406 The true Remedy againf Vol.II. SERMON CLXII. The true Remedy againif the troubles of life. JOHN XIV. r. Let not your heart be troubled : ye believe in God ; believe alto in me. The fecond Have confidered thefe words as an úniverfal Remedy againft Trouble: And in sermon on íhewing what virtue and force there is in this Remedy, have confidered; fAir rat. y. , Firfi, That Faith in God is a proper and molt powerful means to mitigate and allay our trouble, and to fupport and quiet our minds under it. I nowproceed in thefecond place to. Phew what farther Confiderations of Comfort and Support,Faith inChrift,and the firm belief ofthe Chriftian Religion, do afford good Men, for the allaying and mitigating of their greateft Fears and Troubles. Let notyour bears be troubled; ye believe in God, believe alfo in me. I thall men- tion thefe five. I. Faith in Chrift, or the belief ofthe Chriftian Religion, gives us full and per- feet affurance of Immortality, and of the glorious and eternal Rewards of ano- ther World. II. It promifeth to every fincere Chriftian the inward Affiftance, and Support, and Comfort of God's Holy Spirit, to bear up the weaknefs of humanNature un- der its heávieft preffures of Fear, or Grief; or Pain. III. It affures us of the fpecial efficacy of our Prayers with God, eitherfor our deliverance fromTrouble, or for the Aids and Supports of his Grace under it. IV. It propounds to us the heft and molt admirable Pattern that ever was, of Patience and Conftancy of mind under the apprehenfion of approaching evils, or the fenfe of prefent fufferings ; and of a contented and cheerful fubmiflion to the Will of God, in the faddeft condition to which humanNature is incident. V. It affures us of a molt compafliionate; and prevalent, and perpetual Patron, and Advocate, and Interceffor with God forus. Ic Faith in Chrift; or the Doftrine of the Chriftian Religion, gives us full and perfeft affuranceofImmortality, andof the glorious and eternalRewards of another World: Of this the world was verydoubtful and uncertain before, and had but obfcure and wavering, apprehenfions about it. And tho' the generality of man- kind hadnaturally fome glimmering apprehenfions of another life after this, and ferret hopes and expeftations of a future reward for good Men that were hardly- ufed in this world ; yet the Philofopherss had wrangled, and difputed the matter into fo much uncertainty, that mankind was very much ftaggered about it, and the doubts and difficulties that were raifed about it did very much break the force, and weaken the influenceof fo great and weighty a Confideration. Thus it was among the Gentiles. And under the Law of Mofes, tho' the 7ews had fuch apprehenfionsof their own immortality, and of a future flare of rewards and punifhments, as natural light fuggefted to them ; yet that Covenant and Dif- penfation added but very little to the clearing of thefe notions, and the ftrength- nii g of this perfwafion.in the minds of men; it did rather fuppofe it, than add any new ftrength and force to it : fpr under that Difpenfation the eyes of Men were,generally fixt upon temporal promifes and threatntngs : tho' as the times of the Meffraa grew nearer, and the fufferings of that People fharper, they began to. have a
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