AFence againfiunneceJJaryPears. ' 1 know, fear is a natural thing deeply rooted in nature, think not to get thecon quell wholly, but by little and little. How to ger Labour to get the Spirit of God that is fupernatural, that mull overcome this:; 'hç conquefr for thedtrongeft refolution of the molt refolved fpirit in the world will notover- of fear. come it,it muflbeby a power that is flronger then our own;namely by the Spirit of Labour f,: GOD, that we being affured by the Spirit, that God is our portion,and living the ,hefpú. life offaith, we maynot fear any thing in regard ofthis world. Secondly, labour to keep our covenant with God there is an admonition, keep cove- ' Namb: t4. 9. Only, (faith God) remtmberyou do notrebel aóainfi Gad, and thenfear acre w eh not thispeople : for God is withyou,beat he.hathforfaIen them. The rigbteow is bold God as aLyon, but the wickedfears, and oft-umer where there is nofear. What is the reafon we are fo faint. hearted that wefear the lofs of the things of this world ? becaufe weare nest allured that God is our portion: for ifa man were afhured,thatwhat he lofeth here,God wouldmake up in regard of his pretence, that he would beAll in all, infleadof wife, and goods; and children, andhonoufs, c. itis impoffible that this man thould fear the lofs of any thing : for he pofldl th all in God,and he cannot beloft. In particularlabour toftrengthcnfaith; makeGod our ftrongTower, and live by 3 3""g 'hen faith,hé(hallnot beafraid ofill tydings ; why ? his heartit fxsd,trirfüngin the Lord, fa;rh. Pfal r. rz. When men make the things of this world their portion ;; when they make riches, and the'arme offlefh their portion, that theymull rely upon; here isa reed thatwill either break, orpierce a mans hand. No wonder that thisman fears inall occafronsand extremities,becaufe heforlakes the Lord,andcleaves to the crea- ture. But that man that lives by faith is without fear ; As Peter whenhe began to fink, faithChrifl, Why doff thoufear ? O thon oflittlefaith.. Thereafon he did fink was fëär, andwhy did' he fear ? becaufe his faith failed hins,hedidnot lay hold upon God, and Chrifl. Laflly, let us remember to order our felves aright, in regard ofourlove, and this +. To place will keep us from inordihate fear. Forwemufi; conceive that love isthefountainof ouhtIrte c. allother affeffions ; we have things,and thereforewe delire them,if they be abfent, g and werejoyce inthem if theybeprefent,and wefear the lots ofthem,to be abridged of them. Now let usorder our love aright,in regard ofthe thingsof this vvorld,and vve(hall never feat much": litre it is the obfervationofS. Auflin, vve fear to lofe Aug. fomevvhat thatvv'e haveattained, or not to enjoy fomevvhat that vve delire; fo it a- rifethfrom love,fomevvhat thatvve love andeffea,vveare afraidof the lots of it,and this isthe caufeoffear: -Ixl'óvvin regard of vvealth, a man is afraid he (hall not have enough; he shall not b'ävë-'a2ompétency : it is becaufe he loves the things of the vvorld too much. Amahisafraid ofDeath, vvby ? becaufe he loves hisbody too much. A manis afraidhefhall lofe his children, orhis Friends; vvhat is the reafon ? he loves them'too much,too indrelí eat ip ;We thould labour to love themonly in, and for God, and then vve {hall notbeafraid -ofthe lois ofthem, but íh allbe con- tent to be di (pored inthem;and in our felves ahGod shall fee convenient in his hea- venly vvifdom. A vvord foe the occafron, and that I vvilldifpatdt in a vvord. Youknow the occafon of our meeting at this time, and in this place : it is to performthis ]all rite to thebody of a Child that Godbath taken lately to hismercy. You feehovvAlmighty God is pleafed todifpofe it fometimes,even oft-times from the Cradle to the Grave, out of the.Svvadlingbands to the vvinding-thecà: God vvill have it fo fonictii ies : and vvhen it is foa. vve mull lay our hands upon our mouths, and becontent vvith the vvill ofGod. For thofe that arc Parents, let all learn this leffon, not to dote too mush upon their children;notto be enamoured too muchupon fuch'flovvers : you knovv bony foon God takes them avvay,before you be avvare.It is not their, vvit,or their, cothli- nels,or agifity;än'dnimblenefs, or healthy conflitution, or any thing that can avvard themfrom the flroa:.ofdeath vvhen God fends it: Therefore learn tolovethem,in, and for God, for hisfake, andyou fhall haveno caufe to fear the lofs ofthetn, or grieve immoderately, vvhen they are takenavvay ; vvhy ? becaufe theyare all alive T t flits
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