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can be born. The holy, the great God himself is their portion, their heritage; God is their sure, their full, their lasting, their everlasting portion. They are heirs of a kingdom, Jam. ii. 5. Heirs of salvation, Heb. ii. last. Heirs of God, coheirs with Christ, Rom. viii. 17. Yea, all things of this world are theirs," 1 Cor. iii. 21. All things are blessed and sanctified to them, and shall conduce to their spiritual and eternal welfare, Rom. viii. 28. Yet notwithstanding all this, and although heaven and earth lies at the feet (as it were) of godliness, and of those that profess it, in the power of it; godliness having the promise of this life, and of that which is to come," 1 Tim. iv. 8. and, notwithstanding believers have a true title to all the good of both worlds; yet, may those poor but blessed saints be exposed to manifold temptations and tribulations in this world; they may have a dark, and sad, and stormy way of it to their father's house; they may be stript of all their earthly comforts, may be deprived of their liberty, estate, nearest friends and relations, as we read in scripture, that such hath been the portion of the best saints; and upon this the people of God have been dejected and disquieted; they have desponded, their hearts have been troubled and have thereby displeased their heavenly father, who would have them believe, that all things shall work together for their good.

Now, our Lord, in this text, forbids this distemper of mind, and would not have his

disciples, who had God for their father, and himself for their redeemer, and who had title to such happiness in the other world, to despond, and to be disquieted; therefore he lays this charge on them, let not your hearts be troubled: adding the proper means to prevent this sinful malady of heart trouble, that it might not seize on them; or if it had, to cure them of it viz. ye believe in God, believe also in me.

"The lively acting of true faith upon God in Christ, it is the best preventive of, and remedy against heart trouble," under the greatest loss whatsoever. Which proposition I shall prosecute, in the assistance of God's spirit, and according to the measure of light and grace I have received, after this manner and method following:

First, by way of demonstration, Secondly, of confirmation; and then to apply and make improvement of it for our use.

1. By way of demonstration. Endeavouring to shew,

First, That God's choicest saints, are in this world subject to all kinds of troubles, losses, and afflictions; and whence it is, and why so.

Secondly, That under those losses and afflictions, they are subject to despond, to be dejected, and to be troubled in their hearts.

Thirdly, What this heart trouble is that Christ forbids here.

Fourthly, How, that believing in God and Christ, is the best means to prevent, and cure this heart trouble.

First, That God's choicest saints are liable to all kinds of troubles, losses, and afflictions, even in the greatest, heaviest, and sorest; as we read of Job, David, Hemen, and others.

God had but one son without sin, but no son without suffering. His only begotten son was a man of sorrows: and the Holy Ghost assures us, that if ye be without chastening, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards and not sons, Heb. viii. 12.

God's children are liable to sufferings, whether we consider them as men or as christians; as men, Job xiv. 1, Man that is born of a woman is full of trouble. As our relations and comforts increase, so do the occasions of trouble. God never appointed this world to be the place of man's rest, but of our exercise, and only a passage to another world: and in this our passage we must look for storms and tempests; if we can through mercy obtain a tolerable passage through this world, and a comfortable passage out of it into that better above, we shall have cause to bless the Lord to all eternity.

And much more, as christians, must we expect troubles: for a man is no sooner brought home to God, but he must expect to be hated by the world, assaulted by satan, chastened by the Lord; our own corrupt hearts will be always vexing; the old man, the flesh, thwarting all the motions of the new nature, lusting against the spirit. The lusts of the flesh, will be as pricks in our eyes, and as thorns in our

sides; we shall have enemies in our own houses.

But this truth is so manifest in all the scripture, that I shall insist no longer on it, only shall add this by way of use; let all christians prepare for affliction, by getting an interest in God through Christ: by getting sin pardoned and purged, by getting peace with God and conscience, by getting hearts crucified to the world; and then when troubles come let us bear them as christians, not murmur nor repine, but in patience possess our souls; not desponding nor fainting; remembering that our troubles are no more, but infinitely less than we have deserved. Job xxiv. 23. He will not lay upon man more than right. God perfectly understands our need, and knows our strength. 1 Pet. i. 6. If need be, ye are in heaviness. He is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, 1 Cor. x. 13. It is the wise, just, and gracious God, and our father that tempers our cup for us. Many earthly parents do not correct their children in measure, being ignorant of their nature and disposition; and therefore their correction doth them no good. Many physicians mistake the constitutions of their patients, and therefore may do them more hurt than good; but God knows our need, and our strength, and so suits all his remedies accordingly; therefore let us be patient, bearing our troubles with an equal mind, not suffering as per force,

but willingly. It is said, Dan. iii. 28. That they yielded their bodies, that is, chearfully, to the fire. In our affliction let us search our hearts, and try our ways; let us fly to God by prayer, and resign up ourselves to him, and trust in him, casting our cares and burdens on him, Psal. lv. 22. 1 Pet. v. 7.

Moreover, it is our wisdom, that while we are at ease, have our comforts about us, let us look for troubles; afflictions from God, as well as for God, are part of our cross which we must take up daily. Sickness, death of friends, loss of estate, &c. we must look for them, that we may not be surprized.

He that buildeth an house, or a ship, doth not make this his work and care, that it should not rain upon it; or that it should have no storms or tempest, for this cannot be prevented by any care of ours, but that the house or ship may be made able to endure all without prejudice. So must it be our care to provide for afflictions; for to prevent them altogether we cannot; but prepare for them we may, and must, as was hinted before; to treasure up God's promises, and store our souls with graces, and spiritual comforts, and firm resolutions in God's strength, to bear, up and hold on: we had need be well shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace, Eph. vi. 15.

Most Christians are not mortified and crucified to the world, not acquainted with God and the promises, as they ought to be, nor so resolved to follow God fully, as they ought

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