34 HOLY FORTITUDE, [sERn1. xxxtt, while you stand approved of God. Infamy amongst men is but a trifling evil if compared with praise, honour and, glory among the saints before the throne, and the .ap- plause of.Jesus and his angels at the last great day. You are frighted with the hideous appearance of po- verty, because scorn, attends it as well as want. But our blessed Lord had not where to lay his head; he was fed by the bounty of kind friends and pious: women, who ministred to hirn of their substance. The great and the wise, the rich and the learned of that day, made him their mockery : The very finger of scorn pointed at him in the streets: And why should the disciple think it ne- cessary that he should be above his Lord ? You may be " poor in this world, and at the same time rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom," James ii. 5." You are afraid of sickness and pains of the flesh, and your life becomes a burthen to you, by reason of your constant dread of some infectious distempers. You shift your dwellings, you hide yourself at home, and yet you enjoy no peace. Suppose the distemper should seize you, has not sickness often brought your soul nearer to God ? And if your outward man has decayed, your in- ward man and your best interest have had a richadvance- ment thereby. You are terrified at the threatenings of bloody men. It must be granted, that flesh has a strong empire over the soul, where dangers of torment and death appear. But suppose men ofviolence kill the body, then you will be dismissed at once from all their fury, and from your own fears. Their terror cannot reach beyond the grave; that is a safe and peaceful hiding place. But perhapsyou are frighted at the thoughts of dying, even in the common way of nature: It may be, the king of terrors dresses himself in formidable airs, and shakes your very frame: But would you live here on earth for ever? Achristian who has hopes and interests, and possessions beyond the regions of time and sense, should not be afraid to enter upon them. Remember that death. itself, even in its most formidable appearance, is ordained of God to open the door of heaven for you, and let your souls into the joy of eternal life : Thegrace of your Redeemer, and the epistle of St. Paul, join to teachyouthissòng, " Odeath, where is thy sting ? And O grave, where is thy victory ? " 1 Cor. xv. .55.
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