The Excellency of Holy Courage in Evil Times, Chapter 10
CHAP. 10.
Sheweth, How far we may lawfully avoid danger without fear of men. 1. Religion doth not teach men to be fooliſh or deſperate. 2, The care of a Chriſtian ought to be to do his duty, rather then to avoid danger, which may fal out in his duty. 3, When God brings his people into danger, he intends more to exerciſe their graces, then to try their diſcretion. 4, Though danger may be avoided, yet it is more honorable for a Chriſtian to be called to exerciſe Faith, Courage, Patience and in a way of ſuffering, then his prudence in avoiding it 5. Take Care of miſtaking diſcretion, which is not wont to abate the vigor of Gods Graces, but to improve and increaſe them. 6. A Chriſtians greateſt endeavor ſhould be to get his will to ſubmit to God.
THe laſt thing that is to be opened in the explication of the point is this. Faith helps againſt the feare of danger and the feare of man.
Object, But ſome may ſay that which you have ſaid hitherto may ſeem to embolden men to ruſh into dangers, this is the plea of many that bring themſelves into dangers, and ruſh upon their ruine, we muſt not be affraid of men.
Anſwer. To that I anſwer, Religion doth not teach men to be fooliſh or to be deſperate; it is too much boldneſs for any man to think God ſhould give him aſſiſtance in fooliſh, deſperate, raſh ways. It is a ſpeech of Cyprian, God would rather have us ſtay to manifeſt our faith, til we are called by him, and ſee him go before us, then that we ſhould go upon our own heads. Faith as it hath the word evermore for its ground and bottom, in that great act of it, intereſting the ſoul in the Covevenant of Grace; ſo it hath the word for the ground of it in every action it puts the ſoul upon. We have a notable text for this in Prov. 10.8. The wiſe in heart wil receive Commandements: but a prating fool ſhal. fal. the wiſe in heart, thoſe that are truly gracious receive commandements: before they ruſh into danger, they wil ſtay for the commandement, for the word: but a prating fool ſhal fall, one that will boldly venture himſelf in danger, in ſpeaking before he is called unto it, he ſhal fal in it, he muſt not expect the aſſiſtance of God in it.
Queſt. But if we muſt not feare man, may we not flee from danger? may we not labor to deliver our ſelves from it when it comes? we muſt not ruſh into danger but ſuppoſe we ſee danger before us, may we not flee from it, and avoid it before it comes? if we muſt not feare the creature, muſt we deliver our ſelves from it?
Anſw. Firſt I ſhall give ſome general anſwers unto it, and then I will come more cloſely to anſwer to that caſe of conſcience concerning fleeing from danger.
For a general anſwer unto this, conſider theſe five things.
Your queſtion is, whether a Chriſtian may not flee danger?
I anſwer, Firſt, That the greateſt care of a Chriſtian ought to be to do his duty, rather then to avoid danger that may fal out in his duty: we ſhould be more affraid of our own baſe, earthly, cowardly, unbeleeving hearts then we ſhould be affraid of any evil that the malice and power of al the men in the world, and Devills in hell can being upon us: No Chriſtian is in ſo much danger of evil from the malice and power of al the men in the world and Devils in hell, as he is in danger of miſcheif from his own heart, and that man that doth not feare himſelf and his own vile heart, more then he doth al the power and malice of the men of the world and the Devils in Hell, he doth not yet know his heart: It is a greater judgment to be delivered up to a mans own heart: then to be delivered up to the malice of al the enemies we have in the world; yea, it is a greater judgment to be delivered up to ones own heart, then to be delivered up to the Devil himſelf.
Thoſe that are ſo ſollicitous to deliver themſelves from the danger and evil of the power of men, let them firſt labor that the ſtrength of their Sollicitouſneſs be to deliver themſelves from the danger and evil of their own hearts.
Secondly, You ask this queſtion whether you may not flee danger? I anſwer, when God doth ſo diſpoſe of things, as to bring his people into danger, uſually God intends more to exerciſe faith and courage, and patience, then to exerciſe diſcretion, though it call for both? and that which is Gods uſual cheif intent, ſhould be our chief care; when as the care of moſt Chriſtians in the time of Danger, is more to exerciſe their diſcretion for their ſafety. Then to exerciſe faith, courage, and patience that God calls moſt for.
Thirdly, Grant that the danger may be avoided, yet a Chriſtian ſhould count it a more honorable thing to be called to exerciſe faith, courage, and patience in a way of ſuffering, then to be called forth to exerciſe his diſcretion in avoiding of ſuffering. Indeed God doth not cal at all times to that which is the moſt honorable ſervice, yet a Chriſtian ſhould account that more honorable, and not bleſs himſelf that his condition is better then others, becauſe God calls others to ſuffer, and there gives them an opportunity to exerciſe faith, and courage and patience, and that he gives him liberty to avoid ſuffering, wherein he gives me an opportunity to exerciſe my diſcretion, and wiſdom; I am to count them the moſt honorable Chriſtians that do ſuffer.
Fourthly, When God doth call for the exerciſe of diſcretion in avoiding ſuffering, there muſt be a great care in Chriſtians, not to miſtake their diſcretion, to think that the work of Chriſtian wiſdom, and diſcretion, is to abate the vigor, and activity and ſtrength of any grace of Gods ſpirit: But the work of it doth conſiſt in the managing, improving, and increaſing of al the graces of Gods ſpirit. There is a great miſtake in the world about this, many think they muſt be zealous. But there muſt be diſcretion exerciſed: what do they count diſcretion? that which doth ſomething take off the activity, and vigour of grace; but there is not one grace is ſo an enemy to another, as to abate in any degree the vigor and activity of any grace whatſoever, but the work of diſcretion is to mannage and improve our faith, and courage, and patience, and all other graces wel for the glory of God, and the good of his people, this is diſcretion; but if you account that diſcretion which abates the vigour and activity of grace, though you put that glorious name of diſcretion upon it, God cals it by other names, by cowardlineſs, ſelf-ſeeking, and temporizing, and what wil become of thoſe?
Fiftly, You ask whether you may avoid danger, and ſuffering? The cheife way that a Chriſtian ſhould uſe in avoiding of danger ſhould be in this; namely, in Laboring to get his heart to be willing to ſubmit to God in a way of ſuffering to be willing to endure ſuffering when he calls to it. As it is the beſt way to obtain a mercy from God, to get our hearts to be willing to be without it, if God ſhal ſee it ſit, ſo it is the beſt way to avoid danger and evil, to get our hearts willing to ſuffer that evil if God ſhal cal to it. Theſe things being premiſed, there may be liberty to avoid danger.