III. I John iv. cxviii. 6. by Omnipotence, and that, as St. Paul, he can do SERM. all things through Christ strengthening him, what should he fear to set upon, what difficulty should Phil. iv. 13. keep him off, what hazard should dismay him? he (Phil. i. 28. that knoweth himself, by reason of the succour at-4.) tending him, infinitely to overmatch all opposition, whom should he not dare to encounter? May he not well say with David, The Lord is my light and Ps. xxvii. 1. my salvation, whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? Let all the world, let earth and hell combine to in- Chrys. tom. vade him, how can that mate his spirit, if he believe Psal. xlvi. they cannot overthrow him, or hurt him, being se- 1, 2. cured by the invincible protection of him, to whose will all things do bow; in comparison to whom nothing is puissant, beside whom nothing is really formidable; seeing none but he can kill, none can touch Matt. x. 28. the soul? vii. p. 51. 8. 2 Cor. vi. 7. If we be armed with the spiritual panoply, having our head covered with the helmet of salvation, our Eph. vi. 15. heart guarded with the breastplate of righteous- 1 Thess. v. ness, our loins girt about with truth, our feet shod Rom. xiii. with the preparation of the Gospel of peace, all our 12 body sheltered by the impenetrable shield of faith; and wielding in our hands by faith the penetrant Heb. iv. 12. twoedged sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; what assaults may we not sustain, what foes shall we not easily repel? Rom. vii. The most redoubtable enemy we have is our own flesh, which, with a mighty force of violent appetites Gal. v. 17. and impetuous passions, is ever struggling with our 23. reason, and warring against our soul; yet it faith 1 Pet. ii. 11. alone dareth to resist, and is able to quell; opposing to the present delights of sense the hopes of future SERM. joy, quashing transitory satisfactions by the fears of endless torment. III. (2 Pet. i. 4. The world is another powerful enemy; ever striving, by its corrupt principles, by its bad examples, by its naughty fashions, by its menaces of persecution, damage, and disgrace, by its promises of vain honour, base profit, and foul pleasure, to overthrow and undo us; but a resolute faith will defeat its at1 John v.4. tempts; for, He, saith St. John, that is born of God, overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith: the faith of a better world will defend us from the frowns and the flatteries of this; the riches, glories, and joys of heaven, thereby presented to our minds, will secure us from being enchanted with the wealth, splendours, and pleasures of earth. Eph. iv. 22.) Another fierce adversary is the cursed fiend; who 1 Pet. v. 8. ever, like a roaring lion, goeth about seeking to devour us, or like a treacherous snake lieth in wait to bite us; raising panic fears to daunt and affright us; laying subtle trains of temptation to abuse and seduce us: but him by resistance we may easily put to Jam. iv. 7. flight, for, Resist the Devil, saith St. James, and he Eph. iv. 27. will flee from you; and how we must resist him St. 1 Pet. v. 9. Peter telleth us, Whom resist steadfast in faith; and Eph. vi. 16. St. Paul also, Above all, saith he, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one: if we hold forth this glittering shield, it will dazzle his sight, and damp his courage; being not able to endure its lustre, or stand its opposition, he will instantly retire; fearing that by our victory over his temptations (through reliance on God's help, and adherence to his truth) our reward shall be heightened, and his torment (the tor ment of improsperous envy and baffled malice) be in- SERM. creased. Faith also will arm us with patience to endure whatever events shall be dispensed with alacrity and comfort; lightening the most heavy burdens imposed on us, sweetening the most distasteful occurrences incident to us: for, 29. III. He who is persuaded, that by any damage here sustained for conscience toward God, he shall become a huge gainer, receiving, as the gospel promiseth, an Matt. xix. hundred fold, and inheriting eternal life, what will Luke xviii. he not gladly lose? will he not willingly put forth all he hath in this most profitable usury? will he not, as those Hebrews did, take joyfully the spoiling of Heb. x. 34. his goods, knowing that he hath in heaven a better and an enduring substance? Phil. iii. 8. He who believeth, that in regard to any disgrace Matt. v. 12. cast on him for his virtue, he shall be honoured by God, and crowned with heavenly glory, will he not in a manner be proud and ambitious of such disgrace? will he not, as the apostles did, rejoice that Acts v. 41. he is counted worthy to suffer shame for the name 14. of Christ? I Pet. iv. Luke vi. He who trusteth, that for a little pains taken in God's service, he shall receive moλù μotò, abun- Matt. v. 12. dant wages, far exceeding the merit of his labour, 35. will he not cheerfully bear any toil or drudgery therein? I Cor. iii. 8. 