so such a one comes no longer to live the life of care he doth not tremble any more And suitable to his expression so was his life speaking of Eudoxia the Empres saies he what wil she do wil shee bannish me the earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof Wil she cut me asunder so was Isaiah Wil she drown me John was cast into the Sea Will she stone me So was Steven Will she behead me so was Paul Will she take away my substance my heart is taken a way from that already It is reported of Illaria meeting with theeves say they are you not affraid no saith he I have nothing to loose but We will Kill thee saith he I am prepared to die And to a Heart seeing it hath nothing to loose and it is prepared to die it doth not fear it values no evil in the creature nor any good in it and therefore it is not affraid Now it is faith that glorious and mighty grace takes the heart off from all creature Evil and creature good and by this you may know the work of Faith in your Souls When you feel a principle within you taking you from the creature and lifting you aboue creature comforts and creature evils that is the glorious work of Faith And that is the Seventh thing Eightly Faith doth interest God in the cause of a Beleever Whatsoever cause a beleever doth undertake wherein he doth exercise faith his Faith doth interest God in it so that it hath not only the countenance command and faithfulness of God to help it but the Name of God and God himself As in England if a man hath a debt and knows not how to get it he will turne it over to the King and if he can interest the King in the debt He thinks that will be a way to help himself So here when a beleever is in a straight and he knows not what to do he looks this way and that way and sees nothing but fears and Terrours and knows not how to help himself yet if he can but turne over the cause to God and interest him in the cause he is quiet Ninthly Faith hath a notable work to help against fear in that it fils the heart with spirituall good and the true boldness that is in any heart comes from the fulness of spirituall good that is in their Souls As the Naturalists observe the reason why the Lyon hath that courage and boldness Is because he hath a heart compacted and filled with strong spirits Many things when they are empty are weake but when they are filled ful of that which is sutable to them it makes them strong So when a Soul hath a fulness of spiritual good in it it is very strong Look what is the reason of the boldness and courage and impudence of wicked men in their sin the contrary is the reason of the boldness and courage of Gods people in the way of God The speciall reason of the courage and boldness of the wicked in a way of evill is the fullness of wickedness that is in their souls And therefore in that fact of Ananias and Saphira Acts. 5.3 saith the Apostle Why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie unto the holy Ghost If Satan had not filled your hearts you could not have been thus bold to have lied to the holy Ghost And so it is a notable passage we have in Esther 7.5 speaking concerning Haman saith the King Who is he and where is he that durst presume in his heart to do so In the Hebrew it is who hath filled his heart to do this who hath a heart so ful as to venture upon such an evill as this As the filling of the heart with evill makes it bold and couragious in that which is evill so the filling of the heart with spirituall good makes it forward in that which is good As it is observed concerning Steven after Steven was filled with the Holy Ghost how bold was he he could look upon the face of his persecuters with boldness in Acts 6.15 and the Councell looked upon him and saw his face as it had been the face of an Angel because his heart was filled with the Holy Ghost And so the Apostles were very feareful before the Holy Ghost came down upon them but when they were filled with the Holy Ghost they had no more feare And so Elisha how full of courage was he when the three Kings came to him saith he Had it not been for Jehosaphat I had not seen thy face What was the reason he had the Spirit of Elijah double upon him and therefore he was bold As there is a Plerophorie of evil that causeth boldness so there is a Plerophorie of good that filleth the heart with boldness and nothing doth so fil the heart as faith that fetcheth of the fulness of Christ and of his fulness we are full In the Tenth place Faith hath a great deale of power to cause boldness and take off the heart from the feare of Man because Faith doth acquaint a beleever with the waies of God towards his people and therefore he doth not fear A beleever comes to have skill in the passages of Gods Providence and his dealings towards his people and thereby he comes to know that it is Gods ordinary way to suffer the enemies of his people to rage against them and