with the gospel, and have not felt the powers of the world to come, let
them fret and grow peevish at every disappointment that falls upon them
in their earthly comforts, or when their flesh is visited with sore
pains: But it does not become a christian to be sour and fretful under
the afflicting hand of God, for it is the hand of his heavenly Father.
To be overwhelmed and almost distracted with the crosses we meet with in
the world, is not becoming the character of a child of God, one that is
high born, that has his birth from heaven, and his family there; it is a
shame for him to grow wild with impatience, or to run into desperate
courses for relief. This is not courage, but mere cowardice of soul, to
put an end to our own life in order to escape from our sorrows. The
wisest among the heathens reproved it as a meanness of spirit; and
surely it is much more unbecoming the religion of Christ, and that
divine fortitude that every christian should be endued with. We are not
to be affrighted, though the mountains should be turned upside down, and
cast into the midst of the sea. The Lord of hosts is our shield and
defence, he is a rock above all the waves, and if our feet are fixed
upon this rock, what need have we for terror? The name of the God of
Jacob, in the xlvi. Psalm, is a match for all our foes, and a sovereign
remedy for all our fears.
Christian courage appears also upon a bed of sickness, when, at the call
of God, we look death in the face with a chearful soul. When all our
friends stand around us, and every one, by the lamentable air that sits
in their faces, gives us notice of our approaching dissolution, then to
look upon death with a serene countenance, and not be affrighted, but
venture boldly into the invisible world; this is a glorious fortitude
derived from the grace of faith.
II. Another instance of passive valour is, when we bear persecutions of
all sorts from the hand of men with a holy courage, for the sake of God.
When we can be plundered of our possessions in this world, and stripped
of all our comforts, and yet be easy. _Ye took joyfully the spoiling of
your goods_, says the apostle to the Hebrews; _chapter_ x. _verses_ 33,
34. _and ye endured the great fight of afflictions with chearfulness,
knowing that in heaven ye have a better and more enduring substance_. In
Heb. xi. _verse_ 36. when the apostle speaks of the ancient Jewish
saints, _they had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, of bonds and
imprisonments, they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted,
were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheep-skins, and
goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented_: but they were men
above this world, _of whom the world was not worthy_: They had a spirit
of divine courage that made them too great for this world, although they
were almost banished out of it, and wandered among the beasts of the
earth. Let not christians then be guilty of base and mean compliances,
to preserve their substance in the world, nor to cover their names from
slanders and infamy, nor to secure their liberties or their lives when
Christ calls us to part with them. If there be any virtue, if there be
any praise, think on these things. If there be any call to the practice
of such courage, for the sake of Christ, remember these exhortations,
and be not afraid.
Thus I have given you variety of instances both of active and passive
valour, as they are to be exercised in the christian life: I fear they
are too many for the best and boldest of us to practise, even under all
our advantages. But in order to render them a little more easy to
christians, the following motives and directions may give some
assistance under the influence of the blessed Spirit. And these shall be
the subject of the next discourse.
Recollection.—And now, O my soul, it is time to turn thy thoughts
inward, and enquire, how much of this discourse is suited to thy own
case? Thou acknowledgest there is a God, but art thou not sometimes
ashamed to call upon him in the morning for his presence all the day,
lest thy companions should know thou hast been upon thy knees? Hast thou
courage to ask a blessing on thy food in the place where others deride
the practice?
Thou hast learned and thou hast believed the religion of Christ, but
hast thou ever yet had courage enough to make a solemn and public
profession of it? Hast thou ever yet publicly given thy name up to
Christ as one of his subjects, and joined thyself to his visible kingdom
amongst men: Or art thou only a believer in secret, ashamed to make
profession of thy faith, by joining thyself to some christian assembly?
If this be thy state, thou hast now a loud call to add fortitude to thy
faith, and assume christian courage to profess the sacred name in which
thou hast believed.
Or art thou a professor of this holy religion? Thou hast listed thyself
under the banner of Christ, in these days of liberty and peace, and
while thou dwellest among those who encourage thy faith and profession.
