316 Nowto live by Faith(n time oft_zidveY fatie, high from fuck as rife up againft them.He is the falvation Pfa1.37:39. of the righteous, and their firength in time of trouble 7eY29.1 His thoughts towards them arc thoughts of peace, and not ofevill, to give an expeEled end: He is continually with them, and holdeth them by their hand ; bee will Efay 43.1, z. guide them with his counfell, and afterward receive them Plal.73::3,4. unto glory. Thefe prornifes, fo often repeated, be firme grounds whereupon tobuild our faith,that we (hall not be hindred by afflictions inour Chriflian courfe, but rather furthered, till weattaine unto the , end of our courfe in Gods Kingdome, ate necefary to And fitrely it is moll neceffary that we learne to live ¡earnerslively by faith in afflictions. For faith is the ground of(ji cut and jaithins fliaró quiet expectation of falvation. When Chrillians are He .16, i 5,36. perfecuted for thename ofChri(t, all men fee they h.ave Rev.13.1o, great neede of patience, that after they have fnffered for a time, they might enjoy the promnife, which now they hold by faith , as it were by reverlion, not in ath all pof feffion. But withoutconfidence there canbe no patience. Faith in God is the only flay and fupport of the heart in troubleand affliction. Ihadfaintednnleffe I bad believed Pfal 2.7.1 ;. tofee the goodneffe of the Lord in the land of the living. Remember the wordunto thyfervant, upon which thou haft PT 119.49,% ° caufedme to hope, This is my comfort in my affliElion ; for thy wordbathgnickneel mee. In daily and lighter tryalls a man of mild and patient temper may hold up the Head : but whenone deepe calleth unto another,and the waves flow overour head ; when nature yeeldeth , and the heart fainteth, then to (land fafl and be of good cou- rage,that onely can faith doe, which is grounded upon the rich mercy of God, and relieth upon his Almighty po- wer. Faith is the Palme, that linkes not under the waightieft ofburdens, the Camomile that fpreades the more it is trodden ; the oile that ever overfwimmes the greateft quantitie of water you can powre upon it. In the molt boiaerous tempells it lifteth up the chinne, that we fhall not drowne : andwhena man is halfe dead, it quickens
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