3. Not that this will suffice. Every one engaging herein, should be more than a harmless man. He should be a man of faith: having at least such a degree of that evidence of things not seen, as to aim not at the things that are seen, which are temporal, but at those that are not seen, which are eternal: such a faith, as produces a steady fear of God, with a lasting resolution, by his grace to abstain from all that he has forbidden, and to do all that he has commanded. He will more especially need, that particular branch of faith, confidence in God. It is this faith which removes mountains, which quenches the violence of fire, which breaks thro’ all opposition, and enables one to stand against and chase a thousand, knowing in whom his strength lies, and even when he has the sentence of death in himself, trusting in him who raiseth the dead.
4. He that has faith and confidence in God, will of consequence be a man of courage. And such it is highly needful every man should be, who engages in this undertaking. For many things will occur in the prosecution thereof, which are terrible to nature: indeed so terrible, that all who confer with flesh and blood will be afraid to incounter them. Here therefore true courage has its proper place, and is necessary in the highest degree. And this, faith only can supply. A believer can say,
I fear no denial;
No danger I fear:
Nor start from the trial;
For Jesus is near.
5. To courage, patience is nearly allied: the one regarding future, the other present evils. And whoever joins in carrying on a design of this nature, will have great occasion for this. For notwithstanding all his unblamableness, he will find himself just in Ishmael’s situation, his hand against every man, and every man’s hand against him. And no wonder. If it be true, that all who will live godly, shall suffer persecution, how eminently must this be fulfilled in them, who not content to live godly themselves, compel the ungodly to do so too, or at least to refrain from notorious ungodliness? Is not this, declaring war against all the world? Setting all the children of the devil at defiance? And will not Satan himself, the prince of this world, the ruler of the darkness thereof, exert all his subtlety and all his force, in support of his tottering kingdom? Who can expect, the roaring lion will tamely submit to have the prey plucked out of his teeth? Ye have therefore need of patience, that when ye have done the will of God ye may receive the promise.
6. And ye have need of steddiness, that ye may hold fast this profession of your faith without wavering. This also should be found in all that unite in this society; which is not a task for a double-minded man, for one that is unstable in his ways. He that is as a reed