Serin. CLXI. the Troubles ofLife. 405 . tience, his perfeft Submiffion to the Providence of God, the perpetual cheerful- nefs and ferenity, the unmoveable conftancy and equality of his mind, according to a right eftimation of things, the greater and more glorious Perfon of the two So that goodMen are always fecure, as to the main and the effentials of Hap- pinefs ; under all outward affliftions and fufferings of the body; they may Rill retain a wife and virtuous mind, which is that good part which cannot be taken from them ; and if they retain that, they are fure of the Favour of God, and the Countenance of Heaven, whichalone is fufficient to make any condition happy. III. Another groundof comfort is, That if God govern the World, he can either prevent and divert the greateft evils that threaten us, or if they come upon, us, he can fupport us under them, and deliver us out of them : And if we be good; and it be for our good, he will do one of thefe for us; either he will prevent the evil, that it fhall not come, if that be befit for us ; or if afiftion fall heavy upon us, he will fupport us under it ; and if our ftrength be increafed in proportion to the weight of our burthen, it is aswell as if he had efcaped it, nay perhapsmuch better, confidering the Benefit and Rewardof it. But how grievousfoever it be, he can, when he pleafeth, deliver us from it; and he will do it prefently if it be for our good; and if it be not, it is not really defirable to us to be fo foon freed from it. IV. And laß!,, which is confequent upon the former particulars, it is certain upon the whole matter, and upon the balancing of all accounts, that in every condition good Men have much more caufe of comfort and joy, than of dejeftion and trouble. Let our fears be as great, and our prefent fufferings as heavy as they can, thereare confiderations of fo great moment to be put in the otherScale, as will infinitely out-weigh them, and make them feem light, The confiderati- on of our immortal duration in a future ftate, and of the endlefs and unfpeakable happinefsof another World, are of that folidity and weight, that thefe light. £lions, as the Apoftle calls them, whichare butfor a moment, are no wife worthy to be comparedwith them. What tho' our paffage through this World be never fo ftoriny and tempeltuousi we fhall at laft arrive at a fafe Port. Heaven is a fure fan&uaryand retreat from all theevils and affli&ions which we are liable to, and which many tines purfue us fo clofe in this mortal ftate. It is but exercifing our Faith and Patience for a very littlewhile, and all will be well with us ; much better thanif we hadnever been afflifted, and had been wholly exempted from all forts of fufferings in this World. We have no pretence to the crown of life, if we do not overcomè; and there can be no conquell without fome confliït. But becaufe the Chriftian Religion does give us the greateft, if not the only firm affurance of the Happinefs of another life, which when all is done, is the great fupport and cordial of our fainting Spirits, under the troubles and affli&ions of this life, therefore I (hall not now enlarge farther upon it, but refer it to the fecund head of my Difcourfe, which I propofed to fpeak to inthe next place; viz. What farther Confiderations of comfort and fupport, Faith inChrift, and the firm belief the Chriftian Religiondoes afford to goodMen, for the allaying and miti- gatingof their Fears and Troubles. Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe elfo in me. But this I fhall refer to fome other opportunity. SER
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