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266

FAITH

HUTLT ON

KNOWLEDGE.

[MSC.

X;

joys,

when

the light

of

his

countenance

is

concealed, and

darkness

lies

upon the

spirit,

the believer holds fast

his

hope, though

his

rejoicings are

interrupted

;

for

he

has

committed

his

soul

to

the care

of

Christ,

who has full in-

terest

with

the

Father, and

can prevail for the recovery

of

his

joys

again.

While

he

"

walks

in

darkness, and

has

light

of

comfort,

still he can

trust

in

the name

of

the

Lord,

and stay upon

his

God

;"

Is.

1.

lo.

Under

sickness,

and

pains

of

nature, that threaten

a

dissolution

of

the

body,

the pillow

of

a believer

lies

easy

tinder

his

head

for his soul,

his

dearest part

is

in

safe

keeping

and

cannot

perish. Amidst

all

the languishings

of nature,

we

have often

heard

the

triumphs

of

grace

from the mouth

of

a

lively

christian.

"

If

I

walk

through the

valley

of

the shadow

of

death,

I

will

fear no

evil

;

for

my

almighty

Friend

is

with

me;"

Ps.

xxiii..

4.

I

know that

if

:

the

tabernacle

of

this

earthly

house

be

dissolved,

I

have'a

building

of God, a

house

not

made

with

hands,

eternal

in

the heavens.

There

is

a mansion

above

prepared

for

me by

him, who

has the care

of

my

eternity. He

went

up

on high, on

purpose to

prepare a

.

place,

and

he

will

come

again,

and take

me to

himself;

that

where

he

is,

there

I

may be

also

;

if

it

were

not

so,

he would

have told

me;

for

I

know whom

I

have

trusted;

and

whither

he

is

gone

I

know,

and

the

way

I

know;"

Cor.

v.

i.

John

xiv.

2,

3,

4.

Upon

this

view

and assurance,

the dying

saint attempts

the

praises

of

his Lord,

and practises something like the

worship

of

heaven before

-hand

:

To

lhinz

that

is

able to

keep me

froin

falling,

and

will

present mefaultless

before

the

presence

of

his

glory

with

exceeding

joy,

be

glory

and

majesty,

dominion

and

power,

both

now

and

ever.'

Amen.

Jude

24, 25.

Vth Remark.

See

whence ariseth the divine

and ama-

zing

courage

that

some

christians have expressed

under

the foulest reproaches

and sharpest

sufferings

for the sake

of

the gospel. This

holy

fortitude

springs

from

a

good

acquaintance

with

the person

of

Christ, and

a

full

per-

suasion

of

his

ability

to save.

When

we

are ignorant

and

in

the dark,

we

are afraid

of

every

thing, but

courage

is

the

effect

of

light and .knowledge.

A

faith

that

is

well

founded

on a due knowledge

of

Christ, can raise

the

suf,

fering christian above the power

of

shame

and

fear.