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ease you of it; but be, instead thereof, gives you strength to withstand it, and keeps you, that you are not overcome by it. Thus Christ was heard in that he feared, Heb. v. 7; so he said to the apostle, My grace is sufficient for thee, 2 Cor. xii. 9; which is better than to have your particular request. For now God's power is seen in your weakness, and God has the glory of it; and you hereby have experience of God's power, which experience is of excellent use.

Likewise you may desire to have such or such a cross or affliction removed; yet God may suffer the cross to remain for a time, but he gives you strength and patience to bear it; wisdom and grace to be less earthly, and more heavenly-minded by reason of it. There was never any, that, with an humble and holy heart, made lawful requests, according to the will of Christ, believing he should be heard, but, though he were a man of many failings in himself, and did discover many weaknesses in his prayer, was heard in that he prayed, either in what he asked of God or in what he should rather have asked; either in the very thing, or in a better.

I would have you therefore leave objecting, and questioning whether God loves you; consider this: has he not loved you, who has given his only begotten Son for you and to you, John iii. 16; who has washed you in his blood, Rev. i. 5; having given him to die for your sins, and to rise again for your justification, Rom. iv. 25; and has hereby translated you into the kingdom of his dear Son, Col. i. 13; having also given unto you to believe in his name, Phil. i. 29; hereby making you his children, inheritors with the saints in light? Col. i. 12. What greater sign can there be of the love of God towards you; and what better evidence can you have of God's love in justifying you, than the evidence of your faith, Heb. xi. 1, whereby you are justified? Rom. iii. 28.

(6.) A removal of false fears, from the deficiency or weakness of faith.

All men will grant, that if they were sure they had faith, they should not doubt of their justification, not