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

CHAP. 7. (Book 7)

How Faith helpeth against the fear of man; Opened in fifteen particulars.

First, wherein lieth the power of faith to help a∣aginst the fear of man.

Much hath been said concerning the power of faith to help against sufferings, but now we have divers things to say concerning the power of faith in helping against the feare of man.

First. Wheresoever faith is, it putts the Beleever into a very secure and safe condition, making sure of the safety of the Soul, and that the termes between God and it are good, and by that meanes it delivers the soul from being transported by feare. There is nothing can secure the soul that the termes between God and it are good, but faith: and that it doth by putting the Soul into the Covenant of Grace, and conveys the good of that everlasting Covenant that can never be broken, unto the soul, and transferreth upon the soul the sure mercies of David: and that must needs make the soul in a secure condition. A man is not troubled with feares, when he knows he is provided for his life: So a beleeving Soul is provided for Eternity, what now can trouble such a soul?

The Apostle in 1 Pet. 4.19. Would have us in the time of danger commit your soul to God in wel do∣ing: when the soul is committed unto God in wel do∣ing, there is no further fear. As if so be a man were travelling, and he had some precious Jewel were worth abundance, and he apprehends himself in some danger if he can commit his Jewel to some safe hand he is with∣out

fear. And therefore in some countries you have your Banks: men that are affraid of their money, commit it to the Bank, and there it is sure. So a soul that can commit it self to God in weldoing, and be sure of that, it is not troubled with much fear.

Qust. But should we not take care for our estates, and lives, and liberties?

Answ. Sayth the Apostle, be at a point for them, but be sure you commit your souls to God, and you are wel enough.

As in a time of common fire and burning, If a man have some lumber in the fire, he doth not care for them, but if he hath Jewels and treasury, he commits them to some safe custody: and so a beleever having commit∣ted his soul to God by faith, and so being sure of the termes between God and it, his soul wil not admit of fear.

We read of Noah. Gen. 6.14. When he had made an Ark, he pitched it about the; word that is translated pitched, is the same word that is used for propitiation or attonement: noting, that pitch was to Noahs Ark, that the attonement of Christ apprehended by faith is to the soul: whn a soul by faith can apprehend the sure meercies of David in the propitiation of Christ, this is to the soul in the middest of dangers, to keep it from fears, as the pitch was to Noahs Ark in the midst of the waves, that kept it from the waters. And that is the first thing.

Secondly, Faith keepeth from fear, because it hath a speiciall eye to the highest first being of all things, now that is a rule, No inferior cause can worke, but by an influence from the Superior; and therefore when by faith the eye can behold the highest supream cause, so as to see.

First, There is no Power in any creature but from that.

Secondly, The Acting of that Power is from that.

Thirdly. The Force of that Power, is from that.

Fourthly, The Success of that Power is from that cause; and when the soul looks up to this highest cause and sees all cleare there, it needs not much to look how it is with the inferior causes. As if a man had an in∣strument, that hung upon many wheels, though the inferior moves, and it seems as if it would break and fall upon him, yet if he hath an eye upon the highest wheel that moves all, upon which all depend, and be sure that holds, he doth not much regard the other. And so it is with a spiritual eye. A carnal eye looks only at things that are objects of sence, he looks at the creatures, but a beleever looks at the highest supreme cause, and if that be right, he doth not looke at the lowest causes.

We have a notable speech in Isay. 54.16. Behold I have created the smith that bloweth the coales in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work, and I have created the waster to destroy. Are you affraid of the sword and the wasters? I have crea∣ted the smith that blows the Coals, and I have created the waster to destroy; If they have any power to do hurt, it is from mee; why do you look upon the instrument and not upon the hand? If there be any power in any instrument of war, they depend upon God, and he makes them to destroy: and therefore faith looks to the highest cause, and is conversant with that, and car∣ries the affections to that; it is not much affected with under causes; it doth not fear the wrath of men, nor the power of any creature, because it looks so much at the highest cause that is above al.

The confidence that carnal hearts have in outward helps, keeps them from fearing God, should not the

confidence of the Saints in God, keep them from fear∣ing man?

Thirdly. Faith helps against the feare of man, be∣cause it helps the soul to overcome greater fear than a∣ny feare the creature can cause.