prevail against them and to have much power over them and yet they are his people And it is no argument that God hath forsaken them because of their affliction And therefore you know the Scripture speaks oftentimes of Gods leading his people through the Fire and the Water and that God will be with them there Isa 43.2 It is the way of God to choose his people and set his heart upon them in the Fiery Furnace when he intends the greatest good to his people He brings them through Fire and Water and setteth them in wealthy places Psal 66.12 And if one be acquainted with Gods way he doth not fear If a souldier be not acquainted with the way of his General when he seeth him undertake great things and brings them into danger he is affraid but one that is acquainted with the way of his General how he will lay his stratagems and knows that it is his way to go through such dangers he is not affraid And so it is true carnal Hearts assoon as they see any danger they are affraid because they have not the skil to understand the mind and will of God in his way towards his people when as the people of God know that it is the ordinary way of God to work good out of Evil. As Luther saies He doth kill that he may quicken and cast down that he may raise up And the like and so he goes on in three or four lines together but saith he For to know this this is the art of arts and the Knowledg of Knowledges very few do know and understand this way
THE EXCELLENCY OF HOLY COURAGE IN EVIL TIMES In which besides many other seasonable truths there is shewed 1. That wicked Men in power are very fierce in their wrath 2. That Faith will keep a gracious heart from immoderate fear of Men of Authority and Power 3. Directions in our fear of Authority 4. Directions how to order our selves If Authority enjoyn unlawful things 5. How Faith helpeth against the fear of Man opened in fifteen Particulars 6. Arguments against the fear of Men And wicked men are less to be feared than others 7. Differences between natural boldness and Holy Courage from Faith 8. How far we may lawfully avoid danger by flying Several Cases of conscience concerning flying 9. Objections Answered concerning flying 10. How the heart may be taken off from the fear of Man 11. The Power of Faith to carry Gods people through the most difficult works and services 12. How to know whether Faith wil carry us through difficult works 13. Helps to put on Faith in our undertakings 14. How Faith carries the Soul through the difficult work of forsaking Egypt 15. The wickedness of Sodom and Egypt compared with the wickedness of Antichrist By Jeremiah Burroughs Preacher of the Gospel at Stepney and Criple-Gate London Published by Thomas Goodwin William Greenhil Sydrach Simpson Philip Nye William Bridge John Yates William Adderly London Printed by Peter Cole and Edward Cole Printers and Book-sellers at the Printing-press in Cornhil neer the Royal Exchange 1661. A Testimony to the Reader WHAT we have by way of Preface set before the several Books already Published of this Reverend Author Mr. Jeremiah Burroughs may sufficiently serve for all that are come forth So that we only need now give Letters Testimonial to the World that these viz. The Sermons on Hebrews the 11. Chapter 27. verse We avouch likewise to be the painful and profitable Labors of the same Author and Published by the best and most Authentick Copies Thomas Goodwin William Greenhil William Bridge Sydrach Sympson Philip Nye John Yates William Adderley Books Printed by Peter Cole and Edward Cole Printers and Book-sellers of London at the Exchange Mr. Burroughs WORKS viz. on Matth. 11. 1 Christs call to all those that are Weary and Heavy Laden to come to him for Rest 2 Christ the Great Teacher of Souls that come to him 3 Christ the Humble Teacher of those that come to him 4 The only Basic way to Heaven 5 The Excellency of holy Courage 6 Gospel Reconciliation 7 The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment 8 Gospel-Worship 9 Gospel-Conversation 10 A Treatise of Earthly Mindedness 11 Exposition of the Prophesie of Hosea 12 The Evil of Evils or the exceeding sinfulness of Sin 13 Precious Faith 14 Of Hope 15 Of Walking by Faith Twenty one several Books of Mr. William Bridge Collected into two Volumes Viz. 1 Scripture Light the most sure Light 2 Christ in Travel 3 A Lifting up for the cast down 4 Sin against the Holy Ghost 5 Sins of Infirmity 6 The fals Apostle tried and discovered 7 The good and means of Establishment 8 The great things Faith can do 9 The great things Faith can suffer 10 The Great Gospel Mystery of the Saints Comfort and Holyness opened and applied from Christs Priestly Office 11 Satans power to Tempt and Christs Love to and Care of his People under Temptation 12 Thankfulness required in every Condition 13 Grace for Grace 14 The Spiritual Actings of Faith through Naturall Impossibilities 