414 ,The true Remedy againa Vo1.II. we put up to him according to his will. And this the Apoftle to the Hebrews mentions more than once, as an argument to them to continue ftedfaft in the pro- feffìon of their Religion, notwithftanding the Perfecution that attendedit, becaufe we may at all times addrefs our felves to God in confidence of his gracious help and afliftance. Heb. 4. ad. After he had exhorted them to hold fall their profe/fn on, as an encouragement thereto, he adds the free accefs we may have to God for bis help and fupport Let us therefore, fays he, come, boldly, or with great free- dom and confidence, to the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find favour with him for our feafonable help and fuccour. And to the fame purpofe, Chap. to. 19, 20. Having therefore, freedom to enter into the holiefl by the blood of 7efts, that is, having accefs to God in Prayer by Jefus Chrift i Let us draw near with a true heart, in fìall affirrance of Faith, that is in perfe& confidence that our Prayers will be gracioufly heard and anfwered ; upon which he adds, Let us hold' fall the profe/fion of our Faith without wavering, for he is faithful that bath pro- coifed If we continue ftedfaft to God, and the profeflion of his Truth, he will make good all that he hath promifed, both of prefent fupport under our fufferings, and of the glorious reward of them in another life : He will- hear our Pray- ers, and grant us the aids and fupplies of his Grace. as we (land in need 'of them. IV. The Chriftian:Religion propounds to us, the heft and moft admirable Pat- tern 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 chearful fubmiflìon to the will of God in the faddeft condition to which.humane Nature is incident: and that is the Pattern of our Bleffed Saviour, who for this reafon among others, was fo great a fufferer in fo many kinds, that he might go before us in this rough and difficult way, and leave as an Example that we fhould follow his flees, that wemight learn from him how to calm and quiet our fpirits, to appeafè and hufh the tumults of our Paflìons, under the fevereft difpenfation of God's Providence towards us, and to bend our wills to a patient fubmiflion to the will of our heavenly Father, under the fox-eft afhiftions and fharpeft fuffer- ings. For tho' our Bleffed Saviour prayed fo earueftly to his Father, that that . bitter 'Cup might pafs from him, yet how quietly and chearfully did he refign and yield up himfelf to the will of God, faying, Yet not my will: but thine be done ! Humane Nature fhrunk and gave back at the fight of his dreadful fufferings : but his Reafon over-ruled the Inclinations of Nature, and kept him to a fteady re- folution of fubmitting to the will of God. And therefore when Peter attempted his refcue, he commanded him to deufl, faying, Put up thy fword into the (heath a The Gimp which my Father bath given me, pall Ina drink it : f ohn 18. t r.. And tho' he had as quick a fenfe of fuffering as any Man, yet with what patience didhe pof- fefs his foul ! with what meeknefs and humility of fpirit did he bear and yield to it! He was led as a Lamb to the flaughter, and as a Sheep before the Shearers is dumb, f oo heopened not his mouth. When he was reviled, be reviled not again.; when he fuffered, he threatned not: but committed himfelf to him thatjudgeth righteoufy. And thus it became the Captain of our Salvation, that he might be a perfe& Pat- tern to us of patience and fubmilton to the will of God, of a meek. and undiftur- bed mind, under the greateft bodily pains; and the extream anguifh of his Soul, to be made perfefi by fufferings. So that under the greateft prefent evils, or the molt fearful apprehenfionof fu- ture evil and fuffering, we fhould fix our eye ftedfaftly upon thisgreat and glori- ous Example of Patience and Conftancy and Meeknefs, of a due fenfe, and yet of a moll decent behaviour under the heavieft load of affli&ion, that was ever laid upon any of the Sons of Men; Looking, as the Apoflle exhorts, Heb. 12. 2, 3. Looking unto 7efus, the Author and Finifher of our Faith; who for the joy that was fedbefore him, endured the Croft, and defpifed the Paine i and confidering him, who endured fuck contradiblion of(inners againfi himfelf; left we be weary and faint in our minds. And
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