them to chew them no marvel then though they spit them out and do not swallow them they should swallow them down and not chew them And so when God gives us any bitter pills we must not alwaies be chewing of them in our thoughts but free the command of God and so go on in our work and labor to swallow difficulties as much as we can we have a notable place for this purpose in Psal 86.4 5. Rejoyce the soul of thy servant for unto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul for thou Lord art good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy unto al them that cal upon thee Thus we apply it the cause why many go so drooping in their way and have no joy and comfort in any of their waies is because they look downward in the dark if a man were in the bottom of a deep pit and alwaies looks downward he could never see light if he would see light he must look upward to the Sun so mark the way of David Rejoyce the soul of thy servant for unto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul If David had let his heart alwaies fall downward he would never had joy in his way but when he would have joy he lift up his heart so if there be any work that is difficult and your hearts are troubled would you have that which should rejoyce you lift up your soules to God in those incouraging waies that he presents to you For thou Lord art good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy Here is a way to get mercy he lifts up his soul and looked upon God as good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy I appeale to you when did you lift up your soules and look up to God as plenteous in mercy you alwaies looked downward in the bottome of the pit and see the blackness of Gods justice ready to seize upon you but you should lift up your soul to God and look to the sun we should not alwaies be poring upon those things that are difficult but see those things that are incouraging 22. Do not make use of difficulties in your way to reason against your work or to make you out of love with your work but to reason against your hearts indeed it is an hard work but it is through my wretched sluggish heart and because I do not make use of the means and abilities that God affords me many that have less means and helps then I can go through harder works then I and so labor to reason against your own hearts and not the work many when they feel the work hard reason against the work the Lord knows I strive and do what I can but I have so many letts and hinderances God does not come in with his Grace to help me and I can do nothing without God How comes it to pass nothing is done because the work is hard or because you do not use what power God gives to do it withall now the safest way is rather to reason against your selves that you have not done what you can but you rather put off al the guilt from your selves and justify your selves and that is all the reason why nothing is done it is because the work is hard and you have so many hinderances and that God hath not given you his power but if you look into your own hearts you will find another reason it is not so much the hardness of the work as the ill disposition of your hearts and that should be your care not to reason against the work because it is difficult but against your hearts And to conclude all this is all I say we should labor to harden our selves by our Faith against all difficulties As unbeleefe is a hardning sin one way So faith is a hardning grace another way unbelief hardens in that which is evil and faith hardens in that which is good Acts 19.9 But when divers were hardned and beleeved not They were hardned because they did not beleeve and faith hath the contrary effect and wil do as much in that which is good as unbelief can do in that which is evil As unbelief wil make a man or woman so hard as to be as Iron to that which is good so Faith wil make a man as Iron to that which is evil and therefore the Prophet Jeremiah is compared to Iron and Steel Jer. 15.12 Shall Iron break the northern Iron and the Steel God hath revealed himself to him gratiously and he was hardned by it now of all graces especially Faith doth make the heart as Iron for God as unbelief doth make the heart as Iron to stand out against God And therefore is the exhortation of the Apostle 2 Peter 1.5 Ad to your Faith vertue the word Virtus comes from strength because every vertue puts forth strength so it is as much as if he should say ad to your faith strength put it forth strongly that it may help you against strong difficulties with a war-like power vertue hath a power to oppose enemies and so ad to your faith vertue And if we do so know it will be a very honorable thing it is an honor to God honor to us for us to go through difficult things it is honor to God as Davids men that endured so much that broke through an host for to get him water it was an honor to him and so for us to do difficult things for God it is an honor to God and it is honorable to us non so honorable as those that have gone through difficult works it will make them honorable to others as some observe from that place in 8. Cant. 3. If shee be a wal we will build upon her a palace of Silver If shee be a wal to stand out against opposition and temptation we wil build upon her a palace of Silver she shal be made honorable and glorious and so every Christian if your heart be as a wall to stand out against opposition and difficulty and hinderances in the way of God you shall have a pallace of Silver built upon you you shal be honorable in the eyes of God and all his Saints And going through difficulty is a mighty strengthening to grace and the more difficulty any go through the more Grace is strengthened As it is a rule of any thing that opposeth another if it do not overcome it it strengthens it as fire and water if you cast so much water into fire as the fire can overcome it the fire gathernig strength to overcome the water that opposes it burns the better So in all oppositions So in sin If that a man comes to be opposed in his sinful way by the word if the word do not overcome his lust his lust grows stronger And so in grace if any lust or sin or temptation or any thing do come and oppose grace or any gracious act and if they do not overcome grace but grace overcome them
