Serm. CLXIV. the troubles of Life. II. We fhould put a high value upon the Chriftian Religion ; and hold fall the profefon of it without wavering, which affords us fuch firm and folid grouíads of Comfort and Support under all Troubles and Af iiétiòns, as are no where elfe to be found; fuch as neither the Light of Nature, nor any other.Revelation that God ever made of himfelf to Mankind, do give us the notice and know- ledge of. III, Since the Prayers of Chrift are fo effe&ual and prevalent with God, let us by- frequent and fervent Prayers make our requefts known to God ; and let us with confidence aríd full affurance of Faith, addrefs our (elves to the Throne ofgrace, that we may obtain mercy, and find favour with himfor our feafonable help and fupport in the time of need. I (hall fpeak briefly to thefe, and fo con- clude this Difcourfe. I. In all Troubles and Adverfities of .what kind foever, under all Afili&iotts and Sufferings that may befal us, of lofs or pain, of poverty and ficknefs, of reproach and perfecution for righteoufnefs fake, and under the molt fearful ap- prehenfions of danger and diftrefs, to all human appearance inevitably threat- fling us, in our Perfons and private concernments, or with relation to the pub- lick peace and tranquillity, or to that which ought to be infinitely dearer to us than all thefe, our Religion, which is the great concernment of our Souls, and of all Eternity, when we have no hope any where elfe, no vifibie means of help and redrefs, when we are almoft in defpair -of avoiding the danger, and warding off the blow that is made at us, when ruin and deftrudion feem juft to have overtaken us, and are ready to devour us with open mouth, and to (wallow ua up quick; in a word, when we are reduced to the greateft extremity and diftrefs that can be imagined, even in this cafe, if ever it fhould hap- pen , we fhould fupport our minds with a firm belief of the Providence of Almighty God , and of his tender and compaffionate care of Mankind, efpe- cially of thole that fear himi, and put their truft in his mercy ; and comfort oiar felves, as the holy and divine Pfalmift does, in all our fears and troubles, What time Iam afraid, I will trufl in thee, Pfal. 56. 3. And he tells us, that every good Man hath ground and reafon for this confidence, Pfal. z r 2. 7, 8. fpeaking of the Righteous and Good Man, He fhall not, fags he, be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is fixed, trufling in the Lord. His heart is efablifhed, he (hall not be afraid. And Pfal. 27. t. The Lord is my light and my falvation; whom fhall Ifear? the Lord is the flrength of my life; of whom (hall I be a- fraid ? Pfal. 62. 5, 6, 7, 8. My foul, wait thou only upon God: for my expe/la- tion is from him. He only is my rock and my falvation; he is my defence, I (hall not be moved. In God is my falvation and my glory : the rock of my flrength, and my refuge is in God. Trull in him at all times, ye people, pour out your heart befóre him. God is a refuge for us. And Pfal. 46. z, 2, 7. God is our refuge and flrengtb ; a very prefent help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be removed; and though the mountains be carried into the midfl of the fea. The Lord of bolls is with us ; the God of 7acob is our re- fuge. To which I will add that comfortable promife, Ifa. 26. 3. Thou wilt keep bim in perfeël peace, wbofe mind is flayed on thee; becaufe he trufleth in bee. Thus we may, in all conditions that may befal us, in our greateft fears and troubles, cafe our hearts, by repofing our felves upon God, in confi- dence of his fupport and deliverance of his Care and Providence, to pre- vent and divert the evils we fear ; or of his gracious help to bear us up under them ; and of his Mercy and Goodnefs to deliver us out of them, when he fees it belt ; provided always that we be careful of our duty to him, and do what becomes us, and nothing elfe. For our more particular direftion herein. 421 z. Let
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