who; Sathan encorantrrs the f rvants ofChrifl. 1 297 burn forth intogreater outrage again(} the peereleffe dome ofGod. Wherefore if Sathan buffet us with fug- geftions of this nature, it is our wifdome to turne from him, and tomake our complaint unto tt-e Lord. So Hc- zekiah fpread the blafphemous letter of Sennacheri6 be- fore the Lord : Andwhen the enemies ofDavid infulted over him, as though there had beene no helpe for him in his God, he crieth, Lord, how are mine enemies increa- fed. Fourthly, By faith the poore foule, eying the promife, betakes it fèlfeunto the Lord for fuccourpromifed, to be defendedagainft the maliceof that roaring Lion. It is the promife ()four Saviour, that Hell gates fhall not prevaile againft his faithful! people : they (hall fight againft them, but not prevaile. When the fpirit ofman begins to faint,, faith bids him be ofgood courage, for there is helpe in Heaven. The Divell may thrufl fore at thee, but fhall not get the victory, for God is with thee. If the Lord plunge thee into theSea, hewill gocdowne with thee thither to keepe thee, that thou thalt not be drowned although Hell gates had Phut her mouth again(} thee, yet there his Almighty hand will be with thee, and from thence his arme will deliver thee. Fcare not, for the Lord will be thy defence, and the fhadow ofhis wings thy cover. Fiftly, It (lirreth up courage and refolution to fet upon thepractife ofgodlineflíe, and theduties ofour particular callingwith diligenceand cheerefulneffe, as the meanes fau tified of God to procure freedome. For defpaire, dumpifhncfle, foregoing the meanes ofgrace,_ and neg- 1 I. ofour calling, thefe are the things which Sathan la- bours todrive usunto wedoe him the greaten pleafure that maybe, whenweyeeld unto him therein. Excefïìve feare brings that upon us, for which efpeciallywe de- fire tobe freed, and tiesup the powers ofthe foule, that it canmake no refinance. Cowardifeand fainting forrow put courage into our Adverfary :. valour, refolution, and c onfi- Efay.;'. a q:. PCal 3.e. 4 Mat. ICI 8. Pfa1.9i 2,3. Efa, 50.7,8,9 S
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=