But enquire into thyself, hast thou such a love to the gospel, as to
glory in it even amongst infidels, who make it the object of their
mockery and reproach? Has this divine religion so deep a root in thy
heart, as to bear and resist the storms of the world, and to stand firm
and flourish still? Hast thou courage to declare thyself a disciple of
the cross, and a professor of a crucified Saviour, when thou shalt
happen to be in the company of those who blaspheme him?
Hast thou obtained holy boldness enough to practise virtue when it is
out of fashion, and canst thou refuse to comply with the warmest
temptations to a fashionable sin? Hast thou got such a victory over
thyself as to dare to be singular, if thy company would lead thee into
any modish vice? This is an hard lesson to young and tender minds, but
it must be learned. O my soul, if thou wilt be a christian indeed, hast
thou courage to vindicate the innocent, when he is assaulted with
slanders, and to frown upon those who delight in scandal? Or art thou so
meanly spirited, as to join in a common jest, that is thrown upon the
absent, and to mix with the odious tribe of back-biters? Remember this
is a shameful baseness of spirit: but a christian must be a man of
honour.
Canst thou see thy friends, thy companions, indulge a sinful course, and
hast thou not one kind admonition for them? Hast thou not virtue and
courage enough to warn thy brother, and to turn his foot from the path
of iniquity, that leads to ruin and death? But remember also, that
gentleness and love must attend thy rebukes, if thou ever desirest they
should attain success. A reprover should have a bold, but a tender
spirit. What zeal hast thou, O my soul, for reformation? Or canst thou
bear with immoralities and corruptions of every kind? And rather than
venture to displease man, wilt thou let thy neighbours go on for ever to
displease God? What wouldest thou do, if thou wert called to face the
great, and to profess religion before the mighty men of the earth? Is
thy faith grown bold enough to shew itself in a court, in a palace, and
to venture all thy earthly interests for the defence of it?
Thus far concerning thy active fortitude. But how stands the case with
regard to passive valour, and enduring of sufferings? Is thy heart firm
under sharp trials of providence? Canst thou resign thy health and thy
ease into the hand of God without fretting or repining? Or doth thy
courage faint, and thy impatience shamefully discover itself under the
common pains and diseases of nature? I grant there is much of weakness
derived even to a manly spirit, from the distempers of the flesh: When
the nerves are unbraced, and the tabernacle of the body tottering, the
soul partakes of the infirmities of this poor fleshly engine. O frail
unhappy state of human nature, and souls that dwell in clay! But is it
thy constant labour and prayer, that patience may have its perfect work,
that thy spirit may be ever sedate under all the pains and disquietudes
of this mortal flesh, and thy temper kept serene under all the frowns
and clouds of heaven?
Art thou ready to face the king of terrors, and to descend into that
dark valley? Thou must meet this adversary shortly, O my soul! Labour
therefore daily to get courage and victory over death, by faith in a
dying and a rising Saviour. Happy is that faith that has no carnal fear
attending it, but is got above the frowns and smiles of this world. My
soul longs after it, and reaches at it, as something within the power of
her present attainment through the grace of Christ. I long to be armed
with this sacred courage, and to have my heart fortified all round with
these divine munitions. I would fain be calm and serene in the midst of
buffetings and reproaches, and pursue my course steadily toward heaven,
under the banner of faith, through all the arrows of slander and malice.
Lord Jesus, I wait for thy divine influence, to bestow this grace, and
thy divine teachings, to put me in the way to obtain it.
HYMN FOR SERMON XXXI.
_Holy Fortitude, or Remedies against Fear._
Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to own his cause,
Or blush to speak his name?
Must I be carry’d to the skies,
On flow’ry beds of ease;
While others fought to win the prize,
And sail’d through bloody seas?
Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?
Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord!
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by thy word.
Thy saints in all this glorious war,
Shall conquer though they die;
They see the triumph from afar,
And seize it with their eye.
When that illustrious day shall rise,
And all thy armies shine,
In robes of victory through the skies,
The glory shall be thine.
SERMON XXXII.
