Ver.26. the 8th Chapter to the R O M AN S. 24,1 unfpeakable and full of glory, 'and Phil. q.. 7. Thepeace of God which paffith all under,ffandingt flsall keep your hearty and minds. In fhort, the fun of all is this we have no reafon to faint under of lietions, lince there is help in prayer; and there prayers are not in vain, be- ing excited by the fpirit dwelling in us; we are ignorant, and he teacheth us what to pray for, and afüfteth us by his holy infpirations: We are cold and backward, and he inflameth us and exciteth us to pray with fervour, and holy 6ghs and groans. The points from this verfe are three. 1. That the Holy fpirit Both flrengthen and bear its up in our we may not faint under them. 2. That prayer is one fpecial means, by which Gods holy fpirit troubles and a fffiliions. 3. That the prayers of the godly come from Godifpirit. For the firft point, That the holy fpirit doth firengt hen and and troubles, that we may not faint under them. The fence of this Doârine I (hall give you in thefe four Co weaknefs and troubles, that helps Gods children in their bear us up in our weaknefr nfiderations. I. That it is a great infirmity and weaknefi, if a Chri. flian fhould faint in the daj of tram- bk. The two extremes are, fighting and fainting: Heb r i. g. My fon, defpife not thé chafining of the Lord, nor faint under it. So Pro. 24, 10. If thoù fainteft in the day of trou- ble, thy ftrength is fmall ;'partly, becaufe there is fo little reafon for a Chriftians fainting Who fhould be more.undisturbed in the world than he, who hash God for his God,Chrifg for hisSaviour, and the Spirit for his Comforter, and Heaven for his portion? Partly; becaufe there is fomuch help from God; either be hath already obtained ftrength from God, which he doth not improve, or may obtain ftrength from God which he doth not feek after; God prayed unto, givetb deliverance or fupport, Pfal. 138. 3. In the day when 1 cryed, thou anfwereflme, and flrengthnedfl me with ftrengtb in my foul. And partly, becaufe of the mg-chiefs which follow this fainting. There is a two fold fainting, furl, there is a fainting which caufeth great trouble, perplexity, and deje&ion of fpirit, Heh. 12. 3. Left ye wax weary, and faint in your minds; Wearinefs is a leffer, fainting an higher degree of deficiency : in wearinefs, the body requirerh force reft or refrefhment 5 when the a&ive power is we kned, and the vital fpirits and principles of motion dulled. But in fainting, the vital power is contrafed, and retireth, and leaveth the outward parts, lifelefs and fenflefs: When a man is wearied, his ftrength is abated ; but when he faihteth, he is quite fpent. Thefe things by a metaphor are applyed to the foul or mind. A man is wearied, when the fortitude of his mind, or his fpiritual ftrength is broken, or beginneth to abate, or his foul fets unease under fufferings ; but when he finketh under the burden of grievous, tedious,and long afi &ions, then he is raid to faint ; The reafons or grounds of his comfort are quite fpenr. Now this isa great evil in a child of God; for the (pint of a man, or that natural courage that is in a reafonable Creature, will go far as to the friftainingof foreign evils,Prov.,8. t4. The [pint ofaman will fuflain his infirmity; And 'cis fuppofed ofa Christian, that his fpirit is found, and whole, being poffeffed of the love of God; and therefore though his natural courage be fpent, which goeth on probabilitiès, yet his faith and hope fhould not be fpent, which goeth on cer- tainties; nor be overmuch perplexed about worldly troubles, as if his mercy were clean gone, or his promife would fail; therefore a Christian fhould ftrive againft this, Pfd, 77. 7, 8, 9, io. Will the Lord call of for ever ? Will he be favourable no more? Is his mer- cy clean gone for ever? Doth his promife fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to begra- cióus? Hatb he in anger ¡but up his tender mercies? And I Paid, this is myinfrrmity; but 1 will remember the years of the right hand of the Maß High. 2. There is a fainting which caufeth dej<Clion, and falling off from God. Surely this worfe becometh the children of God, Revel. 2. 3. Thou hall born, and haft patience, and ball laboured, and haft not fainted. This maketh us call off our profeffion and pra!tice of godlinee, and fo cuts us off from all hope of reward; Gal. 6. 9. re fhall reap in due time, if ye faint not. 'Tis not raken there for Come wearinefs, orremifnefs, or perplexity, which may befall Gods children; but atotal defehtion: When troubles difcourage us in our duty, tis a step towards ir, and tended] to Aposfacy; which Christians fhould pre- vent in time. Heb. I 2. r 2, t 3. l'Vherefore lift up the 'hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make ftraoghl paths for your feet, teil that which is lame be turned out of the way. We often begin to him, and lag in Heavens way, being wearied and vexed with . the o(rpofitions of the czr,rii world, reproaching, threatning, and perfecuting us; but when
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