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When thou beginnest to faint with waiting, apply, "He will certainly have mercy upon thee."

If thy heart be dead, and will not stir to God or goodness.

"Your heart shall live for ever.a

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"Keep sound wisdom and discretion; so shall they be life unto thy soul. I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite

ones.c

"Seek the Lord, and ye shall live."d

When thou fearest thou shalt never overcome the deadness of thy heart, apply, "Your hearts shall live. Seek the Lord, and ye shall live."

When thou hast got some life, and fearest the losing of it, apply, "Your hearts shall live for ever."

If thou fearest falling away, and beginnest to

decline.

"Christ shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.e I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. The Lord upholdeth all that

a Psalm xxii. 26. b Prov. iii. 21, 22. c Isa. lvii. 15. d Amos. v. 4. e 1 Cor. i. 8. f Psalm xvi. 8.

fall; and raiseth up all those that are bowed down. The righteous shall flourish like the palm-tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.b

"And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither. He shall strengthen thine heart. Thou shalt be steadfast, thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou.shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. They that love the Lord, shall be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might."

Now we see that nothing can hinder the sun in his might, but it chaseth away the darkness and clouds before it, and ceaseth not till he hath run his race: So shall the child of God, for the Lord hath said it; we need not doubt of it.

If thou fearest thine own weakness, and the power of temptation, with the subtilty of satan, apply, That God whose power and wisdom overreacheth all other, hath said, "He will confirm you to the end. He shall establish thine heart; thy leaf shall not fade." Art thou hard pursued by sin and satan? Apply, That God whose power and wisdom over-reacheth all,-He hath said, "He will establish thee."

If thou be ready to fall and faint, apply, “The Lord upholdeth all them that fall, and lifteth up

a Psalm cxlv. 14. b Psalm xcii. 12, 14. c Psalm i. 3 d Psalm xxxi. 24. e Job xi. 15, 17. f Judges v. 31.

all them that are ready to fall: thou shalt not slide."

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If thou fearest that though thou be kept from sin, yet thy graces shall decay, apply, The righteous shall flourish as a palm-tree, and shall grow as a cedar in Lebanon. They shall bring forth fruit in their old age; they shall be fat and flourishing: thou shalt bring forth fruit in season; thou shalt be stable: thine age shall appear more clear than noon-day; thou shalt shine as the morning."

If thou art fallen, and fear the Lord will leave thee so.

"Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.a

"Though he shall fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever.b

a Psalm lv. 22. b Psalm xxxvii. 24, 28.

"Cast thy burden (or allotment) upon the Lord." Whatever allotment we receive from God, whether of prosperity or of adversity, it is our duty to refer it back to him. "He that giveth to the poor, lendeth to the Lord," and he will repay him; or, if our lot be adverse," he will sustain," under every burden, and "never suffer the righteous to be moved" from his foundation.

"I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me."a

When thou art fallen, and feelest a great load of sin or misery upon thee, and no power to un1oad thyself; thy graces so weak that they will not help thee, and therefore thou thinkest thy state desperate, apply, "Though he fall, he shall not be cast off, for the Lord putteth under his hand." Therefore though sin and misery be ever so heavy, to press thee down, yet the powerful hand of God, when thou art at the lowest, being under thee, shall easily lift thee up: thou hast his promise, "He will not suffer thee to fall for ever."

When thou fearest the Lord hath forsaken thee and will not return again,

"I will establish my covenant betwixt thee and me, an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee.b

"I will be with thee, I will not fail thee, neither forsake thee; fear not, neither be dismayed.c "I will not forsake my people.d

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The Lord is with you, while you be with

him.e

"Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man.f

a Jer. xxxii. 40. d1 Kings vi. 13.

b Gen. xvii. 7. e 2 Chron. xv. 2.

c Deut. xxxi. 8. f Job viii. 20.

"Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any, a

"I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving kindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness."b

When thou feelest thy vileness, and fearest the Lord will loathe thee for it.

"My soul shall not abhor you.c

"I will love them freely, for mine anger is turned away from them.d

"I will love thee.e

"He that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father; and I will love him, and manifest myself unto him; my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.f

"I will rejoice over them to do them good." When thou seest a multitude of sins, so that thou seemest most loathsome, apply, "My soul shall not loathe you."

When thou seest nothing in thyself that should move him to love thee, but all to the contrary, apply, "I will love them freely."

If thou fearest thy many sins will cause the

a Job xxxvi. 5. b Hos. ii. 19, 20. c Levit. xxvi. 11. d Hos. xiv. 4. e Deut. vii. 13. f John xiv. 21, 23. g Jer. xxxii. 41.

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