SERMON XXXII. 443 But when we suffer creatures to raise and influence our fears upon everyoccasion, so as to ruffle and disquiet our spirits to throw the soul from off its rest, and to turn us aside from the steady course of duty, then it becomes a sinful and forbidden passion, and we should make it our business to watch against it, and suppress it. There are some persons so feeble in theirnative constitutions, or their spirits are so weakenedby the distempers of the flesh, that fear is a constant tyrant over them : Their case is to be pitied indeed, but they ought to stir up themselves as far as possible to shake off this bondage, lest it withhold them from the practice of necessary duties, and rob themof all the comforts of religion. This slavish fear is a disease of the mind, as well as a weakness of nature ; and besides, our summoning together all the powers and precepts of reason, we should also apply the remedies of religion, in order to remove it : If the divine Spirit Concur with his blessing, the following methods may be made happilysuccessful I. See to it that ye are christians indeed, that you have the power of religion wrought in your hearts, otherwise you will never be able boldly to maintain the form and the profession of it, in an hour of danger. Fear will prevail over every thing but true faith : And if your religion be not inward and sincere and built on solid foundations, it will tremble and totter, and be in great danger of being utterly lost. One hard name, one bit- ing reproach, one witty scoff or ugly slander, will dash the hy- pocrite out of countenance, and he dares not stand up for his God and Saviour. And remember also that your faith must be always kept awake and lively. See to it that your hope be not only well established, but you must preserve your evidences for heaven ever clear, that ye may look upon yourselves as the care and charge of ,Christ, and under the special eye and protection of God your Saviour. This was the divine foundationon which the great apostle raised his courage in the gospel to so high á degree. I am neither afraid to suffer these things, says he, that is, bonds and imprisonments ; nor am I ashamed of this gospel, for I know whom I have believed, I know him as my Saviour, and I am persuaded he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against the day of his appearance; Tim. i. 12. If you would raise your spirits to a sublime pitch of holy fortitude, brighten your faith and hopedaily, by a frequent exa- minationof- the frame of your hearts, bywatchful walkingbefore Cod, by committing your souls afresh into the hands of Jesus and his Spirit, forpardoning and renewing grace, that you may believe on just and solid grounds, that you are the children of
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