where life is not come to the declining ftate, as it never fares with the life of Grace.) ftrengtheneth that faculty ; and that person can readily even in the dark to his rest or cordial,where he ufes himfelf to be;therefore, take a Chriflian which makes confcience to bear his weight on the ground and obje& of Faith ( Chria in the promise of free grace to a fenfible loa undone sinner) let World, and Live!, confpire to trouble him, and God try him,faith he,1 know not what to do,but I'll try my old, way, 'cis good for me to draw near hill, 1'ßl do fo flill as I ufe to Pfal.73.25. do, I'll call my felf down and away upon free grace in Chria in the promife; 1'il lay the weight of my finking spirit there, I'll renew my hold, life, expetation there ; this Is my old path 1'11 never be turn- ed, or beaten out here. This Christian in this ftrength may challenge all the gates of Hel!. This was Davids courfe , Pfal. 7 t . 5. Thou art Efay 26,3, my truft from my youth, &c. thence was it , that he could fay in Plat. 56.3.At what time I am afraid I will trsift in thee, his shield and fword was always in his hand therefore he could make ufe of it when fear and inward trouble offered themfelves; affraid ? alas, who is not,bur, what courfe will you take then, even what courfe you ufe to take, i. e. believe, ofe Faith always, and have it now. .I irell, 3. 3. In reference to the third and feventh caufe of trouble of mind (coming in conjun5tion with trouble in outward things.) viz. short and dim Evidence; give all diligence to make your calling and elution fure; for if yore do f o,yosa'hall never fall, i, e. under the power of fin 2 Nt,a,ao. and wrath, which make up the fpiritual burden ; but fo an abundant en- trance Aell be adani riftred to you into the Kingdom, &ç1i.e. you (hall have a fate
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=