but howsoever it ought to be the care of all Gods people to be obedient to authority in what they can And in the last place If authority should deal never so hardly with you take heed you have no thoughts of revenge but commit your cause to God and requite good for evil and pray for those that persecute you And these directions being premised you see how far you are to fear the wrath of the King and the displeasure of al that are in place above you CHAP. 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 resolutely 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 Edom 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 multitude 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 enjoy 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 opposition 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 Jerusalem 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 forbad her the Communion And likewise Basil he writ to Julian the Apostate Crâ—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 dishonorable 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 abundance 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 audaciousness 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 CHAP. 7. How Faith helpeth against the fear of man Opened in fifteen particulars First wherein lieth the power of faith to help aaginst 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 doing when the soul is committed unto God in wel doing 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 without 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 committed 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 instrument 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 created 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 carries 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 fearing man Thirdly Faith helps against the feare of man because it helps the soul to overcome greater fear than any 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 conscience 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 Goliah 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 deliverance 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 trembling 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 connexion 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 therefore 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
so such a one comes no longer to live the life of care he doth not tremble any more And suitable to his expression so was his life speaking of Eudoxia the Empres 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 prepared 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 principle 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 himself 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 Apostle 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 presume 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 after 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 upon 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 before 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 beleever 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 dealings 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 forsaken 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 Water 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 understand 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
He is Earth Where the Psalmist sayth what is a man that I should be affraid of him the word signifies Earth Secondly It signifies poor sickly sorry men will any be affraid of earth or a sick man Thirdly The Scripture calls him a Worm Job 25.6 Wil any be affraid of a Worme Fourthly Man is called Clay Job 10.9 Fifthly Man in scripture is called grass and the flower of the feild Isa 40.6 Secondly Consider what the Scripture saith concerning the vanity of man 1. A man is like to vanity Psalm 44.4 2. He walks in a vain shadow Psalm 39 6. 3. Man is vaine himself Job 11.11.12 4. Man is vanity it self 5. Altogether vanity 6. Every man is vanity 7. In his best estate vanity And al that you have in Psalm 39. 8. He is lighter than vanity Psalm 62.9 And if we could look at man as God looks at him we should not be affraid Thirdly For the dwelling of man In al his bravery and strong rich pallaces it is but as the dwelling of a moth and as a booth in Job 27.18 and as a house of Clay Job 4.19 Fourthly The pomp of a man Put man into the greatest gallantness that can be that causeth some feare in the hearts of men that are carnal Now in Acts 25.23 when Bernice and Agrippa came to sit in judgment they came with great pompe as Judges use to do to strike feare into their prisoners now the word signifies they come with much phansy Faith makes men to judg of things as the Holy Ghost doth and so keeps them from fearing of them Fifthly The foundation of Man It is in the dust Job 4.19 and that which hath no foundation but the dust it hath no great strength Sixthly The life of man Some times compared to a buble and a vapor a weavers shuttle and the wind in Job 7.6 7 he is compared to the Eagle flying in the aire and to the Ship in the midst of the Sea and as the dayes of an Hireling Job 7.1 And as a shadow Job 8.9 He is such a poore creature that the moth crusheth him Job 4 19. Now