15 Evangelical Repentance 16 The Spiritual Life and in being of Christ in al Beleevers 17 The Woman of Canaan 18 The Saints Hiding place c. 19 Christ Coming c. 20 A Vindication of Gospel Ordinances 21 Grace and Love beyond Gifts New Books of Mr. Sydrach Simpson VIZ. 1 Of Unbelief or the want of readiness to lay hold on the comfort given by Christ 2 Not goeing to Christ for Life and Salvation is an exceeding great Sin yet Pardonable 3 Of Faith Or That beleeving is receiving Christ And receiving Christ is beleeving 4 Of Coveteousness Mr. Hookers New Books in three Volumes One in Octavo and two in Quarto These Eleven New Books of Mr. Thomas Hoooker made in New Edgland Are arrested in an Epistle by Mr. Thomas Goodwin and Mr. Philip Nye To be written with the Authors own hand None being written by himself before One Volum being a Comment upon Christ's last Prayer on the seventeenth of John Wherein is shewed 1 That the end why the Saints receive all glorious Grace is That they may be one as the Father and Christ are one 2 That God the Father loveth the Faithful as he loveth Jesus Christ 3 That our Saviour desireth to have the Faithful in Heaven with himself 4 That the happiness of our being in Heaven is to see Christs Glory 5 That there is much wanting in the knowledg of Gods Love in the most able Saints 6 That the Lord Christ lends dayly direction according to the dayly need of his Servants 7 That it is the desire and endeavor of our Savior that the dearest of Gods Love which was bestowed on himself should be given to his faithful servants 8 That our Union and Communion with God in Christ is the top of our happiness in Heaven Ten Books of the Application of Redemption by the Effectual Work of the Word and Spirit of Christ for the bringing home of lost sinners to God By Thomas Hooker Dr. Hills WORKS The Kings Tryal at the High Court of Justice Wise Virgin Published by Mr. Thomas Weld of New-England Mr. Rogers on Naaman the Syrian his Disease and Cure Discovering the Leprosie of Sin and Self-love with the Cure viz. Self-denial and Faith A Godly and Fruitful Exposition on the first Epistle of Peter By Mr. John Rogers Minister of the word of God at Dedham in Essex Mr. Rogers his Treatise of Marriage The Wonders of the loadstone By Samuel Ward of Ipswitch An Exposition on the Gospel of the Evangelist St. Matthew By Mr. Ward The Discipline of the Church in New-England By the Churches and Synod there Mr. Brightmen on the Revelation Christians Engagement for the Gospel by John Goodwin Great Church Ordinance of Baptism Mr. Loves Case containing his Petitions Narrative and Speech A Congregational church is a Catholick Visible Church By Samuel Stone in New-England A Treatise of Politick Powers Dr. Sibbs on the Philippians Vox PacifiCa or a Perswasive to Peace Dr. Prestons Saints submission and Satans Overthrow Pious Mans Practice in Parliament time Barriffs Military Discipline The Immortality of mans Soul The Anatomist Anatomized The Bishop of Canterbury's Speech Woodwards Sacred Ballance Dr. Owen against Mr. Baxter Abrahams Offer Gods Offerings Being a Sernion by Mr. Herle before the Lord Major of London Mr. Spurstows Sermon being a Pattern of Repentance Englands Deliverance By Peter Sterry The Way of God with his People in these Nations By Peter Sterry Mr. Sympson's sermon at Westminster Mr. Feaks sermon before the Lord Major The best and
much evil and very fearfull things come from wrath when it is distempered and let out First Because it doth wonderfully blind the Judgment of men Anger hinders the mind that it cannot see that which is true And therefore in Job 5.13 it is said The counsell of the froward is carried headlong It is a notable passage that I read of a poor Woman that had her Cause pleaded before Phillip King of Macedon who passed sentence in his passion and shee apprehending her self wronged saith shee I appeal he smiled at that being Soveraign and said To whom wilt thou appeal saies shee I appeal from thee when thou art angry to thee when thou art not angry noting that Anger blinds the judgment Secondly Passion and Wrath is compared to Fire and fire is active and quickly goes beyond its bounds and then there is no hold of it but much evill may come of it and so it is with Wrath. Thirdly Much evill comes of Passion being inordinate because being as distempered Fire that comes from a Disease it eats out the natural heat as in the Body the heat of the Feaver that is distempered it consumes the true natural heat And so though there be some natural heat or some kind of goodness and kindness naturally in a man that heat and goodness is taken away if he be in any passion And therefore one brings in this comparison Kindness is as one that is very hot naturally when passion comes it doth consume and take away the good natural heat and he is altogether carried on in a distempered heat Fourthly Wrathful