_Holy Fortitude, or Remedies against Fear._
1 COR. xvi. 13.—Stand fast in the Faith, quit you like Men, be strong.
Having described this holy temper of spirit, this fortitude both of the
active and passive kind, and having set before you various occasions for
its exercise in the christian life, I proceed now to the third thing
which I proposed, and that is, to excite you by some engaging motives,
to seek after this temper, which is so necessary for a christian. I
shall not enforce this from the light of nature, and from the mere laws
of reason, which have been joined with ambitious and selfish principles
in some of the pagan heroes, and have influenced many a man, in the days
of heathenism, to some great exploits of fortitude and fame. There is
nothing in all the principles of natural religion, that makes the mind
brave and noble but it receives high advancements and glorious efficacy
from christianity. I would call you,
_First_, To cast your eyes on the noble patterns of courage that you
find in the New Testament. I do not invite you to meditate the examples
of heathen warriors, but consider the example of christian heroes, your
predecessors, who have stood fast in the faith, who have quitted
themselves like men, in numerous and shining instances of active and
passive courage. Look at the blessed apostles, Peter and John, when they
rejoiced to suffer shame for the sake of Christ their Lord, and boldly
told the council of priests, that they must preach the name of Jesus, in
opposition to their menaces: They must obey God rather than men. Look at
St. Paul the most eminent christian hero: Behold him in the midst of the
Roman soldiers, and a violent multitude of unbelieving Jews. Hear how he
acknowledges his exalted Saviour before captains and centurions, before
king Agrippa, before Felix and Festus, who were two successive governors
of Judea! And with the same fortitude of soul he appeared before Cæsar,
at Rome. _I am not ashamed_, says he, _of the gospel of Christ_; Rom. i.
16. for he whom I have trusted in is almighty to support me. Read that
most generous and pathetic speech of his; Acts xxi. 13. when the spirit
of prophecy had foretold that Paul should be _bound at Jerusalem, and
delivered captive into the hands of the Gentiles_; his friends and
strangers besought him not to go up to that city. Then Paul answered,
_What mean ye to weep, and to break mine heart? For I am ready, not to
be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord
Jesus._ I know, says he, _and the Holy Ghost is witness, that bonds and
afflictions wait for me, but none of these things move me, neither count
I my life dear to myself, that I may finish my course with joy, and the
ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel
of the grace of God_; Acts xx. 24.
Now when a special occasion calls us to the exercise of this virtue, and
to confess Christ before the world, for us to be mealy-mouthed, and
baffled, and frighted at the countenances of men, this is to forsake the
example of the blessed apostles, and obey men rather than God. The
prophets and the apostles, the ancient saints and the primitive martyrs
have given us noble patterns of this virtue; and why should our spirits
fail us, or our lips tremble, if we are called to the same glorious
confession? Is not our religion divine? Is not the gospel still worthy
of the same honour? Is not our God the same almighty? Is not our
Redeemer the same Jesus? And does not a dying, a rising, and a reigning
Saviour deserve the same homage of our tongues, and demand the same
glory at our hands? Yes, surely he demands it of us, and he deserves it
infinitely: And not only his apostles, but his own example teacheth us
to practise this fortitude, both of the active and the passive kind. In
the
_Second_ place then, behold this perfect pattern of fortitude, Jesus the
Son of God: When he came into the world in the midst of poverty, and
made but a mean figure, as the son of a carpenter, he was called to
oppose the whole nation of the Jews, and the priests and princes of
Jerusalem; he was sent to reform the vicious customs of a wicked and
degenerate age. How did he stand and face danger without fear? When he
went into the temple, with what a sacred zeal did he scourge the buyers
and sellers out of his Father’s house of prayer? Ye know what a noble
testimony he bare to the truth, when he was called before the great men,
the rulers of the church and state. You know again, what instances of
passive courage our Lord Jesus manifested, when he was hatefully
reproached, and suffered shameful indignities from a rude multitude:
When he was persecuted, when he was buffeted, when he wrestled with many
and mighty sorrows, when his friends left him alone in the hands of his
cruel enemies.
