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THe next Grace which concurs to the compleat∣ing of our actual readiness for sufferings, is Christian Fortitude, or holy courage; which must say in thy heart in a time of danger, as Elijah once
did, As the Lord lives I will shew my self. This also is a choice part of your preparation work. In this Grace our Apostle was eminent. When he was told, Bonds and Afflictions waited for him; he could say, That none of those things moved him, Acts 20.24. yea, when he was to appear before the Lion Nero, and not a man would own or stand by him, yet he stands his ground, resolving rather to die on the place, then dishonourably to recede from his prin∣ciples and profession, 2 Tim. 4.16, 17. He set the world, with all its threats and terrours, lower then it set him. Oh how conspicuous was this Grace in all those Heroes that have past on before us! And if ever you hope to stand in the evil day, and be fetched off the Field with honour, you must rouze up and awaken your courage for God: And the necessity thereof will appear upon these four con∣siderations:
1. Because the success and prevalence of Satans temptations in the hour of persecution depends up∣upon the fainting and overthrow of this Grace. Wherefore doth he raise persecutions in the world, but because such terrible things are fitted to work upon the passion of carnal fear, which rises with those dangers, and makes the soul as a tumultuous Sea. This is it he aims at, Neh. 6.13. This is a mul∣tiplying passion, that represents dangers more and greater then they are, and so drives the soul into the very net and snare laid by the Devil to take it. Prov. 29.25. The fear of man brings a snare; which was sadly exemplified in Abraham, Gen. 12.12. and divers others of the Saints. If he can but subdue this Grace, he will quickly bring you to capitulate for life and liberty upon the basest and most dis∣honourable terms; therefore the preparation of this Grace is so exceedingly necessary.
2. Because this is the Grace that honours Jesu•• Christ abundantly, when you are brought upon the stage for him.
There is a great solemnity at the suffering and trial of a Saint: Heaven, Earth, and Hell ar•• Spectators, observing the issue, and how the Saint•• will acquit themselves in that hour. We are made 〈◊〉〈◊〉 spectacle, saith the Apostle. The word is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, we are set as upon a Theatre in public•• view. 1 Cor. 4.9. God, Angels, and Saints wait to see the glorious triumphs of their Faith and Cou∣rage, reflecting honour upon the Name and Cause of Christ. Devils and wicked men gape for an ad∣vantage by their cowardise. Certainly very much lies now upon the Christians hands. Should he faint and give ground, how will it furnish the tri∣umphs of Hell, and make Christs enemies vaunt over him, as if his love ran so low in the hearts of his people, that they durst not adventure any thing for him: or as if notwithstanding their brave words and glorious profession, they durst not trust their own principles when it comes to the trial! But if now they play the men, and discover an holy gallan∣try of Spirit and resolution for Christ, how will it daunt the enemies, and make them say as Marcus Bishop of Aretheusa made out of Julian's Nobles, present at his torments, to say concerning him, We are ashamed, O Emperour; the Christians laugh at your cruelty! And how will God himself rejoyce and glory over them, as he once did over Job when he fetch'd him with honour off that first Field! Job 2.3. Still he holdeth fast his integrity.
3. Your own peace is wrapt up in it, as well as Gods glory. Is it nothing think you, to be freed from those Vultures and Harpyes, that feed upon the hearts of men at such times? Surely God reckons
that he promiseth a very great mercy to his people, when he promiseth it, Prov. 1. ult. Psal. 112.7. When Borromaeus was told of some that lay in wait to take away his life, it troubled him not; but he said, An Deus est in mundo pro nihilo? What, is God in the world for nought? And like to this was the answer of Silentiarius in a like case; Si Deus mei turam non habet; quid vivo? If God take not care for me, how do I live? Oh this is it that brings you to an holy quietude of Spirit in times of confusion and distraction, which is a choice mercy.
4. Your magnanimity is of special use to other Saints, who are following you in the same path of sufferings. If you faint, it's like the fainting of a Standard-bearer in an Army: You bring up there∣by an evil report upon the Cross of Christ, as the first Spies did upon the Land of Canaan. And a like influence with that it is like to have on your Bre∣thren; so that there is a necessity of impro∣ving this Grace also, before you can say with Paul you are ready.