passion doth warm all the Lusts that lodg in the heart and put an activeness into them whereas before they were cold and like Snakes being cold do not stir but if they come to be warm then they craule about and sting And so many corruptions lie in the hearts of Men and Women that are congealed with cold and like Snakes lie and do not stir but when the heat of passion comes it puts a heat into all those corruptions and then they craul forth and make wofull work Now in all men there is a distempered Wrath and fearful fruits come from it if it be not mortified but when there is power joyned with passion then it is outragious indeed As we see here How violent in wrath was Pharaoh against Moses and therefore the Holy Ghost commends Moses that he was not afraid of the passion that was joyned with power So Saul How violent was his passion when once he had power He seemed to be a man of a very quiet spirit whilest he was in a private condition and withall at his first coming to the Kingdom as you may read in 1 Sam. Chap. 10. but when he was warm in the Throne and had power more settled in his hand then you may read how outragious his passion was as in 1 Sam. 22 18.19 he caused Doeg to slay at one time fourscore and five Priests of the Lord and Nob to be smitten with the edge of the sword and all this because David his supposed enemy had been there and as Doeg informed him Abimelech the Priest had enquired of the Lord for him You may observe here how outragious men will be in their wrath when it is for themselves when in the mean time in the cause of God they can be quiet enough As when God commanded Saul to slay Agag and the Amalekites and all their Cattel then he was loth to be so outragious but out of compassion he spared some for Sacrifice but then the Cause was Gods now when it was his own Cause then slay all Priests and Men and Women and Sucklings and Oxen and Sheep and all Thus many in the Cause of God are content to forbear and pass by many things Many that have but power in Families Parents or Masters if their Children or Servants sin against God they can put up that but let their Children or Servants offend them and then they are outragious in a fearful manner Thus violent and fierce is wrath where it hath power And so Rehoboam when he had power he answered the People rigidly in 1 Kings 12.14 My little Finger shall be thicker than my Fathers Loyns my Father hath chastized you with Whips but I will chastize you with Scorpions And you know likewise the example of Jeroboam having power in his hand when the Prophet came from God and prophesied against the Altar Lay hold of him saies he as it is in 1 Kings 13.4 And so Jehojakim when the Will was read he bad them cut it with a Penknife and throw it into the Fire As you may read in Jer. 36.23 Even gracious men having power in their hands in their passion wil do many evil things As Asa the King a gracious man when the Preacher angred him he strook him See it in 2 Chron. 16.10 But where there is no grace there it is outragious beyond measure As Zerxes a great Captain being angry he shewed it aginst the water for he cut a great River and made it run another way The Reasons why wrath and anger are so outragious where there is power withal are these First Because power doth puff up the heart with pride and pride is the ground of passion So much as men are passionate so much pride is not mortified in them But as one man through the disposition of his body may be more subject to passion than another So some by the disposition of the body may be more subject to pride also Power and strength do much puff up the hearts of men and therefore in Psalm 90.10 It is said Their strength is Labor and Sorrow The word translated strength signifies pride for they are ready to think the strength and power they have is given them for some excellency and worth that is in them above others whereas it may be far otherwise It may bee God raiseth them above others not out of esteem to them but out of indignation to others that he means to scourge by them Anastatius Arenus tells us of a Monk who was raised to be a Bishop over a place which was a very ill place and he began to bee puffed up in pride that he was raised to honour above others there was a voyce heard Not because you are worthy but because they have deserved such an ill man So God raiseth some to honor not for any excellency in them but out of indignation unto others Secondly Men that have power are mighty fierce in their wrath because when any thing cross them it comes mighty unexpectedly they cannot think any dare cross them And therefore when the three Children would not submit to that which Nebuchadnezzar commanded hee was full of fury and his countenance was Changed what dare you resist me do you know who I am It is reported of one Canutus that was a King being puffed up with flatterers thought that all creatures must submit to him and therefore he caused his
