is the way, walk in it, when he discerns the frame of our hearts to be fuch, as that we have no mind to walk in it? when he fees we are bent upon our own ways which we like better. But when a Man can truly and in the uprightness of his heart fay, lo here I am to do thy will O God, only be thou pleafed to fhew it me, and let me but understand what thy pleasure is. I am at thy difpofal, ready to comply with thy Counfels whatsoever they fhall be, and to follow thee whitherfoever thou fhalt lead me when I fay a Man can truly fay thus unto God, and when this is the secret frame of his heart, then he need not make any queftion but that God will be most ready to vouchsafe him his Counfels, and make known his mind to him.

my

:

But perhaps you may here fay, I find

heart will not be brought to that frame of Indifferency which you speak of. I observe there is a great inclination of my Heart and Affections one way, and I cannot remove it. In this cafe what is to be done? I Answer,

1. You must earnestly beg of God that he would be pleased to fubdue your heart unto himself, and correct the in

ordinate

ordinate Propenfions and Inclinations thereof to any thing which he may fee is not fafe or fit for you.

2. If this abate not your inordinate Inclinations, and bring not your heart to a more even and equal temper, yet however take up firm and ftedfaft Refolutions that you will follow whatever Counfels God fhall give you, though never fo much against your own Inclinations. Refolve that if it shall appear to you that he would have you go another way, you will be ready to deny your felf, and crofs your own Inclinations that you may conform your felf to his will. The taking up of fuch Refolutions, is the least that you can do whenfoever you would ask counsel of God. So much concerning the first Instance.

2. Let us trust in God for Safety and Preservation in all our dangers. Here I understand those dangers which we may be exposed unto or meet with in the ways of our Duty. For when we are out of God's way, we are no longer under his protection. But while we keep within those Bounds which God hath fet us, and ferve him Faithfully and Confcienciously in our places, we Hh 3 may

felf;

may warrantably caft our felves upon him for our fafety and protection. Tis true, oftentimes when we should do our duty, and the performance thereof is attended with Hazards and Dangers, the counsel of the Flefh, and of Satan joyning with the Flesh, is, fpare your if you fhould go on, fuch and fuch Evils you may run upon and incur. It concerns you therefore to confult your quiet and fafety, and not to adventure your felf where in all proba bility you will fuffer for it. But where any Duty or Service is to be performed, we must not confult with flesh and blood, much less with Satan, but do our Duty whatever may come of it, or whatsoever may upon that account befal us. This I fpeak upon supposition that we are convinced that 'tis a Duty, and cannot without fin be waved or neglected. When our Duty lies plain and clear before us, we must not care whose difpleasure we incur by the performance of it, nor what Inconveniences or Hazards threaten us, unless we decline, it. Being in these Circumstances, we muft chearfully addrefs our felves to the performance of what God requires and trust him with our fafety and

of

us,

preferva

preservation. And in all cafes of this nature, for our better encouragement to trust in him, let these Confiderations lye before us.

1. That the honour of God is ingaged to own his Servants and ftand by them, when they adventure themselves for him, and in his Service: I mean, unless the cafe fo ftands, that it would be more for his Glory that they should fuffer, then be Exempt from fuffering.

2. God hath promised that he who will lose his life for his fake shall fave it, Matth. 10. 39. And on the contrary, hath threatned that he who in fuch cafes will fave his life, fhall lofe it. So then a Man cannot better provide for his fafety and fecurity, than by adventuring himfelf in his Service,and upon his Account, when he hath a call thereunto. And on the other fide, when confulting with Carnal Wisdom,a Man neglects his Duty that he may decline danger, he takes the readiest course to endanger himself so much the more, and many times brings greater Evils upon himself than those which he ought to fhun and avoid. In fhørt, if we do our duty, and trust God with our fafety, we shall thereby fo provide for and fecure our felves, as that H h 4 either

either we shall not fuffer, or if we do, we shall be no lofers by it in the end, our Sufferings fhall turn to our Advantage. And this may fuffice to have been spoken concerning the Second Inftance.

3. Let us trust in God for the fupply of all our wants. This may feem to be a very cafie thing to thofe who enjoy plenty, and whofe Cup overflows; to fuch as were never acquainted with the Temptations that attend a ftrait and indigent condition. But fuch as are reduced to great straits, and have none to help them, find it a hard matter to truft in God, and depend on him for the supply of their neceffities; sometimes it may be they find they can caft themselves upon God, and relye on his providence for their daily bread, but otherwhiles, how apt are they to call in queftion his care of them, to diftruft his providence, and to difquiet themfelves with endless distracting and vexatious cares about the things of the World, faying with themselves, what shall we eat, and what shall we drink? and wherewith fhall we be clothed? But notwithstanding all the mif-givings of our diftrustful hearts, we have ample encouragement to truft in God in our greatest Extremities,