2. But what is this Christian fortitude, and wherein doth it it consist?
I answer briefly. It is an holy boldness in the performance of difficult duties, flowing from Faith ••n the call of God to it, and his promise to us in ••he discharge of it.
And so you have the nature of it in these four ••articulars:
1. It is an holy boldness, not a natural or sinful ••oldness, arising either from the natural constitu∣tion, or evil disposition of the mind.
2. It is exprest about duties for truth, not error, ••erem. 9.3. for the Interest of Christ, not of the ••esh.
3. The season in which it appears is, When du∣ties;
are surrounded and beset with difficulties and dangers, Dan. 3.16. Dan. 6.10.
4. The Fountain whence it flowes is Faith, and that as it respects the command and call of God to duty, Acts 16.10. and his promise to us in the dis∣charge thereof, Josh. 1.5, 6.
And this Grace stands opposed both to the fear of man in the Cause of God, Heb. 11.27. and to Apostacy from the Truth for fear of suffering. Thus briefly of the nature of it.
3. In the last place I shall lay down some Rules for the promoting and improvement of it, and so finish this Chapter.
Now there are ten Rules heedfully to be obser∣ved for the breeding of holy courage in the breast of a Saint in evil times.
And the first Rule is this: [Rule. 1] Get a weaned heart from all earthly enjoyments. If the heart be inor∣dinately fixed upon any one thing that you possess in the world, that inordinate estimation and affe∣ction of it will strangely effeminate, soften, and cowardize your Spirit when your trial comes, 2 Tim. 2.4. You meet not with a man of courage for God, but had his heart dead to earthly things; so it was with Paul, Phil. 3.8. Since the Apostles dayes we scarce meet with a greater example of holy magnanimity then Luther; and if you read his story, you will find few men ever set a lower rate on the world then he. All the Turkish Empire in his eye was but a Crumb east to the Dogs. Ger∣mana est baec bestia paecuniam non curat, Money could not tempt him.
Suffer not guilt to lie upon your Consciences: [Rule. 2] It is a fountain of fears, and you can never attain boldness for God, till it be removed, Rom. 5.1, 2, 3.
The Spirit of a sound mind is opposed to the Spirit of fear, 2 Tim. 1.7. Now that sound mind is a mind or spirit that is not wounded, and made sick and infirm by guilt. Oh what black Fogs and Mists a∣rise out of Guilt, which becloud our Evidences, and fill us with fears and discouragements! Gen. 42.21.22.
Clear your Call to difficult services; [Rule. 3] be well sa∣tisfied that you are in that way and posture God ex∣pects to find you in. O what courage this will give! Josh. 1.9. Then a man may promise himself Gods presence and protection, 2 Chron. 15.2. But whilst a man is dubious here, and cannot tell whether it be his duty or not that he is engaging in; how can he have courage to hazard any thing for it? For thinks he, I may suffer much from men, and yet have no thanks of God for it, 1 Pet. 2.19. And fur∣ther till a man be clear in this, he cannot commit his Cause to God. And it is a sad thing to be cut off from so choice a relief as that is, 1 Pet. 4.19.
Get right notions and apprehensions of your enemies. [Rule. 4] We are apt to magnifie the Creature, as if he could do more then he can, and thereby dis∣able our selves from doing what we should. Possess your souls with the belief of these five things con∣cerning them. (1) That they are poor weak ene∣mies, Isa. 40.15, 17, 22. but as a swarm of Gnats in the aire. See how God describes them, Isa. 51.13.14. (2) That little power they have is limited by your God, who hath the bounding and order∣ing of it, John 19.11. Psal. 76.10. (3) They carry guilt upon them, which makes them more timerous then you, Isa. 8.12. Their fear is a strange fear. (4) They onely use carnal weapons against you which cannot touch your souls. If they were pray∣ing enemies that could engage God against you,
they would be formidable Enemies indeed; but this they cannot do. The largest Commission that any of them ever had from God, extended but to the bodies and bodily concernments of the Saints, Lake 12.4, 5. They cannot thunder with an arm like God, nor blot your name out of the Book of Life, nor take away your part out of the New Je∣rusalem; therefore fear not man. (5) Your Ene∣mies are Gods Enemies; and God hath espoused your Cause and Quarrel. The more cruel they are, the kinder he will be to you, John 9.34, 35.