that which can crush a man must have a great deal of power over him And his days are but as a hand breadth Psal 39.5 And his breath is in his Nostrils Isa 2.22 This is to shew what little cause there is to feare man Now put all these together surely he is not a creature much to be feared and here we see what wonderful dishonor God hath when man is feared above God But now let us consider him as a wicked man and then he is less to be feared and there we wil consider of him in three respects Consider 1. His baseness 2. What he is in the greatness of his power opposing the Godly 3. How neare those that are wicked and enemies of Gods people are unto destruction First Consider the baseness of wicked men we do not feare things that are base 1. Wicked men let them be never so glorious in regard of outward things they are but as dross and dust Psal 119.118.119 2. And then their Root that which should uphold them and be their power is rotten Isa 5 24. 3. They are as Straw trodden down for the dunghil Isa 25.10 4. They are compared to the Froth and Fome of the Sea Hos 10.7 5. His baseness is expressed by being compared to Briars and Thornes Ezek. 2.6 Why should wicked men be feared that are compared to such base things Thus God judgeth of them and those that have Faith should judge so of them But they have a great deale of power and much strength Secondly Let us therefore consider what God speaks concerning the power of wicked men 1. It is all but a Noise Jer. 46.17 Egypt was a great Kingdom and the King of Egypt with all his power is but a noise 2. All their power is but a litle small dust Isa 29.5 3. In all their power they are but as a company of beasts or little children that have reeds in their hands Psal 68.30 Rebuke the company of Spearmen the multitude of the beasts The word translated Spear-men is rather to be translated Children that carry Reeds instead of Speares 4. Their power is Cursed Psal 119.21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed When they are in the top of their pride and rage and they look upon the Servants of God with scorne and contempt then they are cursed in their pride and strength and that which hath the curse of God upon it must needs come to nothing 5. All their power is as nothing Isa 41.11 And if their power be as nothing there is no cause to feare their power 6. They are Less than nothing Isa 40.17 Now what can be said more for the power of all Nations to be less than nothing If we have the same Judgment that the Holy Ghost hath cocerning Man there is no cause of feare of man Thirdly and lastly Consider what the Scripture saies of wicked men in regard of their nearness to destruction They are ready to perish 1. They are compared to Tow. Isa 1.31 A litle spark of fire doth presently blaze up tow 2. They are like the Crackling of thornes under the Pott Eccles 7.6 3. They are like to Smoake as Psal 68.2 Smoake the sooner it ascends the sooner it vanisheth so the greater men are in their power the sooner they perish 4. They are compared To wax that melteth before the fire and as the chaffe before the wind and as stubble as Job 21.18 5. And al Their light is but as a Candle Solomon saith The candle of the wicked shall be put out Prov. 24.20 6. And they are likewise compared to The tops of the eares of Corne that one can nip off with his finger Job 24.24 7. The Psalmist saith God cutteth off the spirit of Princes Psal 76.12 The word signifies such a cutting off as one with a knife would cut off a bunch of Grapes 8. Againe they are like The blasted Corne and not only as grasse but As Grasse on the House top Isa 37.27 Wicked men are going to destruction as a thing rouling before the wind It is said they are set in Slippery places and the Angell of the Lord persecutes them Psal 35.6 If one be set upon the Ice and another come to persecute him he cannot stand long 9. And they are as a Garment that the moth hath eaten Job 13.28 10. And they are compared To the fat of Lambs before the fire Psal 37.20 And as Snow melting before the Sun First consider what man is in himself and wicked man in his baseness and power and how neer they are to destruction and this is a mighty meanes to help against feare Oh! Let us be ashamed that profess our selves to have Faith and yet when we see how the Scripture doth judg of men that we should be so conscious to our selves of so much fear of wicked men how they will Crush us and we
boldly upon it and say God hath established me in my kingdom and made me many promises to uphold me why should I flee he did flee but was it not an abatement of his faith and confidence in God no at vers 3 But thou O Lord art a shield for me my glory and the lifter up of my head To shew there may be fleeing and yet confidence in God as our sheild and glory and lifter up of our head and at verse 5. I laid me down and slept I awaked for the Lord sustained me he Fled but he was quiet for al that in verse 6. I wil not be affraid of ten thousand of people that have set themselves against me round about He Fled from his Son and yet said he would not be affraid of ten thousands of people in verse 7. Arise O Lord save me O God for thou hast smitten all my enemies upon the cheek bone thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly His faith was so confident as it made him to think that which was to be done as done already and yet he penned this psalm in a Fleeing condition So that the second thing is appearent Thirdly In some cases a man not onely may but must Flee he hath not only a permission but a command when they persecute you in this citty flee into another Quest What cases are those Answ First If the case be such as no extraordinary thing depends upon me in that station that God hath set me There is no station but hath somthing depends upon it therefore