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geS
FAITH AvILT
ON
XNOWLEDOE.
rD2SC.
X;
promise
with
himself;
if
I
suffer with
him;
I
shall also
reign
with him
And
his
promises
are
an
eternal
secu
rity.
I
know whom
I
have
believed."
Thus
you
see
what a
'glorious
encouragement
may be assumed from
such
an
acquaintance
with
Christ,
to
endure
the cross,
and
.despise
the shame for
the
sake
of Christ
and
his
gospel.
I.
grant there
have been
weak christians
of
lower
de=
grees
of
knowledge,
that
have
borne
sufferings
and mar-
tyrdom
with
a courage
beyond all
expectation. There
have
been some babes
in
Christ,
that
could
not
dispute
for
the truth, yet they could die for
it.
.
But
let
it
be
noted,
that
such
persons have had generally
but
small
advantage
for
improvement
in
knowledge;
either they
were young
converts,
or had but mean
natural
parts,
or a
poor education
;
yet a sincere
zeal
for
their Lord
:
And
perhaps
also they had
a bright and strong experimental
knowledge
of
the
gospel,
by
its
sweet and sanctifying in-
fluences.
Now
when such
as
these have
been called
out
by
providence
to
bear a
testimony to the truth,
they have
had a
mouth and
wisdom given
them immediately from
heaven,
which all
their adversaries
have not. been
able
to
gainsay,
nor
resist
:
And
this,
accordin
to
the
promise.
made
to
the
apostles,
in
their infancy of-understanding
;"
Luke
xxi.
15.
They have
been upheld
under their
tor-
ments
by
the arms
of
Christ,
and
by
his
sensible
pre
-
sence
:
Their
divine
fortitude
bath
been all
inspiration.
But
you
that
have fair and
daily
opportunities
for
a large
acquaintance
with
the
gospel, have no
reason to expect
Such
miracles for
your
assistance
in
our
day,
if
ye
refuse
the appointed means
of
hearing,
reading and
meditation.
Take
this
further
advice
also
along
with you
:
While
you
are
treasuring up
truth,
seek
after
holiness,
and
every
grace.
See
to
it,
that
all
the
knowledge
you gain by these
methods
be
wrought into your
very
souls,
and
that
you
experience the
sanctifying and comforting power
of
these
truths
on
your
consciences,
your
passions,
and your
lives.
Divine
truth,
thus
turned
into spiritual nourishment,
'gives
a
vital
strength for
service and
suffering.
When
you have the
word
of God
in
your
mouths,
as
the
sword
of
the
Spirit;
Eph.
vi. 14,
&c.
the
breast-plate
of
righte-
ousness,.
to cover
your
hearts, the hope
of
salvation
as
a
helmet
on
your
heads, and
the shield
of
faith,
to
ward off