A Treatise of Conversion, Chapter 1 · Section 21
SECT. XXI.
5. THe next pair of Affections that manifest their Conversion, is, Courage and Fear: An unconverted man is bold in sin, but feareth not much the wrath of God, and the sorest evil that he threatneth in his Word. But when he should encounter with any of the enemies of his salvation, there he hath no courage. It is a marvel to see the strange distemper of a graceless soul. These poor wretches are so valiant in their wickedness, that they dare sin when the converted dare not; they dare break the Lords Day, and dare drink, and Revel, and take their pleasure, and neglect their souls, and slight God and all his mercy: They dare run upon his sorest wrath, and upon hell it self. Tell them of these things and you cannot much daunt them. It is their mad valour that they dare damn their own souls: like a distracted man that dares leap into the water and drown himself; or a blind man, that dares run into a Coalpit, because he knows not what he doth: such a kind of valour have unconverted men, when as in the way of their duty, they are the most notorious cowards in the world: they dare not venture upon a little suffering to prevent eternal sufferings; or upon the frowns of men, or the danger of being undone in their worldly estates, though it be for a hope of everlasting glory: Nay, they dare not venture upon a very scorn; but when they have some mind to turn and set upon duty, a wicked man can mock them out of all: Are not these valiant men indeed, that dare not look the feeblest enemy of their souls in the face, and yet dare venture on the flames of Hell? This is the common case of the unconverted.
But when Grace hath made this change, then they are clean contrary affected; then they are the fearfullest men in the world, of God and his displeasure, and the most couragious against all the opposition of the world. Alas! they find then, that it is madness, not valour, to be fearless of the wrath of God: There is no standing before his Indignation, and no dealing with Almightiness, if it be set against us. Therefore doth the poor soul throw down all weapons of opposition, and lay himself at the feet of God, as Saul, Act. 9. 3. And say, Lord, what wouldst thou have me to do? Therefore we find Converts use to come in trembling to Christ, Act. 16. 29. & 9. 6. And Scripture tells us, The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, Psalm 111. 10. Prov. 1. 7. & 9. 10. Now … dare not for his life do that which before he did. He durst have let fall an Oath or a Curse in his passion before; but now he dares not: he durst have secretly deceived others, and have committed secret filthiness; because no body saw him, he was out of fear; but now he dares not; for he feareth him that is greater then all. He durst have neglected duty, and have been indifferent for all company, and taken his fleshly pleasures, but now he dare not: for his life he dare not. Oh thinketh he, what if I should die in the act of that sin? What if God should deny me Repentance and forgiveness? where were I then? He durst before die in a state of Death, and now he dares not live quietly, till he have laboured after assurance of his salvation; that he may know it shall go well with him when he must be here no more. Now if he be tempted to known sin, this is his answer, I dare not do it, because I fear God, Nehem. 5. 15. Other Rulers oppressed the people, and so did not he; because he feared God. It is the Description of the ungodly, that there is no fear of God before his eyes, Psal. 36. 1. And the Description of a wicked place, Gen. 20. 11. There is no fear of God in this place: And the Description of the godly, that they fear God, Psalm 66. 16. Eccles. 8. 12. & 12. 13. By this fear of the Lord it is that men depart from evil, Prov. 16. 6. This tendeth to life, Prov. 19. 23. In this is strong Consolation, Prov. 14. 26. So that it is the work of Conversion to bring the presumptuous hardned sinner to this fear of the Lord; none do so much fear God as they.
But then for the threats of men, for worldly troubles or crosses, or losses, or any such thing that may stand in the way to Heaven, how little do they fear them all? Here where the wicked are most cowardly, the converted soul is most couragious. Alas! he knows the difference between the creature and the Creator: and therefore when he hath once got God on his side, he seeth he is safe, and the danger is most over. Then, Oh what light thoughts hath he of man, or of all that he can do! In God have I put my trust, saith David; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me, Psalm 56. 9. q. d. What is flesh to be compared with God? Can flesh resist him and cross his pleasure, and overcome him? as Psalm 118. 6. The Lord is on my side, I will not fear what man can do unto me: and Psalm 46. 1, 2, 3. God is our Refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble: therefore will we not fear though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea, though the waters thereof roar. So 26. 3. He knoweth what encouragement God hath given him, Isa. 41. 10. Fear not, for I am with thee, & 7. 4. & 35. 4. & 41. 13, 14. & 44. 2, 8. & 51. 7. Fear ye not the reproach of man, neither be afraid of their revilings, for the Moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool; but my Righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation. These words of God are the Instruments of that change that is made on the converted soul, and therefore will make an Impression like themselves. When God doth change men, he maketh them Souldiers under the Banners of Christ, and setteth them in fight against Principalities and Powers, even against a world of wicked enemies; and therefore be will certainly give them courage. This courage is an Essential part of our change, and without some measure of it we cannot be Christians. He that will come to Heaven must forsake all, and tread down all, and despise all in comparison of Christ, that he may not be a forsaker and a Despiser of Christ: Therefore we find the Apostle, in the name of himself and his fellow-souldiers, couragiously triumphing over Death, and the grave, and every enemy, 1 Cor. 15. 55. Oh death where is thy sting? Oh grave where is thy victory? And Rom. 8. 18, 31. to the end: The sufferings of this life are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us: What shall we say then to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? it is God that justifieth, who shall condemn? what shall separate us from the Love of God? Read these Triumphant words at leasure: Certainly, a true Believer hath more Valour then to be turned out of the way to Heaven, by any assault that a creature can make upon him.