CONFIRDIEP CHRISTIAN. 523 escape damnation when he hath done; and feast of all, how be mayconform, to Christ in holiness. XXXIII. 1. A Christian indeed doth study duty more than events; and is more careful what he shall be towards God, than what he shall have from God, in this life. He looketh to his own part more than unto God's, as knowing that it is he that is like, to fail ; but God will never fail of his part : he is much more sus- picious ofhimself than of God ; 'aidwhen any thing goeth amiss,be blameth himself, and not Gotl's providence : he knoweth that the hairs of his-head are numbered, and that his Father knoweth what he needeth ; and that God is infinitely wiser, and fitter to dispose of him, than he is to choose for himself, and that God loveth him betterthan he can love himself; and therefore he thankfully ac- cepteth that easy, indulgent command, " Cast all your care on him, for he Gareth for you. Take no thought what ye shall eat or drink, or wherewith ye shall be clothed;" Heb. xii. 15. xiii. v. Job i. 21, 22. Matt.. x. 30. vi. 25. 31, 32. 1 Pet. v. 7. . 2. But, alasl how guilty is the weak Christian ofmeddling with God's part of the work ! How sinfully careful what will become of him, and of his family, and affairs, and of the church, as if he were afraid lest God would prove . forgetful, unfaithful, or insuffi- cient for his work ! So imperfect is his trust in God. 3. And the seeming Christian really trusteth him not at all, for any thing that he can _trust himself or the creature for; he will have two strings to his bow if he can; but it is in man that he placeth, his greatest trust for any thing that man can do. Indeed, to save his soul, he knoweth none but GO is to be trusted, and therefore his life is still preferred before his soul; and consequently man, whom, he trusted most with his life and prosperity, is really trusted before God, however God may have the name; Jer. xvii. 5. 7. Psal. xxxiv. S: xx. 7. xxxiv. 22.' xxxvii. 3. XXXIV. 1. A Christian indeed is much more studious of his own duty towards others, than of theirs to him: he is much more fearful of doing wrong, than of receiding wrong: he is more trou- bled if he say ill of others, than if others speak ill of him : he had far ratherbe slandered himself, than slanderothers ; or be censur- edhimself, than censure others ; or be unjustly hurt himself, thanun-. justly hurt another ; or tobe put out of his own possessions or right, than to put another out of his : he is oftener and sharper in judg- ing and reproving himself than others : he falleth out with himself more frequently than with others; and is more troubled with him- self than with all the world besides : he taketh himselffor his great- est enemy, andknoweth that his danger is most at home ; and that if he can escape but from himself, no one in earth or hell can undo him: he is more careful of his duty to his prince, his parents, his ; i e
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