if we should say they may not Flee but when the case is that nothing depends upon it then none should Flee but where there is nothing extraordinary depends upon it Secondly When I feel the hand of God loose my relations which are otherwise tyes to me Thirdly when God in the way of his providence doth open a door to me else where where I may honor him may be honor him more Fourthly When I find my heart doubtful about my call to suffer for the present after much seeking of God and much examination of things yet with a heart desirous to submit to God when the case is such no question there is a bond to Fleeing and it wil be a sin against God and tempting of God not to do it Fourthly There are some cases we must not Flee in If you ask what they are It is breifely answered the contrary to the other when as God hath set me in such a place as some special thing depends upon me or if I be convinced in my conscience being willing to be convinced that the cause of God and people of God shall have more prejudice and hurt by my fleeing then by my staying It is an expression of Augustine in his Epistle to Honoratus about this argument When any by fleeing shal do more hurt then he is able to requite by any worke in all his life as the case is so sometimes then he is bound to venture himself and not to flee And it doth depend much upon a mans own conscience and the judgment of others to know this a man would be willing to favour himself in such a case but let him be sure he deal uprightly with God and his own soul and not go only upon his own judgment but take the judgment of others and then if conscience shal give him this dictate his life cannot recompence that hurt he shal do by Fleeing he is to stay when he shal see the cause of God shal suffer much in it and God comes in by some especial assistance helping of him in a more then ordinary way he may take it as an item from God that God hath a speciall work for him to do And this was the case of Daniel He saw the cause of God lay upon that work and it would suffer if he should baulk his way and God did come in with especial assistance and strength to him and rather then the cause of God should suffer he would put himself upon that danger men according to natural discretion would think he might have spared the opening of his window but his conscience was convinced that his life was not of so much use as his witnessing to the cause of God at that time and especially if we be in such a way as we find God hemming of us in and knocking off those things that may further our fleeing that we cannot flee but we must do somthing against conscience and do somthing that is evil you are to know that God doth cal you rather to suffer and to venture upon him in such a case Fiftly Those that flee to avoid danger if they take not heed there may be many miscarriages in their fleeing whereby they may much sin against God and dishonor their cause As 1. To flee upon every slight thing that doth not beseem a Christian it should be somthing of weight that should cause him to leave his station for there is no man or woman in any Station but God set them in that station and therefore without the command of God we may not stir We are all as Souldiers and God hath put us into our ranks as a Captain sets his Souldiers in their ranks now a Souldier dare not presume to Go out of his rank without a commission whatsoever pretence he hath though it be to do much good for his country so we must have a Commission from God and not flee upon every slight thing 2. Many in their fleeing flee much to their spiritual disadvantage as they wil flee for feare of suffering loss in their estates and outward liberties and care not whither they flee to further themselves in their spiritual course though may be they might with some loss of their estates have more spiritual advantage then in the place whither they flee yet they wil rather flee then loose some of their estates this is a miscarriage Indeed if this be the care of a man when he flees to flee where he may have most spiritual advantage not outward trading but God in his ordinances he may have comfort in it but if men flee into places where they have no spiritual advantage but onely for trading this is a miscarriage 3. When secretly they have denied the truth before-hand not only fear what they may do but their hearts tells them if they be called to suffer they cannot stand out and they flee only to prevent the shame of their apostacy they cannot tell how to look upon the faces of their acquaintance that shal know they are Apostates this is a miscarriage Tertullian hath a whol treatise upon this concerning fleeing in persecution and I know no man that ever denied it might not be but only he he would not have any flee in any danger for the case of religion and he brings in many arguments but they are not such but an ordinary understanding Christian may answer but this is one thing amongst the rest says he When you
