Some general directions for a comfortable walking with God delivered in the lecture at…Some generall directions for a comfortable walking with God deliuered in the lecture at…

Besides these imaginary sufferings, and untimely sorrows, take notice of three other base pestilent effects and mischiefs, which this natural, slavish, distrustful fear (for that I only mean in the whole point) puts upon a man. 1. It may bring upon him the thing which he fears: by fearing to become miserable, he may become that he fears, and so turn his vain fear into certain miseries; according to that of Solomon, Prou. 10. 24. That which the wicked feareth, shall come upon him. And that of Isai. 66. 4. I will bring their fears upon them. Thou hast a wife, a child, an outward state, an hie place, which thou art immoderately afraid to loose; now this very distrustful fear derogating from the glory of Gods merciful providence, which sweetly and wisely disposeth all things, may justly provoke him to deprive thee of them, whereas other wise, thou mightst have enjoyed them still. 2. It robs and bereaves thee of the kindly relish, and comfortable enjoyment even of good things. A man can take no delight in the fruition of that good, which¹ he feareth to loose. Life it self is loathsome, if a man slavishly fear to dye. That good breeds the truest present contentment, against the loss whereof we are always prepared. And therefore those who live in continual fear to loose their child, goods, liberty, life, or any other thing that is dear unto them, loose a great deal of that honest joy and² allowed pleasure they might have, even in these outward things. 3. It dejects and debases his noble nature, below the miseries and baseness of beasts in this point: for they are fenced from this folly and vanity, by the benefit of their weakness, and want of reason; never re-afflicting themselves ⟨p. 108⟩with evils past, or fearing any to come; but through their whole life enjoy entirely and with full security, all contentments and pleasures incident to their natures, save only when they are pinched with sense of present pain. What a shame then is it to man, who being honoured with the excellency of an understanding, reasonable, and provident spirit, whereby he out-shines all other creatures, like an Angel upon earth, should by the abuse and mis-employment thereof, make it a means unto himself, to become more miserable in this respect then a brute beast?