Tropes and Figures · Benjamin Keach
Tropes and Figures, Treatise 1 · Head 8 · Part 21
Saints compared to Lions.
Prov. 28.1. The Wicked fly when none purſue, but the Righteous are as bold as a Lion.
Micah 5.8. And the Remnant of Jacob ſhall be as a Lion, &c.
The Godly are compared to Lions.
| Simile. | Parallel. | |
| A Lion is a very magnanimous and couragious Creature; he will not flie from his Enemies; he turneth not away for fear of any. | SO the Saints of God are full of ſpiritual Courage; they are not diſmayed at the Threats of Men.Pſal. 27.3. I will not fear what Man can do unto me: Tho an Hoſt ſhould encamp againſt me, my Heart ſhall not fear; tho I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no Evil. Hence they are ſaid to be as bold as a Lion. Shall ſuch a Man as I flie? Neh. | Queſt. But ſome may ſay, Wherein doth the Courage of the Godly appear? wherein are they as bold as a Lion? Anſw. In their being valiant and couragious for the Truth. And this they ſhew forth many ways. 1. By their ſpeaking for it when others ſpeak againſt it. God's Truth, his Way, and People are commonly derided, and ſpoke againſt; and he that is a ſincere and valiant Chriſtian, will, at all times when he ſees there is need for it, vindicate it, and ſpeak in the behalf thereof. 2. In their endeavouring to clear it from Reproach and Infamy. The Way or Truth of God is frequently reproached. 1. 'Tis called Error and Hereſy:Acts 24.14. Acts 24.5. Acts 17.19. After that way you call Hereſy, ſo worſhip I the God of my Fathers, &c. 2. 'Tis called Sedition. Hence Paul was accuſed for being a Mover of Sedition. 3. 'Tis commonly called a new Doctrine: We would know what this new Doctrine whereof thou ſpeakeſt is. 3. They ſhew their Courage in contending earneſtly for the Truth; they will diſpute and argue out the Matter in behalf of Truth, and not give up the Juſtneſs and Goodneſs of their Cauſe, as long as they are able to ſtand by it, or by force of Argument to maintain it. Paul upon this account ſaith,1 Cor. 15.32. he fought with Beaſts at Epheſus, i. e. Men like Beaſts, who acted like Beaſts in oppoſing the Truth. 4. In their viſible profeſſing and publick owning of the Truth. They are not afraid nor aſhamed to confeſs Chriſt and his Ways before Men. Some for fear of the Jews did not publickly own Jeſus Chriſt in the Days of his Fleſh; but ſuch who are ſincere will go forth, bearing his Reproach. Tho Men forbid them,Heb. 13.13. nay threaten them, &c. yet they will preach Jeſus Chriſt, and profeſs his Name, and maintain his Ordinances, and bleſſed Inſtitutions. The Apoſtles cried out,Acts 4 20. & 5.29. We cannot but ſpeak the Things which we have ſeen and heard, &c. 5. They ſhew their Courage in ſuffering for the Truth, when called ſo to do. (1.) They will ſuffer Reproach for the Truth. (2.) They will ſuffer Blows for the Truth. (3.) Impriſonment for the Truth. (4.) Loſs of their Goods. (5.) Baniſhment. (6.) Yea, Death it ſelf, when called to it, rather than deny Chriſt, and the Truth. 6. They will ſtand by the Truth, when others turn their Backs upon it. Thus did Paul. 7. They will maintain every Truth, but more eſpecially that Truth which is moſt oppoſed in the Day in which they live. It may be no demonſtration of Courage, to ſtand up for, or maintain a Truth in one Age, which was a great Proof of Valour in another, when it was chiefly oppoſed. Would it be any Sign of ſpiritual Courage now, to affirm God is God, and Baal is not? yet that was in Elijah's Days.1 Kings 18 Or would it be any Demonſtration of Courage now, to affirm Jeſus of Nazareth to be the true Saviour? yet it was in the Apoſtle's Time, becauſe it was the great Truth then oppoſed. Chriſtian Courage is now ſhewed, by owning and maintaining thoſe Truths of Chriſt now oppoſed, and which in ſtanding by, do expoſe the Profeſſors thereof. Now that which doth animate and embolden the Saints in the Day of Trial, in ſtanding up for Chriſt, and his Ways, is: 1. The Satisfaction they have touching the Truth of that which they profeſs. 'Tis God's Truth. 2. The Conſideration of the Excellency of God's Truth:Pſal 119. The Word of God is pure, &c. 3. The Conſideration of the Goodneſs and Juſtneſs of their Call to ſuffer in behalf of Truth; for that is one thing which muſt always be conſidered. 