11Fence againunnece/J'ary Fe-ars. 317 ' Again, there arcfome that areirreconcileable;and they areconqueredand over-; j,Dy coupe) come. TheDevil will never be friendswith us,therefore Chrift bathloiledprinci .i palities andpowers s and trampledSatan under-feet': and now if he walk about, yet' he is in his chain, hecan bite, but he can hurtnone but thofe that willingly betray themfelves into his hands. For fin, it is of a condemningnature ; but thofe that are in covenant withGod, and walk withhim, it is removedasfar from them di the Eafl isfrom the weft, iris thrown into the bottomelefs(ca .ofGodsmercy, fothatitth all never anger God'ei hurt ús anymore than ifwe had not committed it; who(halt layany thing to the chdree of Gods Elea .P Nay more, God path bestowed his Spirit, whereby he bath freed ourheats,and whereby if a than labour tostir ap the grace ofGodinhim, atld'to walk comforta- bly as he mightin the prefence ofGod,he might through the power of Godfree his heart from thefehorrors and fears ; for faith the Apostle, je hasienot received the Spirit ofbondage to fear again: but ye havereceivedthe Spirit of adoptions whereby we cry r, bba Father. TheSpirit of bondage calls down the foul with horror and fear, but we have the SpiritofGod to affure us that we have Godfor our Father re. conciled in Christ, and fo by confequent thatour fins ate pardoned, that death is o- vercome,that Principalities andposters arefj;oiled,and oll things in theworld,(though contrary in themfelvesyet) they/hall wort¿for ourgood. So you lee the ground of it, a Chriftian bath naenemies, Tome enemies are reconciled and others are tram - pled under foot that they cannot burthimt ' And we receive this freedom by the Spiritof God,that if we would'ftirit up,and lahourtowalk as becomethChriftiais we maymake our lives very comfortable. Briefly for Application. 'Ufa t. Firft, let us all take notice of the command thatGod gives to Abrabafn,of this The poet of íncouragement,and make use of it to our felves; änd know that the powerof ¢race; áoaamacs andReligionmuft reffe& upon a mani felt He (beloved) (hall beaccounted the felt belt Chrifttan before God,and in the fight ofjudicious men,whofe Religion is pra- Ctical, and refle&s upon himfelf. Now therearemany bufreones in the world, that meddle with the converfationsofothers, andare 1till talking, and complaining cif things without themfelves ; but furely, he is a happy man thatreformshimfelf, and that fets in tunehisownaffeions andpalfions: as this in particular,to labour to be without flavith and inordinatefear. Alas we may complain Of many-that find fault with manythings,but if they look within,thereis a combultionofa great many tin= rulyaffe&ions,and paflions,and thefe are the things we never complain of: we find hot fault with our felves as we lhould,we (hould takenoticeof the Law ofGod that it is fpiritual, to fet in order our hearts andminds and fouls, as well as our tongues and hands. The law of man rcacheth but to-the outwardman, ifa man keep him- felf in order in regard of these, thought is free, and thcLaw dothnot takehold ofa manfor hisaffe&ions, but the Law ofGod doth, thereforeyou know thatbilling afterawoman,in Gods account is reputed adaleery,the hating ofamans brotherin bit bears is accounted man/laughter ; he is accounted a mureberer that hates his bro- Mer i fo he that is angry unadvifdly, you know what he is in danger of : and that man is accounted guilty before God, that cannot order his affe&ions in regard of thole unruly pallions that are withinhim. This I obferve by the way. God id Scripture takes efpecial notice of it ; and I am perfwaded it is an infallible diftin- guifhing chara&erbetween ah hypocriteand a sincere child of God: an hypocrite labourstowash the outfdd, hebath ademurecountenance,cleanhands,fmootic fan- guage,&c: thefe things aregood,but he goes no further,hemakes no confcienceof fecret contemplative wickednefs, ofthe tufts ofhis heart, and the thoughts of his mind : theft things he never 'enters into himfelfto énortifie; Bút that man that is tonfcionable, fo walks with God ; as that a wry affection, an inward luft after fomewhat that is evil,troubles him,and humbles him before God : thevanity ofhis thoughts in fecret cause him tó mournBefore God-: this is a sign of a man this walks beforeGod,- and accounts Gada/first thatfearcheth thebear,: and tryesh the ,tins: andthereforeifever we will approve our felves to God, let our Religion be praftical,
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