,SERMON XXXII. ß5j It is true, the principal of fear is a natural affection; it is rooted in flesh and blood, it grows high anddomineers, especially in some constitutions, and when the natural spirits are enfeebled, it still gains the greater ascendancy over us : But if it be indulged and encouraged, it soon becomes sinful, for it seems to stand op- posite to the grace of faith, and too often prevails over it. Therefore Christ chides his disciples, when they were affrighted in the stormwhile he was in the ship ? Why are ye so fearful ? How is it that ye have no,faith? Mark iv. 40. And even when Peter was walking upon the water, and Christ was near him, he saith, 0 thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Mat. xiv. 31. For a christian to give himself up to the wild tyranny of his fears, is contrary to the very spirit and designof the gospel of Christ ; Rom. viii. I5. " Ye have not receivedthe spirit of bondage to fear, but the spirit of adoption. The spirit ofpower and love; 2 Tim. i. 7. Remember then you are the sons and daughters of God : It is below the dignity of your character to yield to this slavery; and your Fatherhimself reproves, and your Redeemer forbids it. IX. Think of the many advantages that arise from a holy fortitude of spirit inthe midst of dangers. This divine temper of mind will establish your feet on a rock in the midst of storms, it will animate you to practise- every duty, and to prevent many of the mischiefs you fear. This will preserve the soul in a sacred -serenity andcalmness under all the gloomy and painful events of providence. Without this firmness of spirityou can never prac- tise what Christ commands his disciples, and that is, topossess their souls in patience in the hour oftheir distress; Luke xxi. 19. But we may keep up the government of ourselves by a holy fortitude and calm submission to the wilt of God. This will make sorrows lighter, and the heaviest afflictions become more tolerable. Whereas, if we give a loose to fear, it throws the whole frame 'of nature into a tumultuous hurry and 'confusion, it takes away the use of prudence to contrive the proper means for our escape, it cats the sinews of our most active powers, and en- feebles our whole nature, so that we become an easy prey to every adversary. The more we are affrighted, the less ableare we to defendourselves. Fear isa dreadful bondage of the soul, and it holdsthe man in chains : Therefore in the text just now cited, the spirit of fear is called a spirit ofbondage. It is this that brings the soul down to taste the bitterness, and to feel the smart of those very evils which affright us at a- distance, and which perhaps never come near its. Those very sufferings which areprevented by themercy
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