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

THE CONTENTS OF The Treatise on Hebr. 11.27.

CHAP. 1. The words Opened; Six Doctrines raised.

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Chap. 2. Handling the first Doctrine.

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Chap. 3. Handling the second Doctrine; which is.

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Chap. 4. Directions for the ordering our selves in our feare of Authority.

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Chap. 5. Some further Directions, how we should order our selves, if we should be injoyned unlawful things.

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Chap. 6. The Point prosecuted more strictly.

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Chap. 7. How Faith helpeth against the fear of man; Opened in fifteen particulars.

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Chap. 8. Arguments against the fear of man, taken from the Consideration of Man, First, as Man in six particulars very observable, 1. What he is, 2. The vanity of Man. 3. The dwelling of man. 4. The pomp of man. 5. The foundation of man. 6. The life of man. Secondly, As a wicked man. 1. His baseness. 2. What he is in the greatness of his power opposing the Godly. 3. How near the enemies

of Gods people are to ruine and destruction.

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Chap. 9. How Audaciousness and boldness of spirit differ from Faith. 1. Audaciousness makes us bold to sin. 2. It appears in causes that concern our selves, more then in those which concern God. 3. Boldness the curing of one passion with another, Faith the cu∣ring of passion by Grace. 4. Natural boldness makes men rash, and hinders consultation. 5. The cause of immodesty. 6. It is sudden and violent. 7. It proceeds and lives upon outward encouragements. 8. The issue of ignorance. 9. Or despair. 10. More out∣ward then inward.

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Chap. 10. Sheweth, How far we may lawfully avoid danger without fear of men. 1. Religion doth not teach men to be foolish or desperate. 2. The care of a Christian ought to be to do his duty, rather than to avoid danger, which may fal out in his duty. 3. When God brings his people into danger, he intends more to exercise their graces, then to try their discretion. 4. Though danger may be avoided, yet it is more hon∣orable for a Christian to be called to exercise Faith Courage, Patience, and in away of suffering, then his prudence in avoiding it. 5. Take care of mistak∣ing discretion, which is not wont to abate the vigor of Gods Graces, but to improve and increase them. 6. A Christians greatest endeavor should be to get his will to submit to God.

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Chap. 11. Contains a further Resolution of the for∣mer Case in nine particulars. 1. God doth, give leave to his people to fly, and avoid Danger! 2. Such avoiding of Danger (if rightly qualified) argues neither distrust of God, nor defect of Courage. 3. In some cases, Christians not only permitted, but commanded to flee, as 1. When no extraordinary thing depends upon him in that station in which God hath set him. 2. When the hand of God looseth those relations, which would otherwise be obligati∣ons

to him. 3. When God gives him an opportunity else where, to bring greater revenues of glory to him. 4. When a Christian is doubtful about his call to suffer at the present. 4. There are some cases wher∣in it is utterly unlawful to flee, viz. The contrary to those above named. 5. Mistakes in flying. 1. To flee upon every slight and trival thing. 2. When it tends to their spiritual disadvantage. 3. When having secretly denied the Faith, Men flee to pre∣vent the shame of Apostacie. 4. When they look at their own safety alone, without care to fit themselves for further service of God. 6. How to know when avoiding dangers proceeds from Faith, or Cowar∣dise. 1. That which is by Faith is not in a Violent, Rash, Heady manner. 2. When it proceeds from Faith, it is joined with a resolution to return and bear wittness to the truth, when God cals. 3. When we use the liberty we have to get hearts to return. 7 The case of publique Officers, Magistrates, Mini∣sters, especially the latter.

