288 tlafitt BUILT ON KNOWLEDGE. who has the care öf my eternity. Ile went up on high on par+ pose to prepare a place, and he will come again, and take me to himself; that where he is, there Imay be also ; if it were not so he would have toldme ; for I know whom I have trusted ; and whither he is gone Iknot, and the way I know, 2 Ceri v. L John xiv, 2, .3, 4, Upon this view tandassurance, the dying saint attempts the praises of his Lord, and practises Something like the worship of heaven'before-hand : To him that is able to keepmefromfalling, andwill present me faultles's before thepresence of his glory with exceeding jowl, beglory and majesty, dominion and power, both nowand ever. Amen. Jude 24, 25. V. See whence riseth the divine and amazing courage . that some christians have expressed under the foulest reproaches and sharpest sufferings for the sake of the gospel. This holy fortitude sh,ings from a good acquaintance with the person of Christ, and a full persuasion of his ability to save. When we are ignorant and in the dark, we are afraid of every thing; but courage is the effect of light and knowledge. A faith that is well founded on a due knowledge of Christ, can raise the sneering Christian above the power of shame and fear. And I chaise to make this remark a distinct head of discourse, because it is the very occasion on which the apostle introduces the words ofmy text. Christ has abolished death, ver. 10. He has brought lye and immortality to light by the gospel.' This 1 am well acquaint- ed with, saith the.apostle ; for this very person, even Christ, my Lord, has appointed Inc a preacher of this doctrines For which cause I also suffer.Nevertheless I am.not ashamed: For I know whom I have believed ;; and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. It is a point of folly for a man to expose himself to reproach, and pain, and death, without any solid reason, or just hope of recompence. But St. Paul was no fool when/he was ready to be bound and diefor the name of Christ; for he :looked forward to the last great day, he saw his immortal interest safe under the care of Christ, whom he had well known and trusted ; and there- forehe had good reason to venture all on earth for the sake of such a friend in heaven. He saw the recompence secure in the hands of Christ; and therefore, says he, Q° I am not ashamed of my sufferings, nor ofmy faith. Let my persecutors destroy this flesh, but they cannot touchmy soul ; for it is in safe hands : I know where I have' trusted it. Let the Jewsor the Romans kill this body, but it shallbe raised up again at the great day, by his power, to whom I have committed my all for here and for hereafter ; for he is able to expel death from his possessions, and make the grave restore all its prisoners. I know his power to subdue all things to himself. Let them load
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