SEAM. XXiCIL3 OR REMEDIES AGAINST FEAR. 2`i Lordis good :- Blessed is the man that trusteth in him, "" Ps. xxxiv. 4-8. In the day when I Cried, thou an- sweredst me : and didst strengthen the with strength in My soul. Ps. cxxxviii. 3. IV Get a greater degree ofweanedness from the flesh," and from all-the delights and satisfactions that belong to this mortal life Then as you will not feel so great a pain' in being stripped of them, so neither will your soul be filled with terror, when you are in-danger of losing them. Learn to put off little of that sinful tenderness for self, which we brought into the world with us. One 'of the first lessons in the school of Christ. is self-denial ; Mat. xvi. 24. " Ifany man will come after me, that is, be my disciple; let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." It is a certain tender fondness for our flesh that makes us afraid of pain. It is a fondness for our name and re- putation that makes us afraid of reproaches. It is a fondness for our possessions, and our easy circumstanced in the world,' that makes us afraid of poverty : And too great a fondness for life makes us afraid of dying. When-1 soever therefore the cause of Christ plainly calls us to risk oui name and honour in the world, to part with our wealth or our ease, and to venture to expose life itself, we shrink from the command; slavish and sinful fear prevails mightily upon us, because we love earth; and self, and flesh better than we' ought to do. We must subdue this self-love, and unmanly softness, if we would approve ourselves as good soldiers of Jesus Christ, and gain a spirit ofsacred courage and resolution, We must be dead to the things of flesh and sense, . and gain a vie tory over the - complaints and groanings of nature. We. must gò as far as we can toward parting with right hands, and right eyes, in every sense of the words, ifwe would be christians indeed. V. Endeavour to keep yourselves always employed i`i7t some proper work, that your fears may be diverted when they cannot immediately be overcome. If our thoughts and hands are idle' and empty, ;we lie open to the irrva- sion and tumult of our fears, and we give then leave to assault us on all sides'. The passionand principle of this slavish fear, is mind
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