Annesley - Houston-Packer Collection BX9327 .M6 1664

446 How are we ; o live by Faith Serm. 18, Faith heedfully looks to it's Ship, or Bottom, in which it fails. Wherein file views the Keel, Ballaft, Sails , takes Care That thefe be Tight, and in goodCondition. I. The Keel, Bulk, or Body of the Ship, in which Faith fails, and That is Holy Contentatiess. This was the Grand, and Hight ft Leff, Phil.4.1 r. that ever a Believing Paul learnt, and prac`lifed, viz. In every eftate Therewith to be content. What force obferve of that Earthly fingel, 'That glory of Her Sex, the Lady YanéGray , That fhe made mifery it f, if feem amiable, and that the 'night- cloatbes of Adverfity did as much become her, as Her Day- drefng, is much more True of Holy Contenta- tien,It renders every Conebtton;even the Blackeft,lovely. An afflie`ted' Chriuiiarz,lf contented,mayTruly fay with theSpokre,Can.r.S.Though I am black, I am Comely. Faith therefore mainly looks to this,and pro - feffes,that though fhe cannot be fatisfied with the wholeWorid for Her pertion,yet fhe cnufi, will be,-and is contented with the lead pittance Orb of it for Her pd rage. Has an Agur Food, what though Courfe g crdi. nary Commons ? Prov. 3 o. 8. yet 'Lis Food: Has john Baptifl raiment, Mar. 3. 4. what though of b Carrels hair ? yet 'tis Raiment : and fo long Faith looks upon Her felf, as obliged to be therewith content, i Tim.6.P; 2. The Ballaf1, that poifesthe Ship, and That's Humility, This is that that keeps the soul fteady and makes it ride out the Storm. Pride is that, which/wells the Heart, Now when a Member is fwollen, though it grows bigger, yet it grows weaker and fo the more unit and unable to bear any burt hen laid upon it. 'I' was Humility that fteel'd Athana fig againft all His Adverfaries, and fufferings, in that he was, as Na- .tianzen reports him, as truly low in Heart as really High in worth. Gen,32.io. The Humble Soul judges it lèlf i lets than the leafs of mercies, juftly obnoxious to the greateft Judgments, and therefore no wonder if it can patiently want or undergo any thing. 3. The fails, whereby this well ballafled Ship is carried , and that ïs Heavenly mindednefs. This indeed is Faith's Top, and Topgallant, whereby it fails with atoll forewind into it's Port and Haven. Faith minds, favours, Pets it's affelon on things Above, not on things be- low, Col. 3.z. It's Heart is, where it's Treafure is, in heaven. Faith knows, That mixture of Earth and drofs much weakens the Soul , and makes it unable to fuffer, whereas a Soul quick ned with heavenly mindednefs, that flyes high and looks beyond the Stars, concludes, that a little, a very little of the dreggy creature will ferve turn to pafs it through this worldly Pilgrimage,and this greatly enables for fuffering ind Thus Faith heedfully looks to her Bottom. III. Faith

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