Two treatises the first of fear, from Isa. 8, v. 12, 13, and part…

2. Bar the door against unchristian despondency, another enemy to the sweet repose of your Souls in this comfortable and quiet Chamber of Divine Faithfulness; you will find this unbecoming and uncomfortable distemper of mind, insinuating and creeping in upon you, except you believe and reason i• out, as David did, Psal. 42. 11. Why art thou cast down O my soul, and why disquieted within me? Hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him.

3. Bar the door of your heart against carnal policies and sinful shifts, which war against your own Faith, and Gods Faithfulness, as much as any other enemy whatsoever. This was the fault of good David in a day of trouble, 1 Sam. 27. 1. And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul; there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines. Alas poor David, nothing better than this? Time was when thou ⟨p. 219⟩couldst think on a better way, when thou couldst say at what time I am afraid I will trust in thee. How dost thou forget thy self in this strait? Doth thy old refuge in God fail thee now? Can the Philistines secure thee better than the Promises? Wilt thou fly from thy best friend, to thy worst enemies? But what need we wonder at David who find the same distemper almost unavoidable to our selves in like cases?

4. Shut the door against discontents at, and murmurings against the dispositions of Providence, whatever you feel or fear; I persuade you not to a Stoical Apathy, and senselessness of the evils of the times, that would preclude the exercise of Patience: If the Martyrs had all had the dead Palsy before they came to the fire, their Faith and Patience had not triumphed so gloriously as they did; but on the contrary, beware of grudgings against the ways and will of God, than which nothing militates more against your Faith and the peace and quietness of your hearts.