Vol. I. whole World, and lofe his own Soul ? That is, his Life. And fo likewife yob. r 2.25 He that loveth his life, fhalllofe it : And he that hateth his Life in this'(?%rld, (in the Original the Word fignifies Soul) Pk that hateth his Life in this World ; (that is, who negleð and expofeth his Life in, this World, for the fake of Chrifl) (,hall keep it unto Life Eternal. And Lulje 9. 25. that which the other Evangelift renders by the Word Soul, - or Life, he renders himfelf ; for what is a whin ad- vantaged, ifhe gain the whole World, and lofe himfelf? And fo here in the Text, to commit the keeping ofour Souls to God, is to commit our felves to his Care and Providence. Thirdly, What is here meant by committing our felves to him in well-doing ? By well-doing is here meant, a fix(Purpofe and B efolution ofdoing our Duty, not- withftanding all Hazards andSufferings ; which is cail'd by St. Paul, Rom. 2. 7. .A patient continuance in well-doing. It fignifies fometimes of Gaodnefs and Charity ; But in this Epifile it is takers in larger Senfe, for Conftancy and Refo- lution in the doing ofour Duty ; as Chap. 2. 15. forfo is the will of God, that with well-doing (that is, by a Refolute Conftancy in a goodCourfe) ye may put to Renee the ignorance offoolifh Men. And ver. 20. But ifwhen ye do well, and fuf. fer for it (That is, if when ye fuffer for well doing) ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. And Chap. 3. ver. 6. As long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement; that is, are Refolute and Confiant in doing your Duty, notwithftanding all Threattlings and Terrors. And ver. 17. For it is better, ifthewill ofGod befo, that ye fuffer for well doing, than for evil-doing; that is, for your Religion and Conftancy in fogood a Caute, as Chriltians, and not as Criminals upon any otheraccount. So that the plain meaning of the words is, as if the Apoftle had laid, where- fore being forewarned of Suffering and Perfecution for the Caufe of Religion, the Summ of my dire(tion and advice upon the whole matter is this ; that lince it is the will of God that ye should fuffer upon this account, commit your felves in the conftant difcharge ofyour Duty, and a goodConfcience, to the particular Care and Providence of AlmightyGod, as your faithful Creator. And now I come to handle the particular Pointscontained in the words ; and they are theft Three. Fir(i, That when Men do buffer really and truly for the Caufe of Religion, they may withConfidence commit themfelves (their Lives and all that is dear to them) to the particular and more efpecial Care of the Divine Providence. Secondly, Always provided, that we do nothing contrary to our Duty, and a good Confcience; for this the Apoftlemeans, by committing our felves to God, in well-doing. Ifwe ftep outof theway of our Duty, or do any thing contrary to it, God's Providence will not be concerned for us, to bear us out in fuch Suf- ferings. Thirdly, I (hall confider what ground of Comfort and Encouragement the Confiderationof God, as afaithful Creator, affords to us in all our Sufferings, for a goad Caufe, and a goodConfcience. Firfi, When Men do, fuffer really and truly for the Caufe of Religion, and God's Truth, they may with confidence and good affurance commit themfelves, (their Lives and all that is fo dear to them) to the particular and more efpecial Care of his Providence. In the handling of this, I (hall confider thefe three things. I. WhenMen may be Paid to buffer really and truly for the Caufe of Religion; and when not. H. How far they may rely upon the Providence of God, to bear them out in thefe Sufferings. III. What Ground and Reafon there is to expeEt the more particular and efpe- cial Care of God's Providence, in cafe of fuch Sufferings. I. When Men may be faid to buffer really and truly for the Caufe of Religion, and God's Truth; and when nor. In theft Cafes. FirfI, When Men buffer for not renouncing the true Religion, and becaufe they will not openly declare againft it, and apoftatize from it. But it will be laid, that in all theft Cafes the Qucttion is, What is the true Religion? To which
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