It must be confessed, his spirit trembled within him, and he was sore
amazed, when it pleased his Father _to bruise him, and put him to grief,
and to make his soul an offering for sin_; Is. liii. 10. These were
unknown and inexpressible burdens, that made him groan indeed; and
offered strong cries and tears to heaven, that the cup of terror might
pass from him. If ever his courage seemed to fail him, it was in that
agony in the garden, when he endured more than any mere man could bear.
A formidable and a dismal hour, when the Father hid his face from him,
and the powers of darkness fell upon him with angelic might and fury!
But these are sorrows of atonement, which the saints are never called to
suffer. And yet by secret divine supports, Jesus endured all these
agonies, and upon the cross he triumphed not only over the malice of
men, but _over principalities and powers of hell, and made an open shew
of them_; Col. ii. 15. perhaps, before armies of the invisible world,
and millions of applauding angels.
Read the sacred advice; Heb. xii. 1, 2, 3. Not only look ye, says the
apostle, to the great cloud of witnesses that are gone before, but above
all look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith, who, for the
joy that was set before him, endured the cross, and despised the shame,
and is set down at the right-hand of the throne of God. Consider him
that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that opposed
a multitude, a legion, a world of sinners, lest ye be weary and faint in
your minds, nor let your spirits sink while you behold his divine
fortitude: Let such an illustrious scene animate your souls, and inspire
the fainting believer with new courage. Consider,
_Thirdly_, What you are; if you are christians, ye are soldiers of
Christ, ye have already entered the lists, with all the powers of hell,
and are ye afraid of _man that is a worm, and the son of man that is a
worm_? Job xxv. 6. Ye have ranged yourselves under the banner of the
Redeemer, and the Redeemer’s army must fight against all the armies of
darkness and their allies. You have set up to oppose sin and Satan, two
powerful enemies, and are ye afraid to be brow-beaten by a fellow-worm,
one who is weak and mortal like yourselves? Consider,
_Fourthly_, If ye are christians, what promises of the divine presence
and help you have in the bible, and when the mighty God has given such
divine encouragement, he chides his people into courage; Is. li. 12, 13.
_I, even I am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldst
be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be
made as grass? And forgettest the Lord thy Maker, that hath stretched
forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth? and hast
feared continually every day, because of the fury of the oppressor?_ A
generous and divine cordial to keep the soul from fainting! The presence
of God is an effectual support. St. Paul found it so; _for when all men
forsook him, the Lord stood by and strengthened him_; 1 Tim. iv. 16, 17.
Alas! we are poor, feeble, trembling soldiers, our hands hang down, and
our faces gather paleness: But we dare to confront the terrors of this
world, if we taste and feel such divine encouragements. We know that a
weak christian can do wonders with an almighty Saviour and an
all-sufficient promise. When St. Paul had this word given him, _My grace
is sufficient for thee_, he could _glory even in infirmities_, that the
_power of Christ might rest upon him_; 2 Cor. xii. 9. The little feeble
man, of a _contemptible presence_, could do _all things through Christ
strengthening him_; Phil. iv. 13. And every believer has the same
Almighty Helper, the same gospel, and the same promises.
In the last place, consider the large and never-fading crown of glory,
that awaits the conqueror at the end of the christian conflict. _Be thou
faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life_; Rev. ii. 10.
Consider the honour and triumph, those riches of glory, and that
everlasting inheritance, that shall be your reward in the future world,
through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; _He that overcometh shall
sit down with me on my throne_, &c. Rev. iii. 21. _He that overcometh
shall inherit all things_; chap. xxi. 7. Put all these together in the
balances, with a few crosses and disappointments, a little trouble and
uneasiness, nay, though you should add torture and death in the same
scale, you may easily judge which will outweigh. Gaze at your crown of
life, and your immortal hopes, till you feel your souls divinely
animated to the combat: Learn from the apostle, and assume that glorious
language; _Our light afflictions, which are but for a moment_, are
scarce to be mentioned or named _with the far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory that shall be revealed_; 2 Cor. iv. 17. _Therefore we
both labour and suffer reproach_; therefore we bear all present sorrows
with holy courage, because we look not at the things that are seen,
little things that are temporal; but look at the great unseen things
that are eternal; 2 Cor. iv. 18.
