entious and impartial examination according to our capacities and opportunities, the moit refolute adherence will not be a chriftian virtue; because in the courfe we have taken, we might have chanced as well to be in the wrong. And indeed, without fuch diligent inquiries, we are hardly like to be courageous in an hour of trial. Whatever refolution we may feem to have while difficulties are at a distance; yet the actual approach of fufferings and firong temptations will fearch our foundations and we shall scarce withstand refolute ly in an evil day, and having done all, ftand, unless we have good evidence, that we are contending for divine truth, or striving against fin. It is therefore of the utmost concern to us, as ever we would have our courage acceptable or abiding, that we have folid grounds for the perfuafions we admit in religion, or 'the word of God indeed on our fide. Then our resolution will be truly chriftian, and it is like to be proof against the greatest difficulties. 2. Against what chriftian courage is to be exercised. It supposes oppofitions, trials and dangers in our way; else there would be no occafion for it. It is a temper for which there will be no room in heaven; and the need of it now, arifeth from our prefent condition as in a state of conflict. Some indeed meet with greater trials of their courage than others do; but all have fome, and none can certainly promise themselves an exemption even from the the greatest. Now all that hath a tendency to awaken a Chriftian's fear of danger in his course of faith and obedience, gives opportunity to exercife his courage: whether it be apt to excite fear of prefent fufferings for his fidelity, or of his final fuccefs. And fo we may obferve, (1.) The power, the fubtilty and activity of the powers of darkness call for courage in a Christian. Upon this the apoftle founds an exhortation to be ftrong or courageous, Eph. vi. 10. 12. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood," weak or visible enemies only; "but against principalities, againft powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against fpiritual wickednefs in high places." Number, policy, ftrength, unwearied application in enemies, are each of them trials of the courage of a foldier; and efpecially when they are all united. A little foul is affrighted and difheartened at them. If they have had fuccefs in former affaults, the difcouragement is ftill greater.. But all thefe things whet the courage of the brave.. Thefe things all meet in the cafe of a Chriftian. He is entered upon a warfare with evil fpirits; who are invifible, and therefore the more apt to gain advantage at unawares : who are many in number, and therefore able to find him full employment: of the most refined fkill and fubtilty, furnifhed with great capacities of nature, and grown old in experience; and therefore very likely to beguile: of the most implacable and defperate malice, who vow our ruin, if they can accomplish Hh2 it: it: reftlefs and inceffant in their pernicious.. endeavours; "going about continually, feeking whom they may devour," 1 Pet. v. 8. And every one of us is confcious, that they have had too frequent fuccefs against us already, as they have actually flain their thou-. fands. Such enemies will find work for our courage, to refift them, notwithstanding all thefe threatening circumftances of danger, ver. 9. (2.) The oppofitions from within ourselves require courage. Our own irregular inclinations, and affections, and paffions, are difficult to be overcome: in fome temptations they are particularly violent, they have fome-.. times been fuccefsful against our best refolutions; and after a long warfare, moft feel: them to retain a confiderable power, and gain not fuch a conqueft as they defire. All these things are very apt to dishearten. And if we · add, that all our ftruggles with thefe domeftic enemies, and all the ground we gain from them, is offering a fort of violence to ourfelves, like "the cutting off of a right hand, or the plucking cut of a right eye," the trial: occafioned thereby to our fortitude and cour-age will appear very confiderable. (3.) The feveral difcouragements or dangers we may meet with from other men, in the way of our duty, and, even for our duty, make courage neceffary. Solomon tells us, that "the fear of man bringeth a fnare,' Prov. xxix. 25. Courage is to overcome: this fnare. All chriftians have warning even to prepare for för martyrdom; to be ready to "refift unto blood, ftriving against fin;" to "take up the crofs," though they fhould not be able to bear it in the literal fenfe. This they must be determined to do, rather than deny any thing. which they believe to be a truth, or comply with any known fin. God fometimes leaves even the lives of his fervants at the mercy of their moft cruel enemies; and then they may have no choice left, but either to forfake Christ or their lives. And notwithstanding our long eafe and enjoyment of the liberty of our confciences; notwithstanding the gracious indulgence and protection of the prefent. government; yet in the uncertainty of human affairs, none of us can be fure that we fhall efcape even the fiery trial. We could expect no better, fhould God ever fuffer the bigotry of Rome to poffefs the throne of thefe king-. doms; which may he of his infinite mercy. always prevent for we know, that when that fort of people kill us for our fuppofed herefy, they think that they do God good fervice. Now. here is Chriftian courage, if we fhould be: called to lose our lives for the teftimony of Jefus, "not to be moved with these things, nor to count our lives dear unto ourselves, fo that we may finish our courfe with joy," Acts xx. 24. : This is the utmost that man can do, to kill the body but befide that, there are many lower fufferings for righteousness fake, which require fortitude to bear them; the lofs of fubftance, or liberty, or friends, or reputation. We We may lie open to "the trial of cru el. el mockings" and reproaches, when enemies are reftrained from doing more; and thefe are fome trials of refolution to an ingenuous mind. Or even to defcend lower; it is a point of courage, especially to fome tempers, to be fingular or to act contrary to the common Stream of practice; to be obliged by our fentiments to go against the advice and importunity of friends; to differ in points of conduct from many wife and good men, whom we highly efteem and value. And yet a good man may fometimes find himself neceffitated to run counter to his dearest affociates, and even to "withstand them to the face," Gal. ii. 11. while he ftudies to approve himself to God. It yet remains, for explaining chriftian. courage, that it be fhewn, 3. Wherein, or in what acts and inftances. it fhould express itself.. Infenfibleness of difficulties or dangers is not a proper expreffion of it. It is not expected of a Chriftian, that his apprehension of thefe things fhould be lefs quick than other people's, or that he should have no natural reluctancy to them. Without that they would be no trial to his courage. Nor are we to expofe ourselves unneceffarily to dangers. We fhould exercise courage in conjunction with chriftian prudence, though it ought not to be under the reftraints of carnal policy. It is chriftian prudence not to run upon danger, farther than plain duty obliges us. I cannot fay that it is always men's duty |