fully to this ; every morning leave thyself and waj^s in God's hand, as the phrase is, Psa. x. 14 ; and at night look again how well God hath looked to his trust, and sleep not till thou hast affected thy heart with his faithfulness, and laid a stronger charge on thy heart to trust itself again in God's keeping in the night. And when any breach is made, and seeming loss befalls thee in any enjoyment, which thou hast by faith insured of thy God, observe how God fills up that breach, and makes up that loss to thee ; and rest not till thou hast fully vindicated the good name of God to thy own heart. Be sure thou lettest no discontent or dissatisfaction lie upon thy spirit at God's dealings ; but chide thy heart for it, as David did his, Psa. xlii. And thus doing, with God's blessing, thou shalt keep thy faith in breath for a longer race, when called to run it.
Section V. — Fifthly, Make self-denial appear as rational and reasonable as thou canst to thy soul ; the stronger the understanding is able to reason for the equity and rationality of any work or duty, the more readily and cheerfully (if the heart be honest and sincere) is it done. Suppose, Chi-istian, thy God should call for thy estate, liberty, yea, life and all, can it seem unreasonable to thee .' Especially, First, If thou considerest that he bids thee deliver his own, not thy own. He lent thee these, but he never gave away the propriety of them from himself. Dost thou wrong thy neighbour, to call for that money thou lentest him a year or two past? no sui-e ; thou thinkest he hath reason to thank thee for lending it to him, but none to complain for calling it from hhn. Secondly, Consider, he doth not, indeed cannot bid thee deny so much for him, as he hath done for thee. Is reproach for Christ so intolerable, that thy proud spirit cannot brook it ? Why, who art thou? What great house comest thou from ? See one that had more honour to lay at stake than I hope thou darest pretend to, Jesus Christ, ' who thought it no robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation.' Is it pain and toi-ment thou art afraid of? O look up to the cross, where the Lord of life hung for thy sins, and thou wilt take up thy own cross more willingly, and thank God too that he hath made thine so light and easy, when he provided one so heavy and tormenting for his beloved Son. Thirdly, Consider whatever God calls thee to deny for his truth, it is not more than he can recompense. Moses saw this, and that made him leap out of his honours and riches into the reproach of Christ, ' for he had respect to the recompense of reward,' Heb. xi. 26. It is much that a man will deny himself in, for something his heart strongly desires in this life. If a man be greedy of gain, he will deny himself of half the night's sleep, to plot in his bed, or rise eaidy from it to be at his work ; he will eat homely fare, go in vile raiment, dwell in a smoky house, (as we see in London,) for the conveniency of a shop. How men of quality will crowd themselves up into a little corner, though to the prejudice of their healths, and hazard sometimes of their lives ! yet hope of gain recompenseth all ! And now put their gains into the scale with thine. Christian, that are sure to come in by denying thyself for Christ, (which theirs are not,) and ask thy soul, whether it blush not to see them so freely deny themselves of the comfort of their lives, for an imaginary, unccrtaui, at best a short advantage, while thou huddlest so with Christ for a few outward enjoyments, which shall be paid thee over an hundredfold here, and beyond what thou canst now conceive when thou comest to heaven's glory.
Section VI. — Sixthly, Labour to carry on the work of mortification every day to further degrees than other. It is the sap in the wood that makes it hard to burn, and corruption unmortified that makes the Christian loth to suffer ; dried wood will not kindle sooner than a heart dried and mortified to the lusts of the world will endure anything for Christ. The apostle speaks of some that were ' tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resui-rection,' Heb. xi. 35. They did not like the world so well, as, being so far on their jovirney to heaven, (though in hard way,) to be willing to comeback to live in it any longei-. Take heed. Christian, of leaving any worldly lust unmortified in thy soul. This will never consent thou shouldst endure much for Christ. Few ships sink at sea ; they are the rocks and shelves that split them. Couldst thou get off the rocks of pride and unbelief, and escape knocking on the sands of fear of man, love of the world, and the like lusts, thou wouldst do well enouo'h in the greatest storm that can overtake thee in the sea of this
THE PREPARATION OP THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. 4J'7