shall never goe on in quiet before them and they are ready to put us out of our way And thus we see wherein the power of Faith lyeth to help against fear There are two things yet behind for the explication of the point To shew the difference between that boldness of spirit and audaciousness that men have that have no Faith and that Fearelesness that comes by Faith As also to shew how farr we may lawfully avoid danger without feare of men CHAP. 9. How Audatiousness and boldness of spirit differ from Faith 1. Audatiousness make us bold to sin 2 It appeares in Causes that concerns our selves then those which concern God 3. Boldness the curing of one pasion with another Faith the curing of passion by Grace 4. Natural boldness makes men rash and henders consultation 5. The cause of immodisty 6. It is suden and violent 7. It proseeds and lives upon outward encouragements 8. The ishew of ignorance 9. Or despair 10. More Outward then Inward FAITH helps against feare but it must be granted that men may be much helped against feare by a meer audaciousness of spirit Quest But how shall we know the difference Answ Audaciousness of Spirit though when it proves to be in Gods cause it seems to be faith yet there are many differences First Where it is Audaciousness of spirit when occasion serves they wil be bold in Sin against God as well as bold in that which is good for God but now where faith is though it doth make the soul to be bold and fearless for God in the way of God yet there are none so affraid of sin they tremble at the appearance or occasion of sin many that are mightily bold in sin are mightily affraid when they are in danger others that are fearless in the way of God thay have no boldness in the way of sin Wicked men that have had the basest spirits of all have been bold in sin As Manasseh how audacious was he in sin and when he came into danger how feared he It is said he was found among the thorns 2 Cor. 33.11 And so Ahaz what a bold spirit had he in sin when he came into danger what a base spirit had he he was affraid and shook like an aspine leafe And so it is reported of Caligula in Isa 7.2 That was a bold wretch in sin yet when he heard it thunder he would run into a bench hole And some may go so far as not only to be bold in sin but to be bold in some danger too and it may fal out to be in the cause of God but know if there be any boldness in sin and if you do not fear every sin al your boldness and fearlesness in any thing else never comes from faith Secondly Where there is natural audaciousness then men are especially bold in causes that concern themselves more than in causes that concerne God When any business concerns themselves in which they are opposed they care not for any one that have more power then them selves but they are not so in the cause of God but others that are truly gracious that are feareless from their faith they are very yeildable and shamefaced in their own cause in things that concern themselves but in â—hings that concern God there doth appear another spirit they have a new spirit Thirdly Where the boldness is meerly natural there is a curing of one passion with another but the boldness that comes from faith is the curing of passion with the contrary grace As thus where the boldness comes from natural audaciousness there is the curing of the passion of fear with the passion of wrath and anger they are never fearless and bold but when their passion of anger is stirred up where faith cures the passion of fear it cures it not by stirring up another passion but by Sanctifying of this and bringing in the true fear of God into the soul it doth not put out one evil with another but puts out an evil with a stream of the contrary good Fourthly Where men are naturally audacious and bold usually their boldness hinders their consultation they have not command over their spirits they are carried on rashly and headily in their boldness therefore in Isa 35.4 The word that is translated feareful it signifies a rash heart it is the same word you have in Isa 32.4 The heart of the rash shal understand knowledg to shew that fearfulness doth cause rashness where it is immoderate but where feare is moderate and guided right it makes men to have power to consult of things and advise of things and examine of things but your bold impudent people care not nor consider not what they say but where fear is rightly ordered by saith the heart is able to consider and advise best Fifthly Again Audaciousness when it is natural makes men to forget the distance that is between one man and another makes them immodest care not what they say to superiors that are above them but when men are feareless by faith though they wil not be hindred in their way by feare of them yet they know how to give due respect to them that are in Superior