SERMON XXXII. 455 great high-priest, Jesus the Son of God, I may find grace ready to help mein thetime of need. Wean me, O Lord, from all the delights and hopes of flesh and sense ? Mortify me to all the-humours and joys of a perish- ing life, and a vain world. Arm my soul all over with a religi- ous hardiness, that I may venture into the field of battle, and may scarce feel tine wounds which I receive in thy cause. Give me the happy skill of diverting my fears, when I cannot at once "subdue them, and lead me intoproperemployments of my heart and hand for this purpose. I would liveas under the eye of God. Iwould take notice of his hand in all the affairs of life, and all the dangers that attend me. I would learn of Moses to endure the fight of afflic- tions, as seeing himwho is invisible. Let me hear thy voice, O Jesus, my Saviour, let me hear thy voice walking upon the waters ; when I am tossed about upon the waves of distress and difficulty, speak to my soul, and say, It is I, be not afraid. Surely I have had some experience of theDivine Presence with me in the midstof dangers : God has sometimes disappoint- ed all my fears, and interposed his'shield of power and love for my defence : Why should not I trust a faithful God, and that infinite goodness which I have already tasted of ? I charge my conscience with the authority of thyword. O Lord, when thou forbiddest all my sinful fears, I would renounce them too, I would struggle to break these painful fetters, and fight against this inward slavery of the soul, these'domestic tyrants. O that the spirit of power were always with me, to dispel the spirit of bondage. I would be bravely prepared for the worst of sufferings, to which my circumstances in this life may expose me. I would be ready to meet contempt and scandal, poverty, sickness, and death itself. Jesuscan support me in theheaviest distresses,though all the sorrows I fear should come upon me. He can bear me on the wings of faith and hope, high above all the turmoils and disquietudes of life : Hecan carry me through the shadowof the dark valley, and scatter all the terrors of it. Give me, OLord, these wings of faith and hope, and bear me upon them through all the remains of my short journey in the wilderness : Make me active and zealous in thycause while I live, and conveyme safely above the reach òf fear, through the valley of death, to the inheritance prepared for me in the land of light. Then my fears shall cease for ever, for enemies and dangers are not known in that land. There all our conflicts shall be changed into everlasting triumphs, while songs of honour and salva- tion ascend in a full choir to the grace that has made us overcomers. Amen.
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