A beleeving soul hath been conversant with other manner of fears than the wrath of a King, namely, the wrath of an infinite God, a beleever knows what the wrath of a Deity means, what the terrour of consci∣ence, and the curse of the Law, and the flashes of Hell meane, and he hath had some experience concerning the feare of these, and he hath received some thing of the spirit of bondage, that hath caused him to feare other manner of things than the feare of man, and when faith comes, that hath delivered the soul from these fears, others must needs vanish; the power of faith soon extinguisheth them 1 Sam. 17.37. As David when he was delivered from the Mouth of the Lion, and the paw of the Beare, he was not affraid of Goli∣ah: so a beleeving soul is not affraid of the wrath of man, because it hath been delivered by faith, from the wrath of an infinite Deity, and the terrors of the Law and of Conscience.

In the 51. of Isa. 22. Mark how God brings the de∣liverance of his people from the fear of his wrath, as an argument to strengthen them against all other fears. Behold I have taken out of thy hand the cup of tremb∣ling, even the dregs of the Cup of my fury. To what end is this spoken? In the beginning of the next chapter (for Chapters were not divided by the Prophets, but afterward, and therefore they have an immediate con∣nexion to one another) Awake, awake, put on thy strength O Zion, put on thy beautiful garments. So sayth faith to a beleeving soul, why art thou affraid of the wrath and displeasure of men, be not feareful, for I have taken out of thy hand the cup of trembling: there was a time wherein there was a cup of trembling in

thy hand, and thou wert affraid thou shouldest drink of that, I have taken that out of thy hand, and there∣fore awake, put on strength, be not affraid of man, being thou art delivered from such fear.

It is a passage in the book of Job. Job, 38.17. when God would bring Job to feare, saith God, you seem to have some boldness: but have you seen the gates of death? and hath the shadow of death been made known to you? that were another matter if you had gone through those fears, and yet were bold; but a beleeving soul may say, yea Lord the gates of death, and the shadow of death hath been in some measure made known to me, and yet I am bold.

The Prophet saith in Jer. 17.17. Be not thou a terror to me, for thou art my hope in the day of evil. Lord let me be delivered from thy terror and all the world shall not terrifie me. Those that have been brought up delicately, and know not what any danger means, if they heare of any commotion and danger, they trem∣ble, but those that are used to warrs, that continually heate the noise of Cannons, and see the affrighting ob∣jects, and desperate things that are there, they are not so soon made affraid, because they have been where terrors have been, and have been delivered from them and so a beleeving soul hath been acquainted with other manner of terrors than the terrors of men, and faith de∣livering from them, will deliver from these.

Fourthly, Faith helps against the feare of men, and all dangers and evils, by implanting the true feare of God in the soul. Where faith comes, as it brings all grace with it, so it brings the grace of the feare of God and the reason of al disorderly feare in the world, is for want of the true fear of God: I do not meane the fear of his wrath, but that reverence that we owe to God as creatures to the Creator, that fear of God wherein a great part of Gods worship consisteth: if the soul were possessed with that, other fears would vanish.

As in other afflictions. True spiritual joy will over∣come carnal joy, and the best way to cure carnal joy, is to have the heart possessed with spiritual joy: many take content in the flesh, but they never come to have their carnal joy mortified, till their souls be filled with spiritual joy. And therefore though in the time of sick∣ness. They cry out against their carnal joy, it is not mortified, but they returne to it again, because they had only the conviction of conscience that their carnal joy was naught, but had not a contrary stream to fil their hearts.

And so for sorrow, There is no way to mortifie car∣nal sorrow, as to sorrow for sin; and so for desires: no way to mortifie sinful, creature desires, as to have desires Sanctified for God. As in other afflictions, so in that of fear: no such way to mortifie carnal, sinful fear, as to have the true fear of God planted in the heart.

As Moses, when the rod was turned into a Serpent, the Magicians turned their rods into serpents, but the text saith, in Exod. 7.12. that Moses Serpent did devour the Magicians Serpents. So there is enough in the true feare of God to take up al the soul, that it hath no space for the fear of Man; As when God is truly worshipped, there he is only worshipped: so when God is truly feared there he is only feared, and all o∣ther fears are in subordination to that. Where God is truly feared nothing else is feared, and indeed nothing else need be feared: As where God is not feared, no creature can help us: so where God is feared no crea∣ture can hurt us, in Hosea. 10.3. Because we feared not the Lord, What then should a King do to us? so on the contrary, because we feare the Lord, what then can a King, what can all the power in the world do a∣gainst us?

