Dac, x,] FAITH BUILT ON KNOWLEDGE. 4ß,^i to the saint, that the powers of hell are all led captive, and trodden under foot by him who is the guardian of hit eternal welfare : He knows that his Lord will save him from the mouth of the lion, " will deliver hirn from every evil work ; and will preserve him to his heavenly king- dom;" 2 Tint. iv. 17. Under a sense of fresh guilt, and sins of daily infir- mity, the christian mourns bitterly, because of his fail- ings and follies, but hopes for security from ruining transgressions, and the unpardonable sin ; because the virtue of the atonement in which he trusts is eternal Christ has undertaken to preserve him from final apos- tacies, though the best ofsaints are not secured here from the workings of sin. And under these discomposures of mind, and the fre- quent vexations and uneasinesses in the things of this life, that may ruffle their tempers, had it not been for -their acquaintance with Christ, they had been sometimes ut- terly overcome ; but how often have they retired into their closets, and left the tumult of their thoughts behind them in the world, while they went converse with him by prayer, who had the care of their spiritual concerns? Or, at least, they have cried unto the Lord because of those uneasy companions ; have_shook them off in his presence with holy anger, and returned into the world again with serenity in their countenances, and victory and peace, in their souls. 'Ibis strength they derive from their blessed Lord, whom they have chosen for their di- vine guardian, Under the weakness ofour graces, and the inconstancy of our tempers, it is a matter ofrelief to an humble saint, that the keeper of his soul is compassionate, and pities his frailties; is almighty, and will strengthen him under his weaknesses is unchangeable, the same yesterday, to- day, and for ever. The lambs of his flock are weak, and cannot follow him in some rugged and difficult paths; then " he gathers the lambs with his arms, and carries them in his bosom ;" Is. xl. 11. And there are some of the sheep of his fold that are ready to straggle into for- bidden ways, to wander abroad, and lose themselves in the wilderness : But " the Lord is their Shepherd, he restoreth their souls, and leads them again into the why pf righteousness, for his name's sake ;" Ps. xxiii. 3. In an hour of desertion, when God has withdrawn his
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