The government of the thoughts a prefatory discourse to The government of the tongue / by the author of The whole duty of man.

CHAP. XIX. Rules for Governing our Thoughts in Fears. (Book 19)

FIRST, for God's Glory, and the Sal∣vation of thine Immortal Soul, contemn any danger: It was our Saviour's Precept, Fear not them who are able to destroy the Body only; for they cannot diminish thy happi∣ness: They may indeed make an Addition to thy Felicity, if thou bearest well thy in∣juries. These Objects are only dreadful to the ignorant; like that Cumane Ass in the Lyons Skin, or the Crocodile, fierce against the timerous, but fearful of the Couragious; so is the Impatient, who cannot submit to take up the Cross, which like Moses Rod, thrown down became a dreadful Serpent; but at God's Command, re-assumed; an harmless-Rod; to divide the Briny Floods, and open a way into the Promised Rest: Many men

heighten their own Fears, deluding Fancy, representing that monstrous, which right Reason would discover Innocent; in a con∣stant and Prudent Resolution to meet with difficulties.

2. FEAR God, and be not dismayed, Josh. 1.9. Endeavour to fix thy Mind up∣on such a Basis of Moderation, that thy Re∣solution neither rise to Temerity, nor fall to Timidity; neither to be Obstinate, nor to be afraid of any thing: But in a Me∣dium, carry such an even temper, as that Prudence may claim that priviledge to fit at the Helm without the Interruption of either Extreams: Take the Prophets Coun∣sel, Isai. 8.13. Sanctifie the Lord of Hosts, and let him be your Fear, and your Dread, and he shall be your Sanctuary: But fear not their Fear, who say a Confederacy. The present fear of God Createth us an Eternal Securi∣ty: Fear him and he will banish all other fears from thee. Behold the Psalmist how he is fortified; Though I walk in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me, Psal. 23.4. And Psal. 118.6. The Lord is on my side, I will not fear what man can do unto me. And in Con∣clusion, the fear of the Lord immergeth all other fears.

3. IN every danger, impress on thy heart the Omnipotency of God, and en∣deavour to have an Affiance in him: He that pursues this Rule, shall act safely:

When a Fiery-Furnace was threatned, Sha∣drach, Meshac, and Abednego answered the Incens'd King, Our God whom we serve is idle to deliver us, Dan. 3:17. And David tells you, Psal. 34.7. The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. And when our Enemies seem most formidable, there are more for us than can be against us: As it appeared in the case of the Prophet Elisha, 2 Kings 6.16. It animated the Royal Prophet to cry out, In the Lord put I my trust; how say ye then to my Soul, flee, as a Bird to your Mountain? Psal. 11.1. All Confidence in Men, even their Councels, or an Arm of Flesh, is un∣happy, and must come to nothing; but God endures to all Eternity: Which made the Psalmist declare; Therefore will we not fear, though the Earth be removed: And though the Mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea.

4. TAKE Solomon's Counsel, and hear∣ken unto the Word of God, Pro. 1.33. Whose hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. And Prov. 3.23, 34. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely; when thou liest down thou shalt not be afraid. Here∣in shall be made manifest Gods Power, Truth, Providence, Mercy and Justice that thou may∣est trust in him; according to the Expression of the Psalmist, They that know thy Name, will put their trust in thee, for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee, Psal. 9.10. Love

the Lord thy God with a sincere heart: And the more thou lovest him, the more thou wilt rest assured of his Love and Pro∣tection: and the more perfect thy love is, the more it casteth out fear, 1 John 4.18.

5. TAKE Job's advice, Chap. 22.24. Depart from iniquity, and say of it, as the Princes of the Philistines said of David, Let him not go down with us to the Battle, lest in the Battle he be an Adversary to us, 1 Sam. 29.4. Fix thy self to seek the Lord, as Je∣hosaphat did, when the Armies were upon their March towards him, against whom he Atchieved a Glorious Victory, 2 Chron. 2.3. Entertain a good Conscience, it shall be a Wall of Brass unto thee: The safety of that makes a man assume the Courage of a Lyon: But if we perceive the smoak of Infernal Brimstone ascend there, we must needs faint, like the men of Ai when they beheld their City on Fire, Josh. 8.20. Guilt of Sin in the Conscience creates Sordidness in Men; they may possibly express Tran∣scendent Words who possess a Timerous Conscience; but as one said of the fearful Dog, He must needs fear, who hath no peace in himself.