place which a natural Audacious spirit doth not Sixthly Again Natural Audaciousness is sudden and violent but a man that is feareless by faith doth not presently get up to this boldness of spirit but it comes by degrees and several steps first more fearful and then less and so by degrees he gets power over that spirit of his which before he found feareful but the other is violently up and doth not come by degrees Seaventhly Natural Boldness it is according to outward encouragements but the fearlesness that is from faith is by the breathings of Gods spirit upon his heart according to the several breathings of Gods spirit upon their hearts so they are more or less feareful the other boldness being natural it works always alike if they have but the same outward encouragements but Gods people though they have the same outward encouragements yet they are more fearless at some times then at other times because they have not the Spirit of God breathing upon them alwaies alike Eightly Natural boldness comes from ignorance and insensibleness because people do not know or are not sensible of the danger they are in but faith discovers the danger and makes men sensible of the danger and then it helps it is nothing to be bold when one is not sensible and doth not understand the danger but a gracious heart conceives aright of the danger and is sensible of it and then faith lifts above sence and above reason Ninthly Men that are naturally bold it is through desperateness because they have nothing to loose and care not what become of themselves but by faith men are not fearless because they are desperate but they see help in God and in Christ and his mercy the more they hope the less they fear but the other are desperate and
when he saw others sought to make him affraid because it would have been a dishonor to God and his cause Fifthly Besides sinful fear is that which doth mightily hearten the enemies of Gods people and dishear tens Gods people it makes the enemies of Gods people so much the more bold the fear of anenemy heartens an Enemy as Gideon when he came to the Host of his enemies and heard their communication that they were affraid of Gideon then he was so much the more heartned and so the spies that went to the land of Canaan when they heard that the fear of them was amongst the people this heartened them and so when one knows his adversary is affraid of him he will be heartned a dog will follow another that runs from him And this discourages the people of God when they see others afraid in the cause of God Sixthly It is a great evil because it is that which is threatned as a great judgment of God upon a people it is not only a sin but a punishment for some former sin in Deut. 28.65.66 This is Gods judgment against wickedness and therefore a sore and great evil that Christians should count to be upon them if the spirit of fear be upon them Seventhly The evil of it appears in the evil effects that proceed of it upon ourselves as 1. The distraction of our thoughts and therefore the word that is translated Rash in Isa 32.4 It signifies Fear because it doth distract the thoughts of people and makes them do they know not what It is reported as an excellency that was in Alexander and Caesar and other valorous spirits that they were in the time of danger able to command their thoughts and to consult and mannage any business for usually fear distracts ones thoughts 2. Again it weakens the heart exceedingly though a sudden fear may cause some strength and the putting forth of the spirit yet usually it doth weaken the spirit In 1 Cor. 2.3 Weaknes and Fear go together in Deut. 20.3 Fainting of spirit and Fear go together 3. Fear of man is that which doth exceedingly eate out the true fear of God as love of the creature eats out the love of God and joy in sinful things eates out the true joy in God So fear of the creature eates out the fear of God In Isa 57.11 Of whom hast thou been affraid or feared that thou hast lyed and hast not remembred me as if God should say my fear and the fear of the creature cannot stand together 4. Sinful fear makes one altogether unfit for any service to be used in any employment for God in Judg 7.3 God gives a command to the people by whom he would do great things that all that were of a fearful heart should return back again as If God should say they are not fit for me 5. The fear of man is a great snare 29. Prov. 25. It brings a man to many sinful courses and shifting ways and to commit sin against God in Isa 57.11 Of whom hast thou been afraid or feared that thou hast lyed many servants when they have done any thing that they are affraid of the displeasure of their Masters or Mistresses they are afraid and lie and so in other cases when as people are possessed with the fear of man they wil take any sinful courses and lie to avoid danger you know what the Psalmist says in Psalm 