fortable enough.

8. As for all those sharp dispensations mentioned in the last place, he
having taken the sting of all, even of death away, by taking away sin,
and purchased the blessing and love of the Father, having made
reconciliation through his blood, all those dispensations flow from
love, even such as seem sharpest, being inflicted for sin, as we see,
Heb. xii. 6; so that there is no cause here of fainting or of being so
discouraged as to give over the matter. But for help in this case, there
should be a use-making of Jesus, as the Life; and that is

The _third_ thing which we shall speak a little to, viz. How the soul
should make use of Christ as the Life, to the end it may be delivered
from this fainting occasioned through manifold discouragements.

1. The believer in this case would mind the covenant of redemption,
wherein Christ hath promised and so standeth obliged and engaged to
carry on his own through all discouragements to the end; so that if any
one believer miscarry, Christ loseth more than they lose: for the
believer can but lose his soul, but Christ shall lose his glory; and
this is more worth than all the souls that ever were created. And,
further, not only shall Christ lose his glory as Redeemer, but the
Father shall lose his glory in not making good his promise to Christ his
Son. For by the same covenant he standeth engaged to carry through the
seed that Christ had died for. And his appointing Christ to be his
servant for this end, and choosing him from among all the folk, and his
upholding of him, concurring with him, delighting in him, and promising
that he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles, and that to victory,
or to truth, speak out his engagement to see all true believers brought
home. See Isa. xlii. 1-4. Matt. xii. 17-21. Psalm lxxxix. 19-21, 28, 29,
35-37. Sure the faith of this would support the poor believer under all
those discouragements.

2. They would mind likewise the covenant of grace, wherein all things
are contrived and laid down, so far as that the believer may have
abundant consolation and comfort in all cases; and wherein there is
enough to take away all cause of fainting and discouragement; as might
fully be made to appear, if any did question it.

3. They would remember how richly Christ is furnished with all
qualifications; suiting even that case wherein they are like to be
overwhelmed with discouragements; and could the believer but think upon
and believe tho