4. The Goodneſs of their Conſciences, or the Evidences of their own Sincerity. A Hypocrite may ſuffer ſome things, but at laſt his Courage will fail him. I have heard of a Captain, that principally would make choice of two Sorts of Men for his Souldiers, viz. either ſincere and godly Chriſtians, or downright Atheiſts, becauſe neither of them (he concluded) would be afraid to die: The true Chriſtian would not be afraid of Death, becauſe he knew he ſhould go to Chriſt; and the Atheiſt would not be afraid of Death, becauſe he thought, or rather hoped he ſhould die as a Beaſt, and there would be an end of him. 5. The Conſideration of his having ſo good a Second. A couragious and undaunted Second oftentimes puts much Courage into a Perſon that is ſingled out to fight a Duel. Now a Chriſtian has the Almighty and Terrible God to take his part, &c. Fear not, Worm Jacob, I will help thee, &c. I will never leave thee, nor forſake thee. Iſa. 41.14. Heb. 13.5, 6. So that we may boldly ſay, The Lord is my Helper, I will not fear what Man can do unto me. 6. The Certainty of getting the Victory, or overcoming at laſt. As it is ſaid of Gad, it may be ſaid of a Chriſtian, tho a Troop may overcome him, yet he ſhall overcome at laſt. Hence Saints are ſaid to be more than Conquerors;Rom. 8.37 for no Conqueror is certain, whilſt he is in the Conflict, that he ſhall at laſt obtain the Conqueſt. 7. The Conſideration of that exceeding great Reward, which they ſhall receive when they have overcome, wonderfully adds Courage and Boldneſs unto them. Be thou faithful unto Death, and I will give thee a Crown of Life. Rev. 2.10. |
| II. Lions are great Conquerors. Many other Beaſts, tho they are much bigger than they, yet they are not able to ſtand before them. | II. Saints are great Conquerors; through Chriſt, they conquer Sin, Satan, the World, Death, and Hell; they are ſaid to be more than Conquerors. Rom. 8. | |
| III. A Lion is a Creature that other Beaſts are afraid of. | III. So the Saints are Men that the Wicked oft times fear; they dread the Effects of their Prayers. 'Tis ſaid, that Mary Queen of Scots was more afraid of the Prayer of John Knox, than of an Army of Twenty Thouſand Men. Herod was afraid of John Baptiſt. It hath been obſerved, that ſome wicked Perſons have been afraid to ſwear, or carry it unſeemly, in the preſence of a godly Man. | |
| IV. A Lion is a very ſtrong Creature. | IV. The Saints are ſo ſtrong in the Lord, and the Power of his Might, that none, either in Earth or Hell, are a Match for them. | |
| V. A Lion treadeth down, and maketh a Prey of his Enemies. | V. So the Godly ſhall in the latter Days make a Prey of all their Adverſaries, be as terrible as an Army with Banners, when God brings them forth againſt Babylon. God will raiſe up the Sons of Zion againſt the Sons of Greece, and make them as the Sword of a mighty Man. Cant. 6.10 Zech. 9.13 Mich. 5.8. The Remnant of Jacob ſhall be amongſt the Gentiles, in the midſt of many People, as a Lion amongſt the Beaſts of the Forreſt, amongſt a Flock of Sheep, who if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. |
Diſparity.
IN many things the Righteous are not like to a Lion. A Lion hath many evil, devouring, and hurtful Qualities, and it is upon that account wicked Men and the Devils are compared to Lions.
Inferences.
IN vain are the Saints by Men and Devils aſſaulted; he that prevails againſt them, muſt alſo prevail againſt, and overcome the mighty God; and who is a Match for Him?
2. This reproves, and may tend to ſhame the timorous Chriſtian. What! afraid to own Chriſt, to ſtand up for, and ſtand by the Truth, when thou haſt God to ſtand up for thee, and ſtand by thee! &c.
3. Let Saints ſhew themſelves bold and couragious in the Cauſe and Intereſt of God, and their Souls. A fearful timerous Spirit becomes not a Chriſtian. Have you a good Cauſe? have you a good Call? have you a good Conſcience? have you a good Captain? What then do you fear? In the Strength of the Lord, be as bold as a Lion; and in order thereunto, get the Truth into your Affections, ſee that you have received the Truth in the Love of it: And be ſure you approve your ſelves to be ſincere; for 'tis Sincerity that imboldens a Chriſtian, and makes him valiant.