Sean. C.LXII. the trouble.' of Life. 41f of glory and of God refieth upon you. The Spirit of God is there promifed, to ftrengther and fupports all that fuffer for the name ofChrift, in a very confpicu- eus and glorious manners according to that Prayer of St. Paul, Col. i. tt. that Chriftians might be flrengthned with all might, according to God's glorious power, unto alllongfuffering with joyfulnefr. For when Gad exercifethgood Men with try- als more than human, and fufferings whichare beyond the ordinary rate ofhuman ftrength and patience to bear, he hath engaged himfelf to a11ìí1 and endow them with,more than human courage and refolution. SoSt. Paul tells the Corrians, who had not yet felt the utmoft rage of Perfecution, e Cor. ro. r3. No tenWation, or tryal, bath yet befallenyou, but what is common to men i nothing but hat is 'frequently incident to human Nature, and what by an ordinary afliftance ofGod's Grace, Men may grapple with g but in cafe God calls Men to extraordinary' Suf- ferings, He isfaithfulthat bathprotnifed, who will not fuffer you to be tempted above what ye are able g but will with the temptation alo i makea way to efcetpe, thutye may be able to bear it. And why fhouldwe he daunted at the weight óf átì af- fliltion, if webe affured that our ftrength (hall be increafed in proportion to our burden. And wherever this promife is not made good, there is fòme defel} oh out part either Men are not fincere in theprofeifton of the Truth, and then nowonder if they fall for fear of fuffering 5 or they have been too confident of themfelves, and have not with that earneftnefs and importunity they ought, prayed to God for his grace and affiftance, and thereupon God hath juftly left them to try their ftrength againft a violent and powerful temptation : as he did Peter, who for all his confidence, did upon no very great temptation deny his Saviour; but even in this cafe, where there is Truth and Sincerity at the bottom, God gives to fuch Perfons, as he did to Peter, the opportunity of recovering themfelves by Repen- tance. There are three particulars more remain, but I (hall proceed no farther at this time. Ggg SER-
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