6. CONSIDER with David, Psal. 37.37. The end of the Saints and Apostles sufferings, which hath ever been happy; and they are the more Partakers of Christ's Glo∣ry, for bearing a share in his sufferings: Consider how long they have suffered, and

then thou canst not fear any of those things which thou shalt suffer: Behold the Devil shall cast some of you into Prison, that you may be¦tryed —be thou faithful unto Death, and I will give thee a Crown of Life, Rev. 2.10. True it is, Flesh and Blood claims Allowance for its Infirmity; but the more we can apply to our hearts the end of the Saints, and the quiet fruits of Righteousness, to them that are exercised, the less we must needs be sen∣sible of the Malignity of any Creature.

7. ENDEAVOUR for Peace with God; give him no rest till he speaks unto the Voice within thee, thy Conscience: And firmly resolve not to let him go, untill he Bless thee, and assure thee of thy Remission in Christ Jesus. He hath nothing to fear or molest him, whose sins are forgiven. When the sting of Death is taken out, who would not be Valiant? Which occasioned St. Paul to express himself, 1 Cor. 15.57. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. And St. John says in his first Epistle, Chap. 5.4. And this is the Victory that overcometh the World, even our Faith.

8. IN thy greatest Fears pray most fer∣vently: Even so did our Saviour, being in an Agony, He prayed more earnestly: So did Jacob in fear of his Brother's long studied Revenge, Gen. 32.9. Pray and beseech God that he would illuminate and open thine Eyes to behold his saving Health. God ma∣ny

times sounds his Allarm to awaken our drouzy Souls, and open our Mouths to earnest Prayer, which in Prosperity are too prone to the Spirit of Slumber and Cold∣ness: Fear hath many Tongues, and can open the Mouth of the Dumb: Even Jonahs Ma∣riners in their Fear will pray, and instigate others to the same Duty: That one Ex∣ample of Athis, Croesus's Son, sheweth what the violence of Fear can do; he who before was dumb, on a sudden cryed out, O Cyrus spare my Father, and by our Misfortunes, learn, that thou also art but a Man.

A Prayer against Fear.

O Almighty Lord God, who art in thy Wrath and Indignation dreadful against Sinners, I humbly acknowledge and confess, that there is not one of thy Judgments, but what the Guilt of my Sins have long since deserved; even the miseries of this Life, terrors of Death, and fu∣ture Condemnation: But, O thou great God of Consolation, assure me of a full and free Par∣don, and a remission of all my Sins, and Seal my Peace with thee, through the Blood of a Cruci∣fied Jesus. Fill my Heart and Affections with that measure of thy Love, as may exclude all servile fear: Give me the testimony of a good Con∣scince, to comfort me against all vain fears of the Wicked. Lift up the light of thy Countenance upon me, and give me that assurance that thou art, and will be my Defence and Confidence.

2. AND, O thou who rulest in Heaven and Earth, from the Angel to the Worm, the lowest of Creatures; and from the swayer of the Scep∣ter, to the drawer of Water: Thou art Omni∣potent, and canst do what thou pleasest, and no other God besides thee, can Deliver after this sort: Lord, let it be thy Divine will and Plea∣sure to deliver me from those Afflictions which I fear and so much tremble at; that I may live to Praise thee, and declare thy goodness towards me in the Land of the Living.

3. AND I humbly beseech thee, O Father, if it be possible, let this Cup pass from me; yet nevertheless not my Will, but thy holy Will be done. Lord, suffer me not for any tryals in Afflictions or under any Temptations to fall from thee: Consider my Frailty, remember whereof thou hast Made and Fashion'd me, that l am but sinful Dust and Ashes, which soon fade and pass away.

4. GIVE me Patience to endure thy Fa∣therly hand of Correction, and a full assurance that all things shall work together for my advan∣tage: Give me a fervent frame of Spirit, to Pray more Earnestly; and give me that Faith, to which thou, who can'st not be guilty of the breach of it, hast made the promise of Audience and granting my Petitions. Give me an invin∣cible Resolution, not to let thee depart until thou do'st bless me with some happy Issue, through Jesus Christ, my Lord and only Savi∣our

Amen.