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HOLY
FortTivunt,
[SHAM.
Our
blessed
Lord joins
frequently
in
the
same probi
k
bition
of
a
slavish
fear;
Mat.
x.
2t3.
"
Fear not
them
which can
kill
the body, but
are,
not
able
to
kill
the
soul;
but
fear
him
rather,
who
can
destroy
body
and
soul in
hell." And
Peter,
who once
wanted
courage, and
de-
nied
his
Lord, in
his
elder and
better
days,
grew
bolder
for
the
name'of
Christ, and
he forbids
us
"
to
be
afraid
-or
troubled
at
the terror of
men,"
1
Pet.
iii.
14.
He
repeats
the charge
Of
the prophet. Isaiah,
sanctify
the
Lord
of
hosts in
your
heart;
Is. viii.
13.
the
Lord
of
hosts
alone
is
the
proper
object
of
our supreme fear,
This
will
over
-rule and
abolish all
other
fears,
as
the little
noises
of
earth
are lost
in
the thunders of
heaven.
The
fear of God
in
a sublime degree
will be
an effectual
cure
of
our sinful
fear
of
creatures.
Ít
is
true, the principle
of
fear
is
a
natural
affection,
it
is
rooted
in
flesh
and
blood,
it
grows high
and
domi-
neers, especially
in
some constitutions, and
when
the
natural
spirits are enfeebled,
it
.
still gains
the
greater
ascendancy over
us
:
But
if
it
be
indulged and encou-
raged, it
soon}
becomes
sinful,
for
it
seems to
stand op-
posite
to
the grace
of
faith,
and too often prevails over it.
Therefore Christ chides
his disciples, when they
were
affrighted in the storm
while he was in
the
ship
;
"Why
are
ye so
fearful
?
How
is
it
that
ye
have no
faith?'
Mark
iv. 40. And even
when.
Peter
was
walking
upon
the
water,
and Christ
was
near
him, he
saith,
"
O thou
of
little
faith,
wherefore didst thou
doubt?'
Mat.
xiv.
31.
Fora
Christian
to
give
himself up
to
the
wild
tyranny
of
his fears,
is
contrary
to the very
spirit and
design
of
the
gospel
of
Christ;
Rom.
viii.
15.
"
Ye
have
not
re-
ceived the spirit'
of
bondage to fear,
but,,the spirit of
adoption. The spirit of
power and love,"
2
Tim.
i. 7.
Remember then
you
are the sons and daughters
of God:
It
is
below
the
dignity
of your character
to yield to
this
slavery,
and. your
Father
himself reproves, and your
Redeemer
forbids
it
IX.
Think of the
Many
advantages
that
arise
froth
a
hholy.fortitud'e
of spirit
in
the midst
of
dangers. This
divine
temper of
mind
will
establish
your feet
on a rock
in the
midst.
df
storms,
it
will
animate
you
to
practise
;every duty,
and
to prevent
Many
of
the
mischiefs you
fear. This
will
preserve
the soûl
in
a
sacred serenity
and