452 'HOLY FORTITUDE. bf God, we endure them in our thoughts, and feel the pain of them by an indulgence ofan excessive fear. We suffer an afflic- tion once, if we are overwhelmed withthe terror of it : And if at last it does really overtake us, we double the suffering, and make the pain the longer. Oftentimes incases of bodily distein- pers, the fear itself brings the disease, and aggravates all the symptoms. If we could read the records of the grave, we should find that many a person has been oppressed, and sunk down to death, by the excessive fear of dying. The last remedy of fear which I shall mention, is this; sup- pose the worst that can come, and be calmly prepared for it: This will be a mighty relief against the tyranny of our fears. You are afraidof losing your honour among men, afraid to bear the scourge of their tongues, and bitter reproaches. But think with yourselves, when slander and falsehood have done their worst, it is but the wind of the breath of man, and this Cannot hurtyour best interest, while you stand approved of God. Infamy amongst men is but a trifling evil if compared withpraise honour and glory among the saints before the throne, and the applauseof Jesus and his angels at the last great day. You are frighted with the hideous appearance of poverty; because scorn attends it as well as want. Bot.our blessed Lord had not where to lay his head ; he was fed by the bounty of kind friendsand pious women, who ministered to him of their sub- stance, The great and the wise, the rich and the learnedof that day, made him their mockery : Thevery finger of scorn pointed at him in the streets And whyshould the disciple think it neces- sary that he should be above his Lord, Ye may be poor in this 'world, and at the same time rich in faith, and heirs of, the king- dom; James ii. 5. You are afraid of sickness and pains of the flesh, and your life becomes a burden to you, by reason of your constant dread of some infectious distempers. You- your dwellings, .you hide.youeselves at home, and yet you enjoy no peace. Suppose the distemper should seize you, has not sickness often brought your soul nearer to God t And if your outward manhas decayed, your inward man and your best interest have had a rich advance- ment thereby. You are terrified at the threateniugs of bloody ben. It must be granted, that flesh has a strong empire over thè soul where dangers of torment and death appear. But suppbse men of violence kill the body, then you will be dismissed at once from all their fury, and from your own fears. Their terror cannot reach beyond the grave ; that is a safe and peaceful hiding-place. But perhaps you are flighted at the thoughts of dying, even
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