The excellency of holy courage in evil times by Jeremiah Burroughs ; published by Thomas Goodwin ... [et al.]

CHAP. 6. (Book 6)

The Point prosecuted more strictly.

BUt now we come to the point more strictly: After you have observed these rules, and made use of these directions, you are to go on in your way resolute∣ly and comfortably, and cheerefully, whatsoever falls out, not to baulk your way at all in the least degree that God requires at your hands, but to go on without feare.

The Scripture saith concerning a righteous man, In Prov. 28.1. He is as bold as a Lion: if a man know he is in the way of God, he is to go on boldly like a Lion; and in Prov. 30.30. not to turne out of his way for feare of any creature. We find in scripture

how the Godly are commended for their resoluteness and courage of spirit, that they would not fear man and the creature.

As those three Prophets. in 1 Kings. 18.17.18. Elijah, Elisha, and Micaiah. When Elijah met Ahab, Saies he Art thou he that troublest Israel? No saith he, it is thou and thy fathers house. And so Elisha, when those three Kings came down to him, the King of Israel, and Jehosophat, and the King of E∣dom: saies he; 2 Kings, 3.14. Were it not that I regard the presence of of Jehoshaphat King of Judah, I would not look towards thee nor see thee.

And so Micaiah, when they would have had him prophesie good things, sayes he, 1 Kings. 22.14. What the Lord sayth unto me, that wil I speak. I might give you many instances in Job and David of their courage, not fearing the wrath of man. Job hath a notable expression. Job. 31.34. Did I feare a mul∣titude, or did the contempt of families terrifie mee? that I kept silence, and went not out of the door? he was not affraid though he lived amongst those that were vile and wicked.

And great courage you have in David in Psal. 23. and others, Though he walked in the shadow of death, and whatsoever befel him he would not be affraid. And so the Church of God sayth in Psal. 46.2.3.4. verses, Therefore we wil not fear though the earth be removed, and though the mountaines be carried into the middest of the Sea. Though the waters thereof roare, and be troubled, though the Mountaines shake with the swelling thereof, There is a river the Streams whereof shal make glad the City of our God. We en∣joy the ordinances of God, and we wil not fear though there are such tumults abroad in the world.

And so that which is said concerning Jeremiah in Chap. 15.12. Shall iron breake the Northern Iron and the steele? though they were as Iron that reasoned a∣against

Jeremiah, yet Jeremiah was to be as steel when Iron Strikes against Steel. It doth not break it, but brighten it; and so al the op∣position that Jeremiah had from all the great ones was but as the striking of Iron against Steel, it did not break his spirit but brighten it. And that of the three Children in Dan. 3.16. Shews the magnanimous spirit that they had. We are not careful to answer thee in this matter. And so that speech of Saint Paul. Acts, 21.13. What meane you to weep and break my heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but to dy at Jerusa∣lem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

And so many expressions we have of the Martyrs in the Primitive times. Justin Martyr making his apologie for the Christians to Antonius Pius, saith he; we do not speak to dissemble to you, but for our own right, we can be hurt by no man, you can kill us, but not hurt us, if you like mad men will observe the customs of men before the truths of God, do then, we wil not.

I do not name every speech of those servants of God as imitable, because we do not know what spirits they were carried on with, but to shew the strength of their spirits.

And so that of Ambrose, speaking to the Emperor do not lift up thy self O Emperor, if so be you would rule, be subject to God. And so Odosius, that was a good man, when he had been crossed with the people of Thessalonica, he caused many of them to be murdered; upon that Ambrose refused to give him the Sacrament, though he came to the Temple door, and desired it of him, and fell down upon the ground, yet Ambrose stood and resisted him till there was through repentance manifested to the Church.

And so Chrisostome. The Emperess Eudoxia had taken by wrong the vineyard of another; Chrisostome for∣bad her the Communion.

And likewise Basil, he writ to Julian the Aposta∣te:

Cr••tainly if you understood what we writ, you would not oppose that we writ. But (saith he) when I consider the dignity and crown you have, and the use you make of them, I tremble, for they are for your honor but they make you more dishonor∣able.

And Julian meeting Pagmelius, saith he I thank God I see you, and when he replyed you cannot see, saith he, I thank God I can not see, you are an Apostate.

And that is a notable speech of Luther, when he was to go to Worms to answer for his faith, saith hee, though al the tiles of the houses of worms were Devils yet I would go. And so divers women that were weak in regard of their sex, yet when faith came what abun∣dance of courage had they.

And thus you see by many examples both out of scripture and likewise out of Ecclesiastical histories the magnanimous spirits of Beleevers.

That we are to do now, is to open the point in these three particulars.

First to shew, Wherein lieth the power of faith to help against the sinful feare of authority, and of man or any other creature.

Secondly, to shew, The difference between audaci∣ousness of spirit, and that courage which proceeds from faith.

Thirdly, Though we are not sinfully to fear man, yet to shew how far we may lawfully fear him.