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Chap. 12. Containing the eighth particular, to wit. Answering some objections made against flying. ob. 1. Men may not leave their country. Answ. In two particulars. Ob. 2. Should none stay to suffer. Ans. ob. 3, God Alsufficient to help in greatest dangers. Ans. ob. 4. Fleeing a ceasing to give testimony to the truth of God. Answ. ob. 5. Many of Gods ser∣vants had power to fly, and did not. Answ. ob. 6. What shall become of those left behind, if they are forsaken by men of ability. Answ. ob. 7. If men would master their fears, and stay a while, the cloud would blow over. Answ. Ninth particular, Dire∣rections for ordering our selves when we do fly. 1. Leave as little guilt behind in the place as you can. 2. Carry your selves so that the name of God may not suffer in the place to which you flee. 3. Behave your selves as exiled people, as men mortified to the

things of the world. 4. Get a contented frame of heart. 5. When you are delivered keep your selves in the fervency of your spirits. 6, Let those from whom you flee have your prayers.

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Chap. 13. How the Heart may be taken off from the fear of man. First, it is against the solemn charge of God. Secondly, It is an Idolizing of the Creature. Thirdly, It becomes not the State and Spirit and profession of a Christian. Fourthly, It dishonors God, and the Cause of God. Fifthly, It mightily heartens the enemies of Gods people. Sixthly, It is threatened as a great judgment of God upon a people. Seventhly, The evil effects of the sinful fear of man 1. It distracts our thoughts. 2. Weakens the heart. 3. Eats out the true fear of God. 4. It indisposeth us to any service. 5. Insnares a Christian. 6. It. causeth other desperate fears. 7. Procures the judg∣ment of God in our destruction.

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Chap. 14. Another Doctrine. Much difference be∣tween Gods peoples spirits at several times, Illustra∣ted by examples. Reasons, 1. From the different dispositions their hearts are in to receive truths. Which proceeds from Three Causes, First, the abate∣ment of the strength that is opposite to that truth. Secondly. The stirrings or activity of those habits which are sutable to truth. Thirdly, The pre∣valences of self interest. Reas. 2. From the differ∣ent representations of Truth. Reas. 3. Because the Graces of men do not burn so cleerly and purely at al times Reas. 4. From the weakness of Grace the parts and members of it are not consolidated. Reas. 5. Because our hearts are sometimes filled with more heavenly consolations then at other times. Reas. 6. From the different breathings of the spirit of God. Reas. 7. Because men have somtimes a more clear and distinct sight of their call to suffer

then at other times. 3. Particular directions in this Case. Reas. 8. The different tempers of mans Body. Reas. 9. From the difference in the encou∣raging occurrency of Gods providence.

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Chap. 15. Containing the First Use, Which teacheh us to entreat God not to take the advantage of us when our hearts are low.

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Chap. 16. Another Ʋse, to teach us not to be discou¦raged at this different temper of our Spirits, but to be humbled for it. Five Helps against discourag∣ing thoughts. Two objections.

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Chap. 17. Containing the Third Ʋse of Direction: branched into four particulars. 1. If couragious, and fit for service, give God the praise. Four reasons for it. 2. Learn to rebuke unbelief. 3. Labor to keep your hearts up. The manner how that may be done, in eight particulars. 4. Improve this gracious working of God.

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Chap. 18. A fourth Ʋse. To be restless till we get our selves into a good frame.

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Chap. 19. A Fifth Ʋse: To see the misery of being al∣waies unfit for service. A Sixt Ʋse: To teach us to long for Heaven.

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Chap. 20. Shewing the power of Faith to carry through the most difficult work. Question, What is there in Faith which helps the Soul? Answered, in four Particulars. 1. It settles the Heart on the surest ground, which is Gods call, and Promises. 2. It fetches in the greatest strength. 3. It assists with the highest encouragements. 5. Faith of its own Na∣ture is a mighty strong principle. The most illustrious work of Faith. Thirteen remarkable things concern∣ing Faith, and the difficulties which it breaks through.

