and befet with dangers. Why fhould we fear when our Protector is the Lord Almighty? Do the Powers of this World combine against us? (as we know that they who live godly in Chrift Jefus muft fuffer Perfecution) Our Lord is able to help and deliver us; and it cannot but prove the greatest Comfort to us, to know that our Enemies, are the Enemies alfo of our Lord; and that his Father hath given him Authority and Dominion to fubdue all his and our Enemies; and to reign until he hath made them his Footstool. Are we in Want and Diftrefs? Chrift Jefus our Lord, is Lord over all, and rich unto all that call upon him. All Things are given unto him, and he difpofeth of them according to his good Pleasure. All Nature is at his Command. At his all-powerful Word, the hungry Lions forgot their favage Nature ; and burt not the Servant of the most high God, when he was cast among them to be devoured. At his Command the enormous Whale fafely conveyed the Prophet to his defired Port. At his Command, the Ravens brought

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brought Food Morning and Evening to fuftain Elijah in the Wilder nefs, when he fled from the Rage and Fury of Jezebel. At his Command, a few Loaves were multiplied to feed five Thousand People. At his Comman the ftormy Wind ceafed, when he said unto it, Peace, be fill. What Cause then, have we to diftruft his Power, or to doubt his Goodness? Or why should we be afraid that he who provideth for the whole World, fhould leave us deftitute of such Things as are needful for us? Are our Lufts too strong for us? And are we in manifeft Danger of being brought under the Power of them? Let us look up to our Lord in Heaven, and implore his Grace, which will be fufficient for us; and the Aid of his bleffed Spirit, which he hath pro mised to comfort and support, to help and defend us. Do we fuffer for his Sake? And doth our fteady Attachment to his Service, draw upon us Hatred, Perfecution, and Ill-will? We know that the Hearts of all Men are in his Hands, and that he turneth them which Way foever he will. He

can make our Enemies be at Peace with us; can stop the bitter Rage of the most furious Perfecutors; and can fo work upon them, as to make them our fure and ftedfaft Friends. Or fhould he even fuffer them to proceed in their Envy to his People, nay, to take from us our frail and perishing Lives, we may reft affured that in all bur Trials, he will be our Comfort and Support, and will crown our Sufferings with an eternal Weight of Glory.

Let us confider laftly, that glorious and fuper-eminent Honour to which we are exalted, by having Chrift for our Lord. Being united to him our Head, we have for our Fellow-Servants, Angels and ArchAngels, the everlasting Sons of Heaven. Let us remember, that we ferve the Lord Chrift, the Lord of Glory; the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords; who regardeth not the Rich more than the Poor; for they are all the Work of his Hands. Neither doth he accept the Perfon of Princes. And who, though he be high, yet hath be ReSpect to the lowly, and looketh upon them who

are of an humble and contrite Spirit; and who tremble at his Word. He despiseth not the meaneft of his Servants, who in a true and faithful Heart, endeavour to do their Duty; but regardeth them with tender Love, and maketh them the Objects of his Care and Protection. How highly are we apt to value ourselves, when we are called upon to fill fome trifling Office in the Court of an earthly Prince? What an ineftimable Honour ought we then to esteem it to ferve the Lord most mighty, the Lord of Heaven and Earth, to whom the greatest Princes are Subjects and Vassals ? His Service is perfect Freedom. To be a Servant of Christ is an Honour far beyond all those pompous and empty Titles which the greatest Monarchs affume to themfelves. All the Glories and all the Dignities which this vain World can beftow, are Nothing in Comparison of that immenfe Honour of being a true and faithful Servant of our Lord. Let this Confideration then, provoke us to walk worthy of the Vocation wherewith we are called. Let it prevail

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upon us to glorify our Lord by a steady and confcientious Discharge of thofe Duties. which he hath commanded. Let it excite us at all Times, and in all Places, to own ourfelves the Servants of fo great, fo good, fo gracious a Lord. And let us always remember, that if we are ashamed of him, and of his Words here, he will be ashamed of us in that great and terrible Day, when he shall come in his own Glory, and in the Glory of his Father, to judge the World, and to reward every Man according to his Works. But if we continue faithful unto the End, and love him above all Things, and delight to do his Will; then when this frail and perishing Life is ended, he will receive us unto himself, when being washed from our Sins, in his Blood, we shall fing Hallelujah's to the King of Heaven, through all the countless Ages of Eternity.