weakened, and too much ground is given to confirm the contrary
misapprehensions of the world, who take it to be a sullen, melancholic,
and disconsolate life, attended with many fears and sorrows. It is, alas!
too evident, that many Christians are kept in bondage, almost all their
lifetime, through fear of eternal death. How many dismal representations
of sin and wrath, are in the souls of some Christians, which keep them in
much thraldom? At least, who is it that is not once and often brought in
bondage after conversion, and made to apprehend fearfully their own
estate, who hath such constant uninterrupted peace and joy in the Holy
Ghost, or lies under such direct beams of divine favour, but it is
sometimes eclipsed, and their souls filled with the darkness of horror and
terror? And truly the most part taste not so much sweetness in religion as
makes them incessant and unwearied in the ways of godliness. Yet,
notwithstanding of all this, we must vindicate Christianity itself, and
not impute these things unto it which are the infirmities and faults of
the followers of it, who do not improve it unto such an use or use it so
far as in itself it is capable. Indeed, it is true that often we are
brought to fear again, yet withal it is certain that our allowance is
larger, and that we have received the Spirit, not to put us in bondage
again to fear, but rather to seal to our hearts that love of God, which
may not only expel fear but bring in joy. I wish that this were deeply
considered by all of us, that there is such a life as this
attainable,--that the word of God doth not deceive us in promising fair
things which it cannot perform, but that there is a certain reality in the
life of Christianity, in that peace and joy, tranquillity and serenity of
mind that is holden out, and that some have really found it, and do find
it, and that the reason why all of us do not find it in experience, is not
because it is not, but because we have so little apprehension of it and
diligence after it. It is strange that all men who have pursued
satisfaction in the things of this life, being disappointed, and one
generation witnessing this to another, and one person to another, that,
notwithstanding, men are this day as fresh in the pursuit of that, as big
in the expectations as ever. And yet, in this business of religion, and
the happiness to be found in it, though the oracles of God in all ages
have testified from heaven how certain and possible