The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

When he is in fear, his heart is melted, and he hath little use of his truth, the girdle is loosed then; In the text, there is the helmet of salvation, but in fear hope is gone; there is the breastplate of righteousness, but in fear, a man hath no use of his righteous conversation, nor no use of the sword of the Spirit, he can use nothing in times of such distracting fears, therefore lose not your Arms: It is very observable, in the 6. of the Ephes. how the holy Ghost still calls upon us to stand, verse 10. My brethren be strong in the Lord, and not only strong, But strong in the Lord, and strong in the might of the Lord, and in the power of his might; put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand; then again, in the 13. verse, Wherefore take ye all the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand the evil one, and having done all, •o stand: Though perhaps, you have overcome at one time, yet still look to your own hearts, when you have done all, stand, four times we are called upon to stand, nothing, what a great advantage we have by standing; It's true, our afflictions are great, and the soul saith, The Lord is my portion: perhaps temptations and afflictions say otherwise, but the soul saith, The Lord is my portion; and it is good for a man to say, what shall I that am so full of sin, yet not be willing to have some trouble, but be so full of fears upon every trouble that befalls me? why should not I yield to Gods providential will as well as to his commanding will? how know ⟨p. 327⟩I, but that God may have glorious ends, to work out of these extremities and troubles I am in? why should I not give up my self to God, to have his will upon me? and hath not God heretofore delivered me from great straights and extremities, even from the wrath of God himself, and from his justice? greater and other manner of straights than those I am now in; and if I believe not in God now, but be disquieted, perhaps these straights may be to bring me to greater straights; what if these straights of affliction should bring me to greater straights? and it's just with God to leave me to fall into the straights of sin, that cannot bear the straights of afflictions, therefore let me stand still and look up to Gods salvation; Let us be so affected with our straights as to carry us up to God in prayer: pray as much as ye can, but still keep your hearts in a quiet frame;

When he is in fear, his heart is melted, and he hath little use of his truth, the girdle is loosed then; In the text, there is the helmet of salvation, but in fear hope is gone; there is the brestplate of righteousness, but in fear, a man hath no use of his righteous conversation, nor no use of the sword of the Spirit, he can use nothing in times of such distracting fears, therefore lose not your Arms: It is very observable, in the 6. of the Ephes. how the holy Ghost still cals upon us to stand, verse 10. My brethren be strong in the Lord, and not only strong, But strong in the Lord, and strong in the might of the Lord, and in the power of his might; put on the whol armour of God, that you may be able to stand; then again, in the 13. verse, Wherefore take ye all the whol armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand the evil one, and having done all, o stand: Though perhaps, you have overcome at one time, yet still look to your own hearts, when you have done all, stand, four times we are called upon to stand, nothing, what a great advantage we have by standing; It's true, our afflictions are great, and the soul saith, The Lord is my portion: perhaps temptations and afflictions say otherwise, but the soul saith, The Lord is my portion; and it is good for a man to say, what shall I that am so full of sin, yet not be willing to have some trouble, but be so full of fears upon every trouble that befals me? why should not I yeild to Gods providential will as well as to his commanding will? how know