270 On the Nativity. ' the f~nfe of o'ur weaknefs, and the fear of. milling that eternal happine!; for 'vhich we· · were creat-ed? If thou be altog~tber grace-· Iefs~ fuch thoughts·would feldotil trouble thee; but if thou be really concerned in· religion, and hafi a ,mind to heaven ia· ear- . ndl:; if thou haft begui1 thy race, and art • preiling forward to obta!n th~ prize, thou l1aJt no reafon to be d1fcouraged or caft down. God loves thee better than thou dofl: either hin1 or·thyfelf; and holinefs is. . the genuine iffue of the divine na_ture :· and therefore he cannofhide his face frcm) it 1 , , I1e cannot dffert it as an outcaft thing in the world;. nay ne is realdy to cherifh' and affifl: it,. and perfect that gracious work, . which him!elf hath begttn. A'way then '\vith grou.ndlefs fears· and defpoq,dent · thoughts, which difhono\)r God, and wea-- ken our own hands. Encourag~ yourfel-- . vcs_with the atfurance of the di.vjne affill- . ance,.anq chearfully perfonn that which is., incumbent uoon yourfelves-. . Check the , . . I l ' fadnefs _of your fpirits, and cbi,fe yourfdf into better· temper;. as David did~ ·in Pfa!•.. xlii. and xliii.. · He took up his dt:ooping> mind,, with this cncouragen1ent,, ·why art ' thou cafl down--, a. nry·fou.l ?' &c.. But perhaps you will tell me, that·chear.. . . flll
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=