Fiftly, Faith doth discover unto the soul, that it hath more with it than against it. You know the Pro∣phets

man was affraid, when he saw their enemies a∣bout them ready to apprehend them: the Prophet prayed to the Lord to open his eyes, and to let him see in 2. Kings, 6.16.17. There were more with him than against him.

So till a mans eyes are opened by faith, he may see many enemies against him to cause fear; but when God doth open the eyes of his Soul to see more with him than against him all fears are gone. It sees al the At∣tributes of God, all the waies of Gods Providence, all Angels, all creatures working for the good of it; and so it sees more with it then against it.

If a child or man, be alone in danger he is affraid, but when he comes into the company of his freinds, that hath more with him than against him, he is not affraid. So by the eye of faith we see more with us than against us, and that frees from feare.

Sixthly, Faith keeps from feare by bringing in the spirit of Jesus Christ into the Soul, and makes the Soul partaker of the spirit of Christ: Now Christ is called the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah, Revel. 5.5. He was full of courage, and did not feare any thing which op¦posed him in his way: now every Christian doth par∣take of the Lion-like spirit of Christ, and hath some¦thing of it in him, and that puts strength & courage into him.

In Isa. 11.2. We read of the spirit of Christ that he was anointed withal, the spirit of wisdom and un∣derstanding, spirit of counsel, and might, the spirit of knowledg, and the fear of the Lord. Wheresoever the spirit of Christ is, there is a spirit of might and strength, that will not easily yeeld to feare It is a sign of a poor low spirit, to ly down and feare every thing that is never so little feareful: but a spirit that is mag∣nanimous, and a raised spirit wil not easily feare. The spirit of Christ is a magnanimous glorious spirit, he hath the same spirit with his Father, and so those that are

Christs come to have the same spirit of the Son and of the Father with them. And therefore saith Saint Paul in 2 Tim. 1.7. We have not received the Spirit of fear, but of power. The Spirit of Christ hath a great deal of power and strength in it, and when faith brings in the spirit of Christ it must needs help against fear.

Seventhly. Faith helps against feare, by taking off the heart from the creature, and from all the com∣forts that are in it. Why doth a man feare? but be∣cause he thinks the creature wil take away some com∣fort from him: now if the heart be taken off from the creature, and the comforts of it, and so from creature evils, neither esteeming the one, nor accounting much of the other, there is not much cause why he should feare, now faith takes off the heart from the creature. In Revel. 12.11. It is spoken of those that overcome Antichrist, that they loved not their lives: and if they were taken off from the love of life, then by conse∣quence they were taken of from the love of any creature.

It is a notable speech that Chrisostome hath concern∣ing a worldly man. None more miserable, and more feareful than a man that is fastned to earthly things, for saith he, he doth continually live the life of care, and of trembling: but when faith comes, it takes off the heart from being fastned to the creature, and so such a one comes no longer to live the life of care, he doth not tremble any more. And suitable to his ex∣pression so was his life; speaking of Eudoxia the Em∣pres: saies he, what wil she do? wil shee bannish me? the earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof. Wil she cut me asunder? so was Isaiah. Wil she drown me? John was cast into the Sea. Will she stone me? So was Steven. Will she behead me? so was Paul; Will she take away my substance? my heart is taken a way from that already.

It is reported of Illaria meeting with theeves, say they are you not affraid? no saith he I have nothing

to loose: but We will Kill thee; saith he, I am pre∣pared to die And to a Heart seeing it hath nothing to loose, and it is prepared to die, it doth not fear; it values no evil in the creature, nor any good in it, and therefore it is not affraid: Now it is faith that glorious and mighty grace, takes the heart off from all creature Evil, and creature good: and by this you may know the work of Faith in your Souls; When you feel a princi∣ple within you taking you from the creature, and lifting you aboue creature comforts, and creature evils, that is the glorious work of Faith. And that is the Seventh thing.

Eightly, Faith doth interest God in the cause of a Beleever. Whatsoever cause a beleever doth undertake, wherein he doth exercise faith, his Faith doth interest God in it, so that it hath not only the countenance, command, and faithfulness of God to help it, but the Name of God, and God himself. As in England if a man hath a debt, and knows not how to get it, he will turne it over to the King, and if he can interest the King in the debt, He thinks that will be a way to help him∣self. So here when a beleever is in a straight, and he knows not what to do, he looks this way and that way, and sees nothing but fears and Terrours and knows not how to help himself, yet if he can but turne over the cause to God, and interest him in the cause, he is quiet.

