442 JIOLY FOnTITUDE. hands hang down, and our faces gather paleness : But we dare to confront the terrors of this world, if we taste and feel such divine encouragements. We know that a weak christian can Flo Wonders with an almighty Saviour and an all-sufficient promise. When St. Paul had this word given him, My grace is sufficient for thee, he could glory even in infirmities, that the power of Christ might rest upon him; 2 Cor. xii. 9. The little feeble man, of a contemptible presence, could do all things through Christ strengthening him; Phil. iv. I3. And every believer has the same Almighty Helper, the same gospel, and the same promises. Iu the last place, consider.the large and never-fading crown of glory, that awaits the conqueror at the end of the christian conflict. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee crown of 1 fe; Rev. ii. 10. Consider the honour and triumph, those riches of glory, and that everlasting inheritance, that shall be your reward in the future world, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ ; He that overcometh shall sit down withme on my throne, &c. Rev. iii. 2I. He that overcometh shall inherit all things ; chap. xxi. 7. Put all these together in the balances, with a few crosses and disappointments, a little trouble and unea- siness, nay, though you should add torture and death in the same scale, you may easily judge which will outweigh. - Gaze at your crown of life, and your immortal hopes, till you feel your souls divinely animated to the combat : Learn from the apostle, and assume that glorious language ; Our light afflictions, which are but for a moment, are scarce to be mentioned or named with the for more exceeding and eternal weight of glory that shallbe reveal- ed ; 2 Cor. iv. 17. Therefore we both labour and suffer reproach; therefore we bear all present sorrows with holy cour age, because we look not at the things that are seen, little things that are temporal ; but look at the great unseen things that are eternal, 2 Cor. iv. 18. The fourth and last generai head of discourse shall now fur- nish us with some sacred remedies against this slavishfear. The passion offear in general, is wisely wrought by the great God into human nature : It is a disturbance both of our animal composi- tion, and of the mind upon the apprehension of some approach- ingevil, or upon the apparent danger of it. This is an excellent provision, which the God of nature has made, to guard us from many mischiefs. It is innocent and useful when it is fixed on a proper object, and exercised in a proper degree. It be- comes -a part of our religionwhen God is the object of our fear, whereby we maintain such a holy awe of his majesty, as awa- kens a constant desire to please him, ,joined with a temper of holy love.
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