Triumphing Over Sinful Fears

John Flavel in the 5th Volume of his Works begins on Page 437 and continues to Page 494 in relating 12 Cases in which a Christian may keep his own heart under many different situations. In our previous Sessions we have looked at Cases 1 and 2 . Case 1 – How a Christian may keep his heart from pride and carnal security, under the smiles of providence, and constancy of creature-comforts. And Case 2 – How a Christian under great afflictions may keep his heart from repining, or desponding under the hand of God? Under this 2nd Case he gives us nine special helps. (We have looked at 6 special helps under this 2nd Case) Tonight I will attempt to go through helps 7 & 8. Help # 7 says – Again, It may stay your heart, if you will consider that in these troubles, God is about that work which you saw the design of it, your soul would rejoice. Help # 8 – Farther, It would much conduce to the settlement of your hearts, to consider, That by fretting and discontent, you do yourselves more injury than all the afflictions you lie under could do; your own discontent is that which arms your troubles with a sting; it is you that make your burden heavy, by struggling under it.