Comfort and Counsel for Dejected Souls, Section 2 · Chapter 8
CHAP. 8.
I mentioned in the former Section an Eighth feare, which diſcovers it ſelfe in ſome dejected ſoules and that was, A fear of denying Chriſt.
Some poor caſt downe ſoules are much diſquieted with this fear: Oh ſay they,Caſe. ſhould we be brought up to the tryall, we ſhould deny Chriſt. Its true (ſay they) peradventure wee may never actually be brought unto it, yet its good to try our hearts; whether the love of Chriſt in us bee as ſtrong as death: And alas, upon the tryal, we ſee ground to ſuſpect it. Surely, we find we love our life, more then Chriſt, and we feare we ſhould ſooner deny him, then dye for him. Thus do many diſquiet themſelves.
Now for the quieting of ſouls in this fear; I ſhal offer theſe particulars very briefly.
Firſt, Conſider,Satisfaction, O ye dejected and fearfull ſoules! This fear of yours may be a companion of valour. Even ſuch as have been fearfull in the Town, have been valiant in the Field. As there are ſome who boaſt much, and do little; ſo there have been ſome, that have feared much and yet done mightily. Our Book of Martyrs tells us of two, One of which, boaſted how gallantly he would burn, and yet he cowardly recanted: the other feared he ſhould deny Chriſt, and yet he gloriouſly held out, and ſuffered death. You may fear, and yet when it comes to it, may be able to dye for Chriſt. But
Secondly, We are not able to tell what ſtrength Chriſt will give in at the very nicke of time. Chriſt makes good, promiſes, in their ſeaſon. As wiſdom to diſpute for, ſo courage to dye for Chriſt, hath its houre in which it ſhall be given. Chriſt forbids his diſciples fearfull trouble, and care beforehand: (for ſo the word ſignifies, Luk. 21.14. And he tells them Mal. 10.19.foreign. it ſhall be given in that hour. Doe not caſt down thy ſelfe (O poore ſoule) but beleeve there is ſtrength in Chriſt though there be weaknes in thee: and thou mayſt experience that in the hou… of tryall, which thou doubteſt now. If Chriſt call thee to dye, he'le keep thee from denyall. Why ſhould the Souldier have his armes bef-re the time of War? Your armes i.e. your ſtrength and courage to die for Chriſt, is reſerved for that houre, to be given forth then, why ſhouldeſt thou perplex thy ſelfe for want of it now. But
Thirdly, Suppoſe thou ſhouldeſt flinch, and faint in a day of tryall. Suppoſe thou ſhouldeſt indeed fall ſo ſadly, (for tis a ſad fall) as to deny Chriſt. Yet know
Firſt, This might conſiſt with grace: I know none that will deny Peters grace, becauſe of his denyall of Chriſt. Yea,
Secondly, This may conſiſt with love to Chriſt. There is a true love, which at firſt is not ſo ſtrong as death. Peter did not fall in the truth, but in the ſtrength of his love. Beſides
Thirdly, Chriſt will not let thee fall for ever. He will reſtore thee againe. He can and will bring thee on with courage in a ſecond tryall, who didſt fall away by cowardize in a firſt. Peter did afterward out-face a Magiſtrate, that at firſt was affraid of a Maid. To this adde
Laſtly, Chriſt may own you, though you deny him. Its certaine, a denyall of Chriſt with feare and unwillingneſſe (and this is thy caſe O ſoul) doth not expoſe us to a being denyed by Chriſt; Its true, direct, voluntary, deſperate denying of Chriſt is dangerous: So, if we deny him he'le deny us. But a denyall through jear, with reluctancy: A denyall feared before it be, bewailed after it is (which is and would be thy caſe O ſoule) this I ſay doth not, ſhall not make Chriſt deny any.
Why then art thou caſt downe O ſoule; and why art thou troubled with a feare of denying Chriſt: Hee knowes how to ſtrengthen thee, that thou ſhalt not, and to pitty thee if thou doe, yea, and to owne thee; though for a time thou ſhouldeſt deny him.