any thing so we fear the contrary let us but mortify our love to the creature and we shal mortify the fear of the creature 2. Let us get and keep our interest in God and that wil keep us from the fear of the creature 3. Let us labor to see clearly that the cause we are in is Gods Cause 4. Look to the call of that cause though the cause be good if we have not as all to that cause we cannot be helpt against Fear 5. Labor to bring your Hearts to count it Honor and Riches and pleasure enough to be employed in Gods service any way whatsoever comes of it if I should endure such and such troubles in it yet the wil of God be done God cals for my estate and liberty and comfort to be employed this way and that is enough that any thing I have may be employed in Gods way and if it be lost in Gods service it is well lost if the Heart be brought to this disposition it wil not fear the loss of any thing 6. Keep the conscience upright in Gods way Job 11.14.15 If iniquity be in thy hand put it far from thee and let not wickedness dwel in thy tabernacle for then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot yea thou shalt be steadfast and not fear When the Heart begins to decline in the least degree then it is filled with Fear 7. Keep a close and ful and comfortable communion one with another let there be no fear with one another as that is a notable place 1 Cor. 16.10 Concerning the care of Saint Paul over Timothy because he was young and so weak That he might be with the Church without fears As a means to help Timothy in his way against whatsoever troubles he met abroad so whatsoever dangers there be abroad in the world you will find this a notable means to strengthen your hearts to be without fear of all the world to keep close one with another 8. If you will needs fear fear prosperity rather then trouble and indeed there is more cause to fear our ease and our prosperity then to fear any trouble in the world there is more cause to fear the favors of men then their threatnings there is more cause to fear the world when it comes like a Fox then when it comes like a Lyon the joys of this present world are to be feared by a Christian now Christians fear altogether present adversity but you should labor to fear prosperity 9. Lastly consider how little good fear of any creature will do it will never a whit free you from the evil you fear But rather bring it sooner as when Peter was affraid of the waves and affraid of sinking did it help him No it rather brought the waves upon him and so in trouble your fear cannot help you and deliver you but bring trouble sooner upon you And therefore that is an observable note the difference between John and the other disciples when Christ was apprehended all the disciples fled except John and John stood when he was in the Priests Hall and when he was upon the Cross he said to him behold thy Mother so that he was not affraid of his life now their was not one of all the Disciples that fled for there lives but dyed violent Deaths and their lives were taken away and John that did not flee lived fourscore years after Christ and continued in his ministry So that you see God many times will preserve such as are least affraid and let such as are affraid fal into the trouble that they are affraid of at that time they are affraid or afterwards And thus we have finished the second Doctrinal conclusion from these words that faith cures sinful Fear CHAP. 14 Another Doctrine Much difference between Gods peoples spirits at several times Illustrated by examples Reasons 1. From the different dispositions their hearts are in to receive truths Which proceeds from Three Causes First the abatement of the strength that is opposite to that truth Secondly The stirrings or activity of those habits which are sutable to truth Thirdly The prevalences of self-Interest Reas 2. From the different 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 somtimes 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 encouraging occurrency of Gods providence WEE come now to the next Doctrinal conclusion which was raised from hence there was a time when Moses was affraid he did forsake Egypt out of fear now Moses by faith did forsake Egypt and was not affraid The Point is Doct. There is a great deal of difference between the Spirits of Gods people at some time from that they are at other times Now Moses seems to have further courage and strength then formerly we have many examples in scripture and dayly experience of this that there is a wonderful difference between the spirits of Gods people at sometimes and at other times As Elijah was a man of mighty courage that could look Ahab on the face and when Ahab said art thou he that troublest Israel nay saith he it is thou and thy Fathers house at another time he fled from Jezebel and God said to him what dost thou here Elijah art thou fleeing from a woman that but the other day hadst such a courage And so David there was a time when David was affraid and behaved himself with much folly in his fear as in the change of his behavior before the King of Gath at another time as in Psalm 23. He would not fear what man could do unto him though he walked in the vally of the shadow of Death And so in many Psalms you have his heart mightily dejected in the beginning of the Psalm and before he had done mightily raised And so Abraham sometime he had mighty strength and confidence of his Faith at other times his faith failed him and he was fain to equivocate and shift for himself And so Jeremiah God said he would make him as a Brazen wal and he would give him a spirit of courage at another time Jeremiah was mightily dejected because of the reproach he met withal and he would speak no more in the name of God unto the people And so Peter there was a time when he was affraid of a poor damsel at other times who so bold as Peter as in Acts 2.14 And so Joseph of Arimathea he was a disciple of Christ but secretly for fear of the Jews but afterward he came boldly and begged the body of Christ at
