se three things, he might be kept up under all
discouragements: (1.) That Christ is a compassionate, tender-hearted
Mediator, having bowels more tender than the bowels of any mother; so
that "he will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax,"
Isa. xl. 2. He had compassion on the very bodies of the multitude that
followed him; and would not let them go away fasting, lest they should
faint in the way, Matt. xv. 32. Mark viii. 3; and will he not have
compassion on the souls of his followers, when like to faint through
spiritual discouragements? (2.) That he hath power and authority to
command all things that can serve to carry on a poor believer; for all
power in heaven and in earth is given unto him; all things are made
subject to him. (3.) That he hath a great readiness and willingness upon
many accounts to help his followers in their necessities. Sure, were
these three firmly believed, the believer could not faint, having
Christ, who is tender and loving, and willing to help, and withal able
to do what he will, to look to and to run to for supply.

4. They would take up Christ under all his heart-strengthening and
soul-comforting relations, as a tender brother, a careful shepherd, a
fellow-feeling high priest, a loving husband, a sympathizing head, a
life-communicating root, an all-sufficient king, &c., any of which is
enough to bear up the head, and comfort the heart of a drooping,
discouraged, and fainting soul. Much more may all of them yield strong
consolation to support and revive a soul staggering and fainting through
discouragement. Oh! if ye would but rightly improve and dwell upon the
thoughts of the comforting and heart-quickening relations! our hearts
would not fail us so much as they do.

5. They would eye him as now in glory, who as head and captain of
salvation hath wrestled through and overcome all difficulties and
discouragements that were in his way, and in name and behalf of all
believers that are his followers and members of his body, is now
possessed of glory, and thence draw an heart-comforting, and
soul-strengthening conclusion, thus, Is he entered into glory as head?
then such a poor, faint-hearted, discouraged worm as I am, may at length
come there as a little bit of his body, especially since he said, that
seeing he liveth, all his shall live also, John xiv. 19.

6. They would remember how Christ, who was always heard of his Father,
John xi. 41, did supplicate for this, as Media