DISC. IX.)1 . FAITH BUILT ON KNOWLEDGE. 237 for the sake of the gospel. He had death in a near view, and was preparing for the bloody stroke. For in the sixth verse of the last ,chapter he says, I am now ready to be . ofered, and, the time ofmy departure is at hand ;. I have fought the goodfight, andmy course is finished. .,But he seems to assure himself upon the words of my text, and grows bold upon this foundation ofsolid com fort : As though he should say, " None of these things " move me, nor am I afraid to die ; for I shall not be " lost: I suffer; but am not ashamed : I know whoni " I have trusted to take care ofme in death, and all be- " yond it; even to the great day of retribution." It is pleasing and glorious to see this apostle, this little mean figure of a man, whose presence and whose speech were both contemptible: e Cor. x. 10. to see how he builds upon this hope, and assumes divine courage in the midst of pain and shame, in the very face of scandal and martyrdom. " Let me die out of this world, though " with infamy, violence, and blood ; but I have been " told of life, and joys, and honours, in the world to " come : and that with such evidence, as to constrain " my belief: And I know whom I have believed. Let " my barbarous executioner and the sword rob me of " the short remains of this 'present life ; but-I have " committed my soul, and all my infinite concerns, for " a long hereafter, into the hands of an almighty and a " sure Friend, and I am persuaded he is able to keep. " what Ilrave committed to hint against that day." This is the language of a lively hope, and these are the words that have administered constant support to ,many dying christians. Now that such a hope may appear to be rationally built upon this text, and that our present meditations and discourse may proceed with more regu- larity and profit, I must briefly explain the words. The chief things that want any explicatiop are these four: I. Who is this great Friend of St. Paul's whom he has known and believed. II. What he means by believing. III. What it is he has committed into the hands of this friend. IV. What is that day, or period of time, when he expected to find all safe which the had thus intrusted him with.
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