Be iftong. do as we do. Now in fuch a cafe as this, when the Chriflian muff turn or burne leave praying, or become a prey to the cruel teeth of bloody men ; how many politick retreats, and felf-preferving diftinCtions would a cowardly unrefolved heart invent ? TheChriftian, that bath fogreat oppofition had need be well lock't into the (addleof his Profeffion, or elfe he will be foondifmounted. 3; Thirdly, the Chriflian muff keep on his way to heaven in the midft ofall the fcandals that are call. upon thewayes of God, by the Apoftafie and foul falls of falfe Profeffors. There were ever fuch in the Church, who by their fad mifcarriages in judgement and practice, have laid a floneof offence in the way of Profef- fion, at which weak Chriftians are ready to make a ftand, (as 2 Sam. z. they at the bloody body of Afahel,) not knowing whether they zz may venture any further in their Profeffion. Seeing fuch(whofe gifts they fo much admired) lie before them, wallowing in the bloodof their flaine Profeffion of zealous Profeffors toprove, perhaps, fiery perfecutors ; of ftriti Performers ofreligious du- ties, irreligious Atheifts: nomore like the men they were tome yeares part, then thevale of Sodom, (now a bog and quagmire) is, towhat it was, when for fruitfulneffe compared to the garden of the Lord. We had need have a holy refolution to bear up again(} fuch difcouragements, and not to faint: as jofhtiah, who lived to fee the whole Camp of Ifrael (a very few excepted) re- volting,and in their hearts turning back to Egypt, and yet with an undaunted Spirit maintained his integrity, yea, refolved though not a man betide would bearehim company,yet he would ferve the Lord. Fourthly, the Chriftian mull truft in a withdrawing God, so,v to. Let him that walks in darkneffe, and fees no light, truft in the Nameof the Lord, andflay uponhis God. This requires aholy boldneffe of faith indeed to venture into Gods pretence, as El/her intoAktfhmerms, when no Emile is to be feen on his face, no golden fcepter of thepromife perceived by the Ionic, as held forth to embolden it tocome near, then to preffe in with this noble refolution ; If I perifb, Iperifh. Nay more, to truft not job:3.15, only in a witbdrawing,but a killingGod; not when his love is hid, but when his wrath breakes forth : Now for a foule to make its approaches to God by a recumbency of faith, whileGod 'formes to C
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