sbo Ghap.29. An Expoftion upon.the Book of Jo B. Verf, t8. I anfwer, there is a fence wherein fuch a confidence is not fin- full ;and there is a fence wherein'tis very fitful ; it is not finful in it felf for a godlyman to be confident that his profperity (hall continue. For ti he may arife to aconfidence that he (hall be fafe in the midfl of dangers, that he (hall dye in his ne(f, even Whenhe is in the Jaws or fnares of death;much more may he have this confidence, when Ws peace with him, and no appearance of danger near him.:' David was confident of his own fafety, though in the midit and mouth of danger (Pfal. 3.5, 6.) Ilaid me downandflap, Iawak4d, for the Loydfuflained me ; I will not be afraidoften thoufand thatfet themfelves againfl me round about; ,arife,0 Lord, faveme0my God. Davids faith fpake this, not his prefumption. That man knows he is alwayes fafe, who bath God Weer him. One is.* match not only for two, but ten thoufand enemies, if God berfiis friend. David fpake at the fame rate of confidence again (Pfal.27. t.)The Lord Wmy light andmyfalva- tion, whom fhalllfear? The Lord le the firength of my life,of whom fhallI be afraid ? He puts the queflion twice, to put the matter out ofqueffion ; Whom (hall) fear ? ofwhom (hall I be afraid ? let me fee the man,lee Me fee theDevil thatcanmake me afraid; I fear no power, no not the powers of darknefs while, the Lord ismy light; I fear not deflru( ion it fell, while the Lord is my falvation. And he holds out not only his own tingle affurance, bue the affurance ofall the people of God (Pfal. 46. z, 2.) god is our refuge andflrcngtb; a very prefent kelp in trouble ; therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed : and though the Mountains becarried into the mid/l ofthe Sea.Nore ifa godly man may arrive at a confidence to out live all thedangers and deaths that are about him, why may not he alfo have confidence that his profperity and comforts (hall out-live him,or that he (hail dye in the mida of his profperity andcomforts ? It is a great part of the bappinefs of our lives to have a confidence, or quietnefs of fpi- rit, about the things of this life : Nor is any thing more uncomely for, or more uncomfortable to a Saint then diflruffful thoughts and fears. To carry a troubled .mind,and a trembling frame of fpirit about us, left force evil fhould befall us, is more greivous then the prefent'fuffering of evill.Diffruff is one of the worff di- (cafes or fickneffes of themind. Philofophers have highly corn- ;mended chearfulnefs of fpirit, or (as we fpetk) to be of good cheer.
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