Chap. a9. an Expof,tion upon' the Book of j Bo Verf. i8. 56r cbear.lt is all one to him whether i c be well or ill with him, who is alwayes in fear of, or fulpeling evil. Tobe afraid when we are fife, is as bad as to be in danger. To hang in doubt about tem- porals, is tnoft unfuitable to them (to beleivers I mean) who may be anted of eternals. Vÿhat can a beleiver fay more un- like himfelf then this ; Ihave enough now,brdt Imay havenothing to morrow ; thie year it is well with me, but thr next 1fear will be difaftrorss tome and mine. It is a dutyaswell as a priviledge sad a mercy ro have the butt fixed about thingsthat arc fubje& to change every day ; and to be anxious about our earthly enjoy- menrs,is as bad as to truff upon them. As our hopes fhould be a- bove the creature,fo likewife fhould our fearsbe. Only they live upon good terms in the world, who have neither troublefome cares about what they (hall get, nor troublefome fears about what they may lofe to morrow : ler ro morrow care for it felf, and let to morrowfear fo: it felf ; fufliicient unto the day is de evil of it when it comes,wc neednot take it up afore band,or be- fore it comes. And therefore job might fpeak as a good and fpi- ritually wife man may acd ought, when he Paid, I ¡hall ¿Ye in my nefì. And we mayconfider a threefold ground (asof 3obr,fo) of any godly mans confidence, that he (hall dye in his neft,or live and dye comfortably. Firft, The experience which he bath had of the former good- neís of God to him in outward things,may affure him mach that he (hall yet pralle God for the continuanceof the fame good- nefs. Experience worketbhope (Rom. 1.4.) and as hope is not afhamed, fo it will nor let us be troubled about any thiag;becaufe the love of God is (heel abroad in oar heart, by the holy goof . Secondly, The Teflimony which a godly man hats in bis own confcience, that he bath not lifted himfelf up by un rig,iite- oufneCs, nor built his own nefi by pulling down the netts of o- ther men, may be a ground of confidence that he (hall dye in his nett. job, confcience told him that he had not railed his eftate upon his neighbours ruined that he had not torn his portion our of the bellies of the poor ; that he had not emptied any man to fill himfelf, nor did he feaft upon their efarvings. He that bath fuch a confcience may have much confidence that be (hall dye in his eel. Thirdly, A godly man may have this confidence with refpeôi Cccc to
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