A39696:322
Two treatises the first of fear, from Isa. 8, v. 12, 13, and part…
Two treatises the first of fear, from Isa. 8, v. 12, 13, and part of the 14 : the second, The righteous man's refuge in the evil day, from Isaiah 26, verse 20 / by John Flavell.
London: printed by H.H. for Robert Boulter, 1682
A PRACTICAL TREATISE OF Fear, &c. › Chapter 6 › Section 1 › Subsection 10: 10. Rule.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
10. Rule.
You can never free your selves from sinful fears, till you throughly believe and consider Christ providential Kingdom over all the creatures and affairs in this lower world.
Poor timorous soul, is there not a King, a Supreme Lord under whom Devils and men are? Hath not Christ the reins of Government in his hands? Matth. 28. 18. Phil. 2. 9, 10, 11, 12. John 17. 2. Were this dominion of Christ and dependence of all creatures on him well studied and believed, it would cut off both our trust in men, and our fear of men; we should soon discern they have no power either to help us, or to hurt us but what they receive from above. ⟨p. 109⟩Our enemies are apt to over-rate their own power in their pride, and we are as apt to over-rate it too in our fears. Knowest thou not, saith Pilate to Christ, that I have power to crucify thee, and I have power to release thee, q. d. Refusest thou to answer me? dost thou not know who and what I am? Yes, yes, saith Christ, I know thee well enough to be a poor impotent creature, who hast no power at all, but what is given thee from above; I know thee, and therefore do not fear thee. But we are apt to take their own boasts for truth, and believe their power to be such as they vainly vogue it to be; whereas in truth all your enemies are sustained by Christ.