19. The fear of the Lord is clean but the fear of man is very impure the fear of God purgeth the heart but the fear of man defileth the heart and exceedingly polluteth it I was affraid says Saul of the people and I obeyed their voice In 1. Sam. 15.24 And so many in Scripture were convinced that it was Christ but they were affraid and did not confess him in John 12.42 6. The fear of the creature hath abundance of evil in it in that it brings most desperate fears if you give way to the fear of any creature to fear any danger and so to avoid it in a sinful way you bring your selves by this means to most desperate fears As it was the desperate condition of Francis Spira when he was affraid of those that had power over him and so denyed Christ against his conscience Oh the dreadful horrors of conscience that he was sunke into and so it is usual for men that wil balke the waies of God against conscience when their consciences are enlightned their hearts are Burdened with such fears as they cannot stand under them other manner of fears then the fear of man in Jer 1.17 God says unto Jeremiah be not dismayed at their faces least I confound thee before them it is the same word that is translated before dismayed do not fear least I fear thee be not dismayed least I dismay thee and to reconcile both translations the meaning may be do not fear least I so fear thee as to confound thee with fear so that you see this note is clear By fearing the creature fearing danger we come to plunge our selves into the most desperate fears of al And let this be a warning from God to us all be not dismayed and affraid in any way of God least God fear you in another manner take heed you be not terrifyed least God terrifie you many dreadful examples we have how many upon their sick beds and death beds have had dreadful fears that they have done things against conscience out of fear 7. And the last evil that wil come upon us in sinful fear is the judgment of God in our destruction in Revela 21.8 Amongst those that shal be cast out into the lake of fire and brimstone are the feareful and therefore we had need take heed of sinful fear and make God to be our only fear But now that we may conclude this argument in a word of Exhortation as sinful fear is a most dreadful evil so the trrue fear of God is a most precious Jewel in Isa 33.6 The fear of the Lord is called the treasure of Gods people sinful feare hath a treasure of evil and therefore to be avoided Oh then let us take heed of sinful fear of the creature as the Lord by the prophet Isa 55.4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart be not affraid do not plead and say I am of a fearful nature says God say to them that are of a fearful heart be not affraid so say I to you that are the people of God in the way of God though you be by nature fearful you that are of a fearful nature be not affraid whatsoever your natures have been yet if your hearts have been brought under the power of the Gospel now there is a spirit of magnanimity put into you Give me says Lactantius speaking of the power of Christian religion upon the hearts of men a man fearful of pain of death if once Christian Religion prevails in his heart he shal presently contemn crucifying fyre yea that cruel
under the bondage of Antichrist look how much difference there is between misery and sin so much difference there is betwixt their bondage and the bondage of Antichrist 4. They were Liable to the bondage of Egypt but they were not liable to the plagues of Egypt They were free from them but those that are under the bondage of Antichrist are liable to the plagues that shall come upon Antichrist But it must be faith that must deliver from this bondage It is a difficult work as it was a difficult thing to be delivered from Egypt so it is a difficult thing that cannot be done without faith to be delivered from this 1. Wee know most part of the Christian world is educated and the principles that are dropt into them from them are Antichristian principles 2. Though it be a bondage there is a great deale of outward pomp and Glory in their Idolatrous worship that does much take sensual people that doe live by sence they will not worship God in such a meane way as others do but there is a great deale of pompe and outward shew 3. Though it be a bondage to the soul yet they give abundance of liberty to the flesh and though somtimes they suffer pennance and put the flesh to some hardship somtimes yet those that are rich may give way to their lusts and live as they list for they may quickly be freed with a little mony 4. Besides there are so many examples of great men and learned men and some that are Godly that doe yeild to a great part of the yoaks and their examples are mighty ingagements 5. Besides If so be they begin to flinch presently there are such violent afflictions and persecutions thundring out