Answer. But what matter is it, when thy soul is in heaven, whether it were let out at thy mouth, or at thy throat ? Whether thy familiar friends, or barbarous enemies, stand about thy dead body, and close thine eyes ? Alas ! it is not worth the making so much to do about ; Nihil corpus sentit in nervo cum anima sit in ccelo, thy soul shall not be sensible in heaven how thy body is used on earth ; no, it shall be swallowed up in life.
Rule 13. Learn to quench all slavish ci'eatuf'cfears, in the revei-- ential fear of God.
. This is a cui'e by diversion : It is a rare piece of Christian wis- dom to turn those passions of the soul which most predominate into spiritual channels ; to turn natural anger into spiritual zeal, na- tural mirth into holy cheerfulness, and natural fear into an holy dread and awe of God. This method of cure Christ prescribes in that forementioned place, IMat. x. like to that which is in Isa. viii. 12, 13. fear not their fear ; but how shall we help it ? Why, " sanc- " tify the Lord of hosts himself, and let him be your fear and your " dread."" Natural fear may be allayed for the present by natural reason, or the removal of the occasion, but then it is but like a can- die blown out with a puff of breath, which is easily blown in again ; but if the fear of God extinguish it, then it is like a candle quenclied in water, wliich cannot easily be rekindled.
HOW TO KEEP THE IIEAUT FROM FEARS. ioj
Rule 14. Lastly, Pour out those Jears to God in prayer, which the devil and your own unbelief' pour in upon you in times of danger.
Prayer is the best out-let to fear ; where is the Christian that can- not set his probafum est to this direction ? I will give you the greatest example in the world to encourage you in the use of it, even the ex- ample of Jesus Christ, Mark xiv. 32. When the hour of his dan- ger and death drew nigh, he gets into the garden, separates from the disciples, and there wrestles mightily with God in prayer, even unto an agony : in reference to which the apostle saith, Heb. v. 7. *' Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers " and supplications, with strong cries and tears, to him that was able " to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared." He "was heard as to strength and support to carry him through it, though not as to deliverance, or exemption from it.
Now, O that these things might abide with you, and be reduced to practice in these evil days, that many trembling souls may be established by them.
Season 5. ' The fifth season to excite this dihgence in keeping the
* heart, is a time of straits and outward pinching wants ; although
* at such times we should complain to God, and not of God, (the
* throne of grace being erected for a time of need, Heb. iv. 16.) yet
* when the waters of relief run low, and want begins to pinch hard,
* how prone are the best hearts to distrust the fountain ! when the ' meal in the barrel, and the oil in the cruse are almost spent, our
/ faith and patience are almost spent too. Now it is difficult to keep ' down the proud and unbelieving heart in an holy quietude and ' sweet submission at the foot of God : It is an easy thing to talk of
* trusting God for daily bread, while we have a full barn or purse : ' but to say as the prophet, Hab. iii. 17. " Though the fig-tree
* should not blossom, neither fruit be in the vine, &c. yet will I re-
* joice in the Lord :'"* surely this is not easy.' The fifth case there- fore shall be this :
Case 5. How a Christian may keep his heart from distrusting God, or repining against him, when outward wants are either felt or feared.
This case deserves to be seriously pondered, and especially to be studied now, since it seems to be the design of providence to empty the people of God of their creature-fulness, and acquaint them with those straits which hitherto they have been altogether strangers to.
Now, to secure the heart from the fore-mentioned dangers at- tending this condition, these following considerations, through the blessing of the Spirit, may prove effectual. And the first is this ;
Consideration 1. That if God reduce you to straits and necessities, yet he deals wo otherwise therein with you, than he hath done with some of the choicest and holiest me7i that ever lived.
Your condition is not singular ; though you have hitherto been strangers to wants,^ other saints have daily conversed, and been
458 HOW TO KEEP THE HEART FKOM FEARS.
fannliarly acquainted with them. Hear what blessed Paul speaks, not of himself only, but in the name of other saints reduced to like exigencies, 1 Cor. iv. 11. " Even to this present hour we both hun- " gtr and thirst, and are naked and buffeted, and have no certain " dwelling-place." To see such a man as Paul going up and down the world with a naked back, and empty belly, and not a house to put his head in, one that was so far above thee in grace and holiness, one that did more service for God in a day, than perhaps thou hast done in all thy days, and yet you repine as if hardly dealt with ! Have you forgot what necessities and straits even a David hath suffered ? How great was his straits and necessities.'^ 1 Sam. xxv. 8. " Give, I " pray thee (saith he to Nabal) whatsoever cometh to thy hand, to " thy servants, and to thy son David.'' Renowned Musculus was forced to dig in the town ditch for a maintenance. Famous Ains- worth (as I have been credibly informed) was forced to sell the bed he lay on to buy bread. But what speak I of these .^ Behold a greater than any of them, even the Son of God, " who is the heir of all " things, and by whom the worlds were made ;" yet sometimes would have been glad of any thing, having nothing to eat, Mark xi. 12, 18. " And on the morrow, when they were come from " Bethany, he was hungry ; and seeing a fig-tree afar off, having " leaves, he came if haply he might find [any thing] thereon.'"
Well then, hereby God hath set no mark of hatred upon you, neither can you infer the want of love from the want of bread. When thy repining heart puts the question. Was there ever any^ sorrow like unto mine ? Ask these worthies, and they will tell thee, though they did not complain and fret as thou dost, yet they were driven to as great straits as thou art.
Consid. 2. If God leave you not in this necessiioiis condition witJi- out a 'promise, you have no reason to reinne or despond, under it.