Serm. XLVI. under their Suferings for Religion. 3 2'a beard him and been taught by him, ac the truth it in yefus. They who are rightly in(tru&ed in the Chriftian Religion, are fo far from thinking it lawful to do any thing that is evil, to bring others under fuffering, that they do not allow it in any Cafe whatfoever, no, not for the Caufe of God and Religion, and to free themfelves from the greateft Sufferings that can be infft£ted upon them. 3. Provided alfo, that we do truft the Providence of God, and do indeed commit our felves to it; relying upon his Wifdom and Goodnefs, and entirely fubmitting and refigning up our felves to his Will and Difpofal, both as to the Degree and the Duration of our Sufferings; believing that he will do that for us, which upon the whole Matter, and in the final Iffue and Refult of Things, will be belt for us. ThatBlefling, wherewith Mofes the Man of God bleft the People of Ifrael before his Death, doth belong to Good Men in all Ages : He loveth his People, and all his Saints are in his hand, Deut. 33. 3. Innumerable are the Pro- mifesin Scripture concerning the merciful Providence and Good nets of God, to- wards thofe who tru.fl in him, and hope in his Mercy. Pfal. 32. to. Manyforrows jl,all be to the wicked : But hethat trufieth in the Lord, mercy (hall compafs him about. Pfal. 33. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22.. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him : lJpon them that hope in his mercy : To deliver their Soul from death, and to keep them alive infamine. Oar Soul waiteth for the Lord : he is our help and our fhield. For our heart ¡hall rejoice in him : becaufe we have trufted inhis holy Name. Let thy Mercy, 0Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. Pfal. 34.22. The Lord redeemeth the Soul ofhis Servants : And none of them that trull in hint ¡hall be. defolate. Pfal. 37. 39, 40. But the falvation of the Righteous is of the Lord, he is theirftrength in the time of trouble. And the Lord ¡hall help them and deliver them : He ¡hall deliver them from the wicked, and fave them becaufe they truff in him. Pfal. 31. 19. 0 howgreat is thy goodnefi, which thou hall laid up for them that fear thee ; which thou haft wrought for them that truft in thee before the Sons ofMen I Pfal. 55'. 22. Gaff thyburden upon the Lord, and he fhall fuflain thee : He (ball neverPuffer the Righteous to be moved. Pfal. 125. 1. They that trp.fl in the Lord ¡hall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. Efa. 26. 3,, 4. Thou wilt keep him in perfeíl peace, .whole mind k flayed on thee, becaufe he trufleth in thee. Trull ye in the Lord for ever : For in the Lord yehovab k everlaflin,g ffrength. 4. Provided yet further, that we pray earneftly to God for his gracious Help and Afliffance, for his merciful Comfort and Support under Sufferings; that he would be pleated to ftrengthen our Faith, and to encreafe and lengthen out our Patience, in proportion to the Degree and Duration of our Sufferings. All the Promifes which God hath made to us, are upon this Condition, That we earneftly Peek and fue tohim for the Benefit and Bleffing of them. Pfal. 5o. 15. Callupon me in the dayoftrouble; Iwill deliver thee, and thou halt glorifie me. Ezek. 36. 37. After a great Deliverance, and many Bleffingspromifed to them, this Con- dition is at late added, Thusfaith the, Lord God, Iwill yet for this be enquiredof by the houfe ofIfrael, to do it for them. And this likewife is the Tenor of the Pro- mifes of theNew Teftament, Mat. 7. 7. Ask, and it ¡hall be given you : feek, andye ¡Tallfind : knock, and it (hall be openedunto you. And in this very Cafe that I am fpeaking of, God expe&s that we thould apply our felves to him for Spiritual Wifdom and Grace, to behave our (elves under Sufferings as we ought: jam. I. 2, 3, 4. Where (peaking of the manifold Temptations that Chriftians- would be exercifed withal, he direlts them to pray to God for Wifdom to demean them- felves under Perfecutions, with Patience, and Conftancy, and Chearfulnefs, My Brethren, account it all joy, when ye fall into divers Temptations; (meaning the Temptations andTryals of Suffering in feveral kinds) Knowing this, that the try- ing ofyour Faith worketh Patience. But let Patience have its perfeti work. And be- caufe this is a very difficult Duty, and requires a great deal of Spiritual Skill, to demean our felves under Sufferings as we ought, therefore he adds in the next Words : If any of you lack Wifdom, let him askofGod, that giveth to allMen libee rally, and upbraideth not ; and it ¡hall begiven him. T t And
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