BERM. XXXI.) OR REMEDIES AGAINST FEAR. 16 Thus I have given you variety of instances both of ac- tive and passive valour, as they are to be exercised in the christian life : I fear they are too many for the best and boldest of us to practise, even under all our advantages. But in order to render them a little more easy to chris- tians, the following motives and directions may give some assistance under the influence of the blessed Spirit. And these shall be the subject of the next discourse. THE RECOLLECTION. And now, O my soul, it is time to turn thy thoughts inward; and enquire, howmuch of this discourse is suited to thy own case ? Thou acknowledgest there is a God, but art thou not sometimes ashamed to call upon him in the morning for his presence all the day, lest thy compa- nions should know thou hast been upon thyknees ? Hast thou courage to ask a blessing on thy food in the place where others deride the practice Thou hast learned and thou hast believed the religion ofChrist, but hast thou ever yet had courage enough to make a solemn and public profession of it? Hast thou ever yet publicly given thy name up to Christ as one of his subjects, and joined thyself to his visible kingdom' amongst men ? Or art thou only a believer in secret, ashamed to make profession of thy faith, byjoining thy- self to some christian assembly? If this be thy state, thou hast now a loud call to add fortitude to thy faith, and assume christian courage to profess the sacred name in which thou hast believed. Or art thou a professor of this holy religion ? Thou hast listed thyself under the banner of Christ, in these days of liberty and peace, and while thou dwellest among . those who encourage thy faith and profession. But en- quire into thyself, bast thou such a love to the gospel, as to glory in it even amongst infidels, who make it the ob- ject of their mockery and reproach ? Has this divine religion so deep a root in thy heart, as to bear and resist the storms .of the world, and to stand firm and flourish still ? Hast thou courage to declare thyself a disciple of the cross, and a professor of a crucified Saviour, when thou shalt happen to be in the company of those who blaspheme him ? Hast thou obtained holy boldness enough to practise virtue - when it is out of fashion, and'eanst thou refuse 10 1
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