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Chap. 21. Ʋses of the Doctrine, Use, First, Let none think God an hard Master, when he puts them upon

service, because he affords them a principle to carry them through. Use. Secondly, To Beleevers that they should expect to be put upon difficult things. 1. Four considerations against discouragements. It is not to be accounted an affliction to be put upon di∣fficult things for 4. Reasons. Use, Thirdly, Shew∣ing it can be no concluding argument against a work because there are hindrances. Use, Fourthly, When you have been carried through difficult services con∣sider, what it was which supported you.

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Chap. 22. Quest. How to know whether Faith wil carry us through difficult works, Answered in sever∣al particulars, 1. Faith Goes upon spiritual grounds motives, and ends. 2. Makes men sollicitous and careful for the enjoyment of Gods presence with them 3. Causes men to carry themselves in a Gracious manner. 4. To have an high esteem of the name of God. 5 Makes them careful, that they may not be fru∣strated of their end. 6. It makes men satisfied with God Alone. 7. Faith is a continued work. That Faith, which brought you out, will carry you through.

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Chap. 23. Containing other uses of the point. Use, 5. Shews the reason why we faile in any thing we do; it is for want of Faith. Use, 6. Labor to rise in indignation against your unbelief. Use, 7. Consider what it is to faile in that work which con∣cernes thy eternal estate.

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Chap. 24. Helps to put on Faith in any undertaking. 1. Set before you the example of our great Captain Jesus Christ. 2. Make preparation for the work of Faith by Humiliation. 3. Renew your Faith in the Covenant of Grace. 4. In difficult times, set Faith on work to purifie the heart. 5. Take heed of shifting waies and dependances. 6. Set loose from your own ends. 7. Cast your selves upon the word of God. 8. Plead the word

with God in Prayer. 9. Refuse no meanes that God puts into your hands. 10. Do nothing with a slavish spirit. 11. Be not discouraged by miscarriages that are past. 12. Take heed of the disturbance of passion in your work. 13. Observe the dependances one work hath upon an∣other. 14. Lisson not to Temptations. 15. Take heed of perverse reasonings. 16. Take heed of disorderly working, in four cases. 17. Ʋse resolution and courage. 18. Look on your selves as Gods Instruments. 19. Be constant though you find nothing come of it. 20. Encrease not the difficulty by your carriage. 21. Look most at your Encouragements. 22. Ʋse not the dif∣ficulty in the way to reason against the work. 23. Labor to harden your selves by Faith against al dif∣ficulties.

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Chap. 25. Containing a second consideration of the Text, to wit, and Allegoricall interpretation of Moses forsaking Egypt by Faith. Warrant for Allegoricall interpretations. Forsaking this world, renouncing our naturall estate, a difficult work▪ Fourteen reasons of it.

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Chap. 26. How Faith carries the Soul through the Difficult work of forsaking Egypt. Their Works of Faith. 1. The discovering work, in two particulars. 2. The relying Work. 3. The Surrendring work. Question Resolved concern∣ing the force of Natural Conscience, in three Particulars, shewing the great difference between the actings of Faith and Natural Conscience. Ap∣plication, 1. Hence see the Ground of Miscarriages. 2. A Rule of Direction; Incouragements to Faith and Beleeving. 3. Let delivered Persons see what delivered them. Faith which acts by a power with∣out us. Twelve Considerable and useful Directions

in this matter.

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Chap. 26. Containing the second Allegoricall sence of the words, viz. Concerning Antichrist. The wickedness of Sodom and Egypt, compared with the wickedness of Antichrist. 1. Idolatry. 2. Cruelty. The bondage of Christians under Antichrist. 1. Outward, in Estates, and lives. 2. Inward, a Soul bondage. The baseness of this shewed in several particulars, concerning Ceremonies worse then Egyptian bondage. Faith must deliver us, Deliver∣ance difficult in several particulars. The work of Faith in delivering people from this bondage, in 6. or 7. Considerations Quest. Whether men may not reject the yoke of Antichrist upon other grounds besides Faith? Ans. In 10. Particu∣lars.

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