ss HOLY TOlITlTt'At, {SEAM. XXX1t. gled with our flesh and blood, and therefore we must em- ploy even our flesh and blood in some better business, that we may turn the current of animal nature, and leave the imagination no leisure to sit brooding over its own terrors. Want of occupation and engagement of the powers of nature, exposes the mind of man to the inroad of all the frightful images, that fancy can furnish out, and to all the terrifying suggestions of a watchful and ma- licious tempter. That wicked spirit has some strange and unknown methods of access to our souls : He will worry the sheep of Christ with terrors, when he is not suf- fered to devour or destroy them ; and an unbusiedmind is prepared to admit his worst temptations. But while I am pressing you to find out some employ- ment for yourselves, take care that it be such as may ap- prove itself to God and your own consciences. We must be ever found in the way ofduty, as I hinted before, if we would support a holy courage. It is only the righteous that hasjust reason to be bold as a lion : Be ready to meet Christ the Judge, and his glorious appearance at all times, and then you need net fear all that earth or hell can do against you. [If this sermon be too long, it may be divided here.] Let us proceed now to propose some further remedies against this slavish passion of fear. VI. Keep your eye fixed on the hand of God in all the affairs of men, View his powerful and over-ruling providence in all things, even in those things that awaken your most troublesome fears. Think with yourselves, that you put creatures in the place of God, if you fear them more than God, as though they were the sovereign lords and disposers of all your comforts. Learn to see God in all things, and behold him in all things as your God, and then creatures will have but little influence to awaken any of the passions of the. soul, or to raise dis- tressing fears withinyou. Are your spirits so weak, that thunder and lightning, and the storms of the air affright you ? Think who it is that commands the tempests to arise, and quashes- the storms at his pleasure. In whose hand is the thunder ? Who kindles the lightning Who directs the flashes, and ggides every sweeping blast of wind or fire to its, ap-
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