Lord and Mafter, a reward of everlasting happiness and glory; but if done falfely, finfully and dif obediently, then a reward of everlasting lofs and mifery.

2. As to the fecond kind of world, the Malignant World of evil men and evil angels; and therein first in relation to the evil counfels, and evil examples, that folicit or tempt us to the breach of our duty to God. The methods whereby Faith overcometh this part of the malignant world are thefe. 1. It prefents unto us our duty that we owe to God, and which we are bound indifpenfably to obferve under the great penalty of lofs of our happiness. 2. It prefents us with the great advantage that we have in obeying God, above whatsoever advantage we can have in obeying or following the finful examples, counfels, or commands of this world; and the great excefs of our difadvantage in obeying or following the evil examples or counfels of the world. And this makes him at a point with thefe folicitations, peremptorily to conclude it is better to obey God than man; and with Jofeph, How can I do this great wickednefs, and fin against God? 3. It prefents Almighty God ftrictly obferving our carriage in relation to these temptations. 4. It prefents us with the displeasure and indignation of the fame God, in cafe we defert him, and follow the finful examples or counfels of men; and with the great favour, love, approbation and reward of Almighty God, if we keep our fidelity and duty to him. 5. It prefents us with the noble example of our bleffed Saviour. 6. It prefents us with the tranfcendant love of God in Chrift Jefus, who to redeem and rescue us from the mifery of our natural condition, and from the dominion of fin, and to make us a peculiar people zealous of good works, chofe to become a curfe and die for us, the greatest obligation of love and gratitude and duty ima ginable: and then it leaves the foul impartially to judge which is better of the two, and whether this malignant world can propound any thing that can be an equivalent motive to follow their commands or

examples, or that can equal the love of our Saviour, the reward of eternal life, and the favour of the everglorious God? all which must be denied and loft by a finful compliance with evil counfels, commands, or examples of an evil world. It is true the world can perchance reward my compliance herein with honour, and applaufe, and favour, and riches, or they can punish my neglects with reproach, and fcorn, and lofs and poverty, and it may be with death: but what proportion do thefe bear to the favour and love of God, and eternal recompence of glory and endless happiness ? the terms therefore of my obedience to the loving and gracious God (to whom I owe my utmoft duty and obedience, though there were no reward attending it) do infinitely out-bid, and out-weigh whatsoever a finful world can either give or inflict. And fecondly, as to the other part or scene of this malignant world, perfecutions, reproaches, fcorns, yea death itself, Faith prefents the foul not only with the foregoing confiderations and that glorious promife, Be faithful unto death; and I will give thee a crown of life; but fome other confiderations that are peculiarly proper to this condition, viz. 1. That it is this ftate, that our bleffed Saviour hath not only foretold, but hath annexed a special promife of bleffednets unto; Blessed are they that are perfecuted for righteousness fake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 2. That there have gone before us a noble cloud of examples in all

ages,

yea the Captain of our falvation was thus made perfect by fuffering. 3. That though it is troublefome, it is but fhort, and ends with death, which will be the paffage into a state of incorruptible happiness: and this was that that made the three children cry out, at a point when the greatest monarch in the world was ready to inflict the fevereft death upon them; Our God whom we ferve is able to deliver us, &c. but if not, Know O king, that we will not worship thy graven image which thou haft fet up.' And therefore our bleffed Lord redoubles the injunction of ourfear towards

him that can destroy both body and foul in hell, but forbids any fear of fuch perfecutors, who can only deftroy the body, and then can do no more, And certainly that man that hath full affurance of an esteem with the great God of heaven and earth, of an incorruptible weight and crown of glory the next moment after death, muft needs have a low esteem of the reproaches, and fcorns, and perfecutions of men for righteoufnefs fake; and fo much the rather because that very favour with God, and that very crown of happiness that he expects, is enhanced by these very scorns and thofe very afflictions. For, Our light afflictions which are here a moment, work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.'