of excomunications and loss of estates and so many dangers that men are in 6. Besides It is hard Because in the other of Christs government there are but a few meane men and to come and yeild to them this is hard to flesh and blood and there must be a great deal of self deniall to yeild to the government of Christ they count that the greatest bondage especially considering there may be miscarriages many Scandals amongst those that are Godly do profess the waies and ordinances and liberties of Christ that except the heart be gracious there is a great deal of difficulty in submitting to it and people know not what to do but rather buckle under their bondage 7. Besides It is a fruit of the curse not that all that are under that bondage are under the Eternal Curse But as all outward judgments are part of the curse so it is a part of the curse to be under the bondage of Antichrist and not to labor to get from it I do not say that al that are sick and weak are cursed but it is a part of the curse So men that are under that bondage are under part of the curse that God wil give them over to beleeve Lyes and though a man hath never so much Learning and understanding yet if there be a curse of God upon it never talk of his learning and understanding if his parts were a hundred times more they could not help him It is the work of Faith to deliver from it Quest What is the work of Faith in delivering people from this bondage Answer There are these six or seven things that delivers from this bondage under Antichrist 1. Faith discovers unto the soul the spiritualness of the government of Christ and without that there cannot be a true deliverance from the bondage of Egypt 2. Faith shews unto the Soul the fullness of the Administration of all Christs offices of his Preistly Prophetical call and Kingly offices Now until the soul understands this it is never brought off from the government of Antichrist to the government of Christ 3. Faith shews the fulness and Glory that is in the world which is the rule for ordering and guiding of us in al our waies 4. Faith shews the necessity of a divine rule for a spiritual efficacy and that no humane invention can cause a spiritual efficacy now the settling of this principle is never done but by Faith 5. Another work of faith is to discover the beauty and glory that is in the Ordinances of Christ barely administred no man but by the eye of Faith can see the true lustre and beauty and glory of a divine Ordinance except there be some outward earthly excellency mingled with it As I told you in the exposition of that place in Hosea They made them Altars God would have an Altar of Earth and if they would have it of Stone they must not lift up an instrument to hew it and grave it but it must be plaine Now a carnal eye cannot see the beauty of Gods Ordinances unless it have some outward excellency It must be the eye of Faith to discover the beauty of Christs Ordinances in the naked beauty of them And till that they are not willing to come from under the power of Antichrist 6. Faith discovers to the Soul the reality and certainty of all the admirable and glorious promises that are in the Gospel made unto the true Church of God Promises of the glorious presence of God with his people and promises of abundance of spiritual good as it might ask half an hour to shew some excellent promises that are made to the Church which a carnal Eie doth not see But Faith discovers there is abundance of certainty and reality in them and when by Faith they see them this takes off and enables them to go through any difficulties to be partakers of them 7. Again Faith does discover the fearful threats against those that follow Antichrist and those Revel 14.9 10. that do receive the mark of the Beast but in their hand secretly they shall have their portion in the Lake that burns for ever and shall be cast out from the presence of the Lord. They that read these threats make nothing of them but when they read them by Faith then the soul trembles and feares till it comes from under that bondage it hears a voice continually crying to it Revel 18.4 Come out from among them Oh my people come out least being partaker of their sin you also be partakers of their Plagues Now Faith by discovering these things brings the heart from under that Antichristian bondage Quest But may not men reject the yoake of Antichrist upon other Grounds besides Faith Answ Many times a spirit of contradiction may bring them from under the yoke of Antichrist though one good cannot be opposite to another good yet one evil may be opposite to another evil and many men may oppose the government of Antichrist by that which is evil in them but if it be not by the principle of Faith it is not right and it may be upon other principles Quest But how shall we know that we do forsake this bondage from Antichrist by Faith Answ I will give you