Ninthly, Faith hath a notable work to help against fear, in that it fils the heart with spirituall good: and the true boldness that is in any heart comes from the fulness of spirituall good that is in their Souls. As the Naturalists observe the reason why the Lyon hath that courage and boldness, Is, because he hath a heart compacted and filled with strong spirits. Many things when they are empty are weake, but when they are filled ful of that which is sutable to them, it makes them strong: So when a Soul hath a fulness of spiritual good in it, it is very strong,

Look what is the reason of the boldness and courage and impudence of wicked men in their sin, the contrary is the reason of the boldness and courage of Gods people in the way of God.

The speciall reason of the courage and boldness of the wicked in a way of evill, is the fullness of wickedness that is in their souls; And therefore in that fact of Ananias and Saphira Acts. 5.3. saith the A∣postle; Why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie unto the holy Ghost: If Satan had not filled your hearts, you could not have been thus bold to have lied to the holy Ghost. And so it is a notable passage we have in Esther. 7.5. speaking concerning Haman, saith the King, Who is he? and where is he that durst pre∣sume in his heart to do so? In the Hebrew it is who hath filled his heart to do this? who hath a heart so ful as to venture upon such an evill as this;

As the filling of the heart with evill makes it bold and couragious in that which is evill, so the filling of the heart with spirituall good makes it forward in that which is good. As it is observed concerning Steven; af∣ter Steven was filled with the Holy Ghost how bold was he? he could look upon the face of his persecuters with boldness: in Acts 6.15. and the Councell looked up∣on him, and saw his face, as it had been the face of an Angel, because his heart was filled with the Holy Ghost. And so the Apostles were very feareful be∣fore the Holy Ghost came down upon them, but when they were filled with the Holy Ghost they had no more feare.

And so Elisha, how full of courage was he when the three Kings came to him, saith he, Had it not been for Jehosaphat I had not seen thy face: What was the reason? he had the Spirit of Elijah double upon him, and therefore he was bold. As there is a Plerophorie of evil that causeth boldness, so there is a Plerophorie of good that filleth the heart with boldness, and nothing

doth so fil the heart as faith: that fetcheth of the fulness of Christ, and of his fulness we are full.

In the Tenth place; Faith hath a great deale of power to cause boldness and take off the heart from the feare of Man; because Faith doth acquaint a be∣leever with the waies of God towards his people, and therefore he doth not fear: A beleever comes to have skill in the passages of Gods Providence, and his deal∣ings towards his people, and thereby he comes to know that it is Gods ordinary way to suffer the enemies of his people to rage against them and prevail against them, and to have much power over them, and yet they are his people. And it is no argument that God hath for∣saken them because of their affliction: And therefore you know, the Scripture speaks oftentimes of Gods leading his people through the Fire and the Water, and that God will be with them there, Isa. 43.2. It is the way of God to choose his people, and set his heart upon them in the Fiery Furnace; when he intends the greatest good to his people, He brings them through Fire and Wa∣ter, and setteth them in wealthy places: Psal. 66.12. And if one be acquainted with Gods way he doth not fear.

If a souldier be not acquainted with the way of his General, when he seeth him undertake great things, and brings them into danger he is affraid: but one that is acquainted with the way of his General, how he will lay his stratagems, and knows that it is his way to go through such dangers, he is not affraid: And so it is true; carnal Hearts assoon as they see any danger, they are affraid, because they have not the skil to under∣stand the mind and will of God in his way towards his people, when as the people of God know, that it is the ordinary way of God to work good out of Evil.

As Luther saies, He doth kill that he may quicken, and cast down, that he may raise up, And the like;

and so he goes on in three or four lines together: but saith he, For to know this, this is the art of arts, and the Knowledg of Knowledges, very few do know and understand this way of God. It is a secret that God doth discover only to those that fear him; Faith doth not make one like a Child to know nothing, but doth Doctrinate the Soul in the waies of God, and so doth enable it to overcome fears.

In the Eleuenth place. Faith helps against feare: because it doth put the soul into a high and glorious condition, as into safety, so into a wonderful high condition. A man that is great in the world is not af∣fraid as others are: Now faith makes the place of Gods people to bee very high and glorious In the 43 Isa. 4.5. Since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honourable and I have loved thee Therefore wil I giue men for thee and people for thy life feare not for I am with thee.