The fourth and last general head of discourse shall now furnish us with
some sacred remedies against this slavish fear. The passion of fear in
general, is wisely wrought by the great God into human nature: It is a
disturbance both of our animal composition, and of the mind upon the
apprehension of some approaching evil, or upon the apparent danger of
it. This is an excellent provision, which the God of nature has made, to
guard us from many mischiefs. It is innocent and useful when it is fixed
on a proper object, and exercised in a proper degree. It becomes a part
of our religion when God is the object of our fear, whereby we maintain
such a holy awe of his majesty, as awakens a constant desire to please
him, joined with a temper of holy love.
But when we suffer creatures to raise and influence our fears upon every
occasion, so as to ruffle and disquiet our spirits to throw the soul
from off its rest, and to turn us aside from the steady course of duty,
then it becomes a sinful and forbidden passion, and we should make it
our business to watch against it, and suppress it. There are some
persons so feeble in their native constitutions, or their spirits are so
weakened by the distempers of the flesh, that fear is a constant tyrant
over them: Their case is to be pitied indeed, but they ought to stir up
themselves as far as possible to shake off this bondage, lest it
withhold them from the practice of necessary duties, and rob them of all
the comforts of religion. This slavish fear is a disease of the mind, as
well as a weakness of nature; and besides, our summoning together all
the powers and precepts of reason, we should also apply the remedies of
religion, in order to remove it: If the divine Spirit concur with his
blessing, the following methods may be made happily successful:
I. See to it that ye are christians indeed, that you have the power of
religion wrought in your hearts, otherwise you will never be able boldly
to maintain the form and the profession of it, in an hour of danger.
Fear will prevail over every thing but true faith: And if your religion
be not inward and sincere and built on solid foundations, it will
tremble and totter, and be in great danger of being utterly lost. One
hard name, one biting reproach, one witty scoff or ugly slander, will
dash the hypocrite out of countenance, and he dares not stand up for his
God and Saviour.
And remember also that your faith must be always kept awake and lively.
See to it that your hope be not only well established, but you must
preserve your evidences for heaven ever clear, that ye may look upon
yourselves as the care and charge of Christ, and under the special eye
and protection of God your Saviour. This was the divine foundation on
which the great apostle raised his courage in the gospel to so high a
degree. I am neither afraid to suffer these things, says he, that is,
bonds and imprisonments; nor am I ashamed of this gospel, for I know
whom I have believed, I know him as my Saviour, and I am persuaded he is
able to keep that which I have committed to him against the day of his
appearance; 2 Tim. i. 12.
If you would raise your spirits to a sublime pitch of holy fortitude,
brighten your faith and hope daily, by a frequent examination of the
frame of your hearts, by watchful walking before God, by committing your
souls afresh into the hands of Jesus and his Spirit, for pardoning and
renewing grace, that you may believe on just and solid grounds, that you
are the children of God, and that Jesus is your salvation. A lively
faith gives divine courage. Faith is a noble shield to ward off fear,
and our helmet is the hope of salvation.
Take heed of defiling yourselves with sensuality: Take heed of any false
biasses on your spirit, and wrong designs in your actions, lest you
bring fresh guilt upon your consciences. Guilt will create fear, and
fill the soul with a perplexing tumult of thoughts. But when the terrors
of this world assault you on every side, reproaches and threatenings,
the frowns of your friends, and the rage of your enemies, you may be all
serene and peaceful within, while you maintain a sacred consciousness of
soul, that you have been seeking the light of truth, and pursuing the
path of duty. When I can say, God is my witness that I am sincerely
labouring in his service, when I can look up to heaven, though my
friends scorn me, and say, my record is on high; I may imitate the faith
and courage of Job in his best hours, and leave all my interests in the
hand of my God. Let our faith be active then, and our conscience clear,
that we may read our title to all the promises, and apply them to our
own case with courage and assurance. _The God of hope will fill us with
all joy and peace in believing_; Rom. xv. 13.