keep me from temptation now do not cast me down now God hath promised In 1 Cor. 10.13 He wil not suffer his people to be tempted above their strength Somtime the Godly can say my heart is fixed speak Lord here I am to do thy will some times Gods people are able to endure any danger and then God brings his people to the tryal As the disciples after the holy ghost came upon them then they were called to suffer they never were put to such tryals before and when God grants mercy to his people this way it is a mercy indeed CHAP. 16. Another Vse to teach us not to be discouraged at this different temper of our Spirits but to be humbled for it Five Helps against discouraging thoughts Two objections USE 2. THe second use of this point is this If there be such a difference between the hearts of Gods people at some time from that they are at others hence is an incouragement to the servants of God to teach them though they do not feel their hearts always in the same temper and to have the same spirit to do good not to be discouraged it is true we should be humbled for want of having our hearts up at any time but be not discouraged because it is no other but what befals the most dear servants of God and though you do not find your hearts up always as at some time do not therefore conclude there is now no good at al in me for Gods people are ready and prepared for every good work and my heart is thus dul and heavy and dead and it wil never be otherwise with me I am afraid whensoever I shal be called to the service of God my heart wil be thus and I shal forsake God and betray the cause of God Do not reason thus to discourage your selves take heed of those determining thoughts to determine that your hearts wil be always so because they are so for the present there is a great deale of difference between the spirits of Gods people at some times and at other times and therefore there may be so in you For your help against these discouraging thoughts First Consider that you have union with a principle that is ful of al Grace though you do not feel the influence of it at all times alike you have union with a principle so ful that you have no cause to determine against your selves Secondly Know you have promises that are ful of Grace for the encouraging of Gods servants Promises that there may be drawn abundance of good from and therefore you cannot determine that it shall not be otherwise with you Thirdly know the glory of God is as deare and precious to him as your own souls are to you and therefore if so be the cause the honor of God depend upon it know God wil take care for his own honor you are afraid you should betray the cause of God because you find your hearts so down now and perhaps if they were so down then when God calls you to stand for his cause it might be so but what is it that troubles you you are afraid to bring guilt and misery upon your selves and dishonor God but know the glory of God is precious to him and being it is engaged in you that you should dishonor him being one of his he wil take care of you Fourthly Consider how God hath come in graciously to supply his people in the time of need he hath filled their spirits in the time of straights when he hath called them to any hard work and they have done that which they thought they should never have done as it is with wicked men you see some so vile and wicked as you could never have thought they should have been so the Godly though somâ—imes their hearts are down yet at other times they have such assistance and enlargement and fulness of the spirit as one would never have thought they should have had Fifthly God hath made a mighty difference in your estates from that they were before and therefore why should you not hope that God will make a difference between that we are now and that we may be hereafter If God have wrought the least degree of saving grace in you he hath made more difference between you and one that is in his natural condition than there is between you and the gloryfied Saints as I have noted before and if God have made such a great difference why should you disturbe your selves to think it wil never be other then it is now Sixthly nay I appeal to you have you never found your hearts up for God was there never a time that there was quickning and enlarging of your hearts for God that you have felt some comfortable fitness for service or suffering Object I cannot but say it hath been so with me but it is gone and down again there are none but have some flashings and stirrings and some good moods and mine may be no more for all I know grace is a constant thing and the heart is established with it and therefore though I feel my heart a little up sometimes yet they are but such flashings as any may have that have no grace Answ To that I answer There are some works of Grace that are steady and constant that do more immediately flow from the principles and being of Grace and there are other works of Grace that are more remote that are not so steady and constant 1. There are some that are steady and constant as these two things take Gods people and consider of them in any condition if they know but their own hearts they will find these two things First An approving of the life and power and the strictness of the waies of Godliness Secondly they wil find a savor of that which is spiritual either in Ordinances or in Gods People their hearts will savor them though their hearts be very much down yet these two things they find constant 2. But for the abilities to perform duties for abilities in service or suffering they do not lie so next the root of Grace they are but as the Leaves or the blossoms or the fruit now though the sap be constant at the root yet the blossoms leaves and fruit are not Object But you wil say Being there may be good moods in men take the worst of all though their hearts be naught sometime yet their hearts are up at other times and may not you instead of encouraging Gods Servants encourage the wicked they may think we hear there is a difference between Gods People they are not alwaies alike so it is with me somtimes I am distempered but at other times thanks be to God it is better with me and so instead of taking away discouragements from those that are weak there may be encouragement to the wicked and therefore where lies the difference between the good moods that some have that have no true Grace and the difference of