Labour to engage the presence of God with you in all places and conditions. [Rule. 5] Whilst you enjoy this, your spirits will be invincible and undaunted, Josh. 1.9. Psal. 118.6. A weak Creature assisted and encouraged by the presence of a great God, will be able to do and suffer great things. Poor Flesh in the hand of an Almighty Spirit acts above it self. A little Dog, if his Master be by and animates him, will seize upon a greater Beast then himself, though he would run from him were his Master absent. Our courage ebbs and flowes, as the manifestations of the Divine Presence do. Oh get thy self once within the Line of that Promise,, Isa. 43.1, 2. and thou art invincible.
Get an high estimation of Jesus Christ, [Rule. 6] and all his concernments. They that value him highest, will adventure for him farthest. Magnanimous Luther how inestimable a value did he set upon the Truths of Christ! Ruat Coelum, &c. Let Heaven rush, rather then a crumb of Truth should perish. Thou wilt never be a man of zeal and courage for Christs interest, untill that interest of Christ have swallowed up all thine own Interests. No sooner is the Soul acquaint∣ed with, and interested in Christ, but he heartily wishes well to all his affairs and concernments,
Psal. 45.3, 4. This is that which pnts mettle and re∣solution for Christ into the soul.
Beware you be not cheated with Maximes of car∣nal policy, mistaken for Christian prudence. [Rule. 7] Ma∣ny are so: And they prove destructive to all true zeal and courage for Christ. Never was Religion professed with greater plainness and simplicity, then by the Primitive Christians: And never was there an higher Spring-tide of courage and zeal for God, , then in those dayes. We are apt to call it prodigality, and are grown wiser to husband our lives and comforts, better then they did. But in∣deed our Prudentials have even swallowed up our Religion. It's true, there is such a thing as Christi∣an prudence; but this doth not teach men to shun all costly and difficult duties, and prostitute Con∣science to save the Skin. But a man of understanding walketh uprightly, Prov. 15.21.
Look upon the in-side of Troubles for Christ, [Rule. 8] as well as upon the outside of them. If you view them by an eye of sense, there appeareth nothing but matter of discouragement. To look on the out-side of a Prison, Banishment, or Death, is affrighting and horrible: But then if you look into the inside of these things by Faith, and see what God hath made them to his people, how joyfull and com∣fortable they have been in these conditions; what honey they have found in the carkass of a Lion, what songs in the Stocks and Dungeons, what glorying in tribulation, and an hundred fold reward even in their sufferings: O then that which looked like a Serpent at a distance, will appear but as a Rod in hand. How many have found themselves quite mistaken in their apprehensions of sufferings! and been more loth to come out of a Prison, then they were no go in. If you did but see your supports,
and comforts that Souls ordinarily meet with in their troubles for Christ, you would not look on them as such formidable things.
View the issue and reward of sufferings by an eye of Faith: [Rule. 9] this also will strongly abate the hor∣rour and dread of them, Heb. 10.34. Upon this account it is the Saints have so slighted and con∣temned them, Rom. 8.18. 2 Cor. 4.16, 17. But then see that you act your Faith, (1) Upon the certainty of it: Look at it as a most reall and substantial thing, Heb. 11.1. (2) View it as a great and glorious reward. And (3) as near at hand: And then say to thy soul, Come on, my soul, come on; Seest thou the joy set before thee! the Crowns of glory ready to be set on thy head by the hand of a righteous God. Oh what compare is there betwixt those Sufferings and that Glory!
Propound to your selves the best patterns and examples. [Rule. 10] Keep your eye upon the Cloud of Wit∣nesses; these are of special use to beget holy cou∣rage, Heb. 12.1. Jam. 5.10. Who would be afraid to enter the Lists, and grapple with that Enemy that he hath seen so often foiled, and that by poor weak Christians? To this end I cannot but judge these choice Collections in thy hands singularly usefull. Oh converse frequently with these Worthies; who being dead, yet speak to thee, and have beaten the path before thee.