18. He who, with St. Paul, computeth, that the light Rom. viii. afflictions, which are but for a moment, are not worthy to be compared with the glories that shall be revealed; and that those light momentany afflic- 2 Cor. iv. tions do work for us a far more exceeding weight of glory; will they not indeed be light unto him; 17. SERM. will he not feel them lying on him, as a few straws or feathers? III. Matt. x. 39. xvi. 25. 33. He who conceiveth our Lord's word true, that by Luke xvii. losing his life he shall find it, or that death shall Ps. exxvi. become to him a door into a happy immortality, would he not gladly upon such terms be killed all the day long, and be always delivered unto death 5. 2 Tim. ii. 12. 1 Pet. iv.13. Rom. viii. for Jesus? 17. 2 Cor. iv. TO. Phil. i. 29. He who by faith is assured, that any disasters befalling him are not inflictions of wrath, but exRom. viii. pressions of love toward him, by God in kindness 2Cor. iv.11. dispensed as trials of his faith, as exercises of his Acts xx. 24. virtue, as occasions of his acquiring more plentiful 36. 1 Cor. iv. 9. xxi. 13. 1 Pet. i. 5. Jam. i. 3. rewards, how can he be disgusted at them, or disRom. v. 3. composed by them? why should he not rather acMatt. v. 12. cept them as favours, as felicities, with a thankful Jam. i. 2. and joyful heart; counting it, as St. James adLukevi. 23. viseth, all joy when he falleth into divers tempta Rom. v. 3. tions. In fine, it is faith alone which can plant in us that which is the root of all contentedness and all patience; a just indifference and unconcernedness Col. iii. 1. about all things here: it alone can untack our minds and affections from this world, rearing our souls from earth, and fixing them in heaven; for if we are persuaded, there is a state of life infinitely more desirable than the best condition here; if we believe there are things attainable by us, incomparably better than any which this world affordeth; in respect to which all these glories are but smoke, all these riches are but dirt, all these delights are but Omnia dreams, all these businesses are but triflings, all in seculo, et these substances are but shadows; how in our minds can we prize, how in our affections can we cleave unto imaginaria nihil veri. Tert. de Cor. c. 13. these things! how then can we find in our hearts to SERM. spend upon them more care or pain than is needful! III. ἀρετῆ, καὶ ἡ a gr Chrys. in He that taketh himself here to be out of his ele-'Hern ment, that he is but a stranger and sojourner upon earth, that he hath here no abiding city, no country, D xóaμov τὸ ξένον εἶναι no house, no land, no treasure, no considerable in- TOTO. terest, but that he is merely wayfaring, in passage Heb. xi. 13. toward his true home and heavenly country; the Jerusalem above, whereof he is a citizen, where his grand concerns do lie, where he hath reserved for him immoveable possessions and unvaluable treasures; where he is designed to enjoy most noble privileges and most illustrious dignities in the court of the great King; how can he have his heart here sticking in this earthly clay, entangled with the Gal. vi. 14. petty cares, amused with the sorry entertainments 'Exti of this life? how can he otherwise than with St. urthy 4uρίζει τὴν ψυ Paul be dead, and crucified to this world? how. Chrys. can he withhold his mind from soaring thither in 55. contemplation, and in affection dwelling there, whither his desires and hopes do all tend, where his joy and felicity are found, where the great objects of his esteem and love do reside? But you will perhaps interpose, and say; These are indeed fine sayings, but where do such effects appear? who, I pray, doth practise according to these notions? where is that gallant to be found, who doth work so great exploits? where may we discern that height of piety, that tenderness of charity, that meek comportment with injuries and affronts, that clear sincerity, that depth of humility, that strictness of temperance, that perfect contentedness, and undisturbed calmness of mind, that stoutness of courage and stiffness of patience, which you ii. 20. μετεω χὴν ἡ πίσ tom. v. Or. |