If a King should come to a poore subject and say feare not, you are honourable in mine eyes, I prize your life more than the lives of thousands, would not this keep him from being affraid; God sayth so to every gracious soul, and faith closeth with it, and this keepes the soul from feare. Mat. 10.31. Feare not sayth Christ, you are more worth than many sparrowes: Gods providence is over sparrowes but you are more worth than they. So precious are Gods people to him, that he numbers every haire Mat. 10.30. and tels all their steps, and bottles up all their tears. Psal. 56.8. Surely he values every drop of blood, and much more their lives, Ps. 116.15. and their spirituall priviledges. They are in a high and excellent condition aboue others.

It is a notable expression that Chrisostome hath of the Preist Azariah, because he resisted King Vzziah when he would have offered sacrifice; sayth he, Every one that commits sin, is a servant to sin, and

therefore base though he hath a thousand of crowns upon his head: but he that keepeth righteousness is more a King than any King, he is in a higher conditi∣on than any in the world, But a most excellent expre∣ssion is that of Tertullian concerning this Why should I fear when the Saints shall be raised to judg the world? why should that man fear, that ought to be feared by Angels, for he shal judge them, and ought to be feared by Devils, he shal have power over them, and ought to be feared by al the world, he shal judge al the world. Doth a judg fear the prisoner that is before him. This is the condition of a Saint of God, and faith makes use of this, and knows what it is that God hath revealed of the high condition of his people, and therefore they do not feare.

Twelfthly. Faith helps against fear, because faith doth much strengthen a good conscience; wheresoever faith is, and according to the degree of it so a good con∣science is strengthened; they go together faith and a good conscience. Therefore the Scripture speaking of some, In 1 Tim. 1.19. That they had made Ship∣wrack of faith, they had put away a good conscience too. The one cannot stand without the other Now we know what a great power there is in a good conscience to make one without feare: to know nothing ill concerning our selves, is a wal of brass; the the breastplate of righteousness helps against any dart that comes; and a good conscience holds forth the breast∣plate of righteousness: and saith a good conscience, they accuse, but I will excuse, they condemn, but I wil justifie: I wil be with thee in death, and before the Lord, and plead for thee.

If a man come to be made a terror to himself, then no marvail if he be affraid of every thing else; but if a man be not a terrour to himself, if he be able to behold God in righteousness, and his conscience be right and good, he may look with boldness upon any thing. Job. 11.14.15. If iniquity be in thy hand, put it farr a∣way,

and let not wickedness dwel in thy Tabernacles: For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot, yea thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not feare before men, no nor before the Lord himself.

Againe, Faith helps mightily against fear, by bring∣ing in, and making use of all the gracious promises to help against fear. I wil name but two promises, and you shall see what a great deal of power is in those to help the soul against fear. Deut. 31.8. He it is that goeth before thee, he wil be with thee, he wil not fail thee nor forsake thee, fear not, neither be dismayed. Mark how God heapeth up expressions. Before he bids Moses bid Joshua be strong in the 7 verse, First he goeth before thee, Secondly, He wil be with thee. Thirdly, He wil not fail thee. See Isa. 41.10. Fear thou not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed, for I am thy God, I wil strengthen thee, yea, I wil help thee yea I wil uphold thee with the right hand of my righte∣ousness, Thus God heaps up expressions to help against feare. Faith makes the encouragements of the word re∣al to the soul, faith brings the divine power and effica∣cy of them to the soul.

Againe, Faith helps against fear by making use of al experiences of Gods dealing with his people in former times, In Habb. 3. throughout he makes use of the waies of God, and shews what God had done for his heretofore. Psal. 87.4. I will make mention of Rahab and Babilon, I wil make mention of What God hath done in Rahab and in Babilon.

Lastly. Faith helps against the fear of man, because it causeth a Christian to judge of men as God himself judgeth of them, and look at men as God looketh at them, and to have the same thoughts of men, as God hath and this is a mighty help against fear.

Now we must see how God hath revealed himself concerning man, and what little cause there is to fear men especially wicked men, and the ene∣mies of Gods people. I wil no fear saith the Psalmist,

in Psal. 56.11. what can man do unto me? And I wil not feare what flesh can do unto me. In this same Psalm. 56.4.