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DISC.
x.]
FAITH
BUILT
ON
KNOWLEDGE.
267
And
I
chuse to
make
this
remark a distinct
head
of
dis-
course, because
it
is
the very occasion
on
which
the
apos-
tle
introduces the words of
my
text.
Christ
has abolished
death,
ver.
10.
Ile
has
brought
life
and
immortality
to
light
by
the
gospel
:
This
I
am
well
acquainted
with,
saith the
apostle
;
for
this very
person, even Christ, my
Lord,
has
appointed
me
a preacher
of
this
doctrine
:
For
which cause
I
also
.sufer.
Nevertheless
I
am
not
ashamed
:
For
1
know whom
I
have
believed
;
and
I
am
persuaded
that
he is able to
keep
that
which
I
have
com-
mitted
unto
him
against that
day.
It
is
a point
of
folly
for a
man to
expose himself to
reproach, and pain, and death, without any solid reason;
or
just
hope
of
recompence. But
St.
Paul
was
no fool,
when he
was
ready
to be
bound and die for the name
of
Christ;
for he
looked forward
to the
last
great
day,
he
saw his
immortal
interest
safe
under
the
care
of
Christ,
whom he
had
well known
and
trusted
;
and therefore he
had
good
reason
to
venture
all on
earth
for the sake
of
such a
Friend
in
heaven.
He
saw
the recompence
se-
cure
in
the hands
of Christ;
and
therefore,
says he,
"
I
am
not
ashamed
of
my sufferings,
nor
of
my
faith.
Let
my
persecutors destroy
this
flesh,
but
they
cannot
touch
my soul
;
for
it
is
in safe
hands
:
I know
where
I
have
trusted
it.
Let
the
Jews or
the
Romans
kill
this
body,
but
it
shall be
raised up again
at
the
great
day, by
his
power,
to whom
I
have
committed
my all
for here and for
hereafter,
for
he
is
able to
expel death from
his
posses-
sions,
and make the grave
restore
all
its
prisoners.
I
know
his
power
to
subdue
all things to himself.
Let
them'load
me
with shame
and
reproaches
now,
but
I
shall
look
them
in
the
face in
that
day with
courage
;
and
they
shall tremble, and
be
confounded
with
everlasting
shame:
They
may
.
deprive
me
of
a mortal
life,
and
all
that
belongs to it
;
but they
cannot
rob
me
of
a blessed
immor-
tality;
for the Lord
of
life
hath taken charge
of
that
im-
portant
concern
;
and
I
am
assured
he
is
able
to
keep
it.
None
can
pluck
me
out
of
his
hand
:
He
will
present
me
safe
before
his
Father
in
that
day,
and
make
it appear
with divine evidence,
that
the
light
afflictions
.
which
I
suffer now
are not
worthy
to
be
compared
with
the glory
that is
then
to be
revealed.
He puts
me
into
the same