3. Concerning the third kind of world, namely the Providential World, confifting in external difpenfations of adverfity or profperity. And firft concerning the dark part of the world, namely, adverfity, as cafualties, iffues of wealth or friends, fickneffes, the common effects whereof are impatience, diftruft, murmuring, and unquietnefs: Faith conquers this part of the world, and prevents thefe evil confequences, which either temptations from without, or corruptions from within are apt to raise. 1. Faith prefents the foul with this affurance, that all external occurrences come from the wife difpenfation or permiffion of the moft glorious God; they come not by chance. 2. That the glorious God may, even upon the account of his own fovereignty, and pro imperio inflict what he pleaseth upon any of his creatures in this life. 3. That yet whatsoever he doth in this kind, is not only an effect of his power and fovereignty, but of his wisdom, yea and of his goodness and bounty; no afflictions can befal any man but it must be useful for his inftruction or prevention. 4. That the beft of men deferve far worfe at the hands of God, than the worst afflictions that ever did or ever can befal any man in this life. 5. That there have been examples of greater affliction, that have befallen

! authority.

better

9.

better men in this life: witness Job, and that excellent pattern of all patience and goodness, even as a man, our Lord Christ Jefus. 6. That these afflictions are fent for the good even of good men; and it is their fault and weaknefs, if they have not that effect. 7. That in the midst of the feverest afflictions, the favour of God to the foul, difcovering itself like the fun fhining through a cloud, gives light and comfort to foul. 8. That Almighty God is ready to fupport them that believe in him, and to bear them up under all their afflictions, that they fhall not fink under them. That whatsoever or how great foever the afflictions of this life are, if the name be blafted with reproaches, the eftate wafted and confumed by fire from heaven, if friends are loft, if hopes and expectations difappointed, if the body be macerated with pains and diseases, yet faith prefents to the believer fomething that can bear up the foul under thefe, and many more preffures, namely, that after a few years or days are fpent, an eternal state of unchangeable and perfect happinefs fhall fucceed that death, the worst of temporal evils, will cure all thofe maladies, and deliver up the foul into a ftate of endless comfort and bleffedness: and therefore he bears all this with patience and quietnefs, and contentednefs, and chearfulnefs, and difappoints the world in that expectation, wherein its ftrength in relation to this condition lies, namely, it conquers all impatience, murmuring, and unquietnefs of mind.

2. As to the fecond part of this Providential World, namely, Profperity, which in truth is the more dangerous condition of the two, without the intervention of the divine grace, the foils that the world puts upon men by this condition, are commonly pride, infolence, carnal fecurity, contempt or neglect of duty and religion, luxury, and the like. The method whereby faith overcometh this part of the world, and thofe evil confequences that arife upon it, are thefe: 1. Faith

1 worn down.

gives

gives a man a true and equal estimate of this condition, and keeps a man from over-valuing it, or himfelf for it; lets him know it is very uncertain, very cafual, very dangerous, and cannot out-laft this life: death will come and fweep down all thefe cobwebs. 2. Faith affures him, that Almighty God obferves his whole deportment in it, that he hath given him a law of humility, fobriety, temperance, fidelity, and a caution not to trust in uncertain riches; that he must give an account of his itewardfhip alfo to the great mafter of the family of heaven and earth, that he will duly examine all his item, whether done according to his Lord's commiffion and command; and it lets him know that the more he hath, the greater ought his care to be, because his account will be the greater. 3. Faith lets him know that the abundance of wealth, honour, friends, applaufe, fucceffes, as they laft no longer than this fhort tranfitory life, and therefore cannot make up his happiness, no, nor give a man any ease or rescue from a fit of the ftone, or cholic; fo there is an everlasting state of happiness or mifery that must attend every man after death. And on the one hand, all the glory and fplendur, and happiness, that this inferior world can afford, is nothing in comparifon of that glory that fhall be revealed to, and enjoyed by them that believe and obey. 1. Nothing in respect of its duration; if a man fhould live a thoufand years, yet that must have an end, and the very pre-apprehenfion of an end is enough to dash, and blast, and wither any happiness even while it is enjoyed; but that happiness that fucceeds after death is an everlasting happiness. 2. Nothing in refpect of its degree; there is no fincere, complete, perfect happinefs in this world: it is mingled with evils, with fears, with viciffitudes of forrow and trouble; but the happiness of the next life is perfect, fincere, and unmixed with any thing that may allay it: and upon thefe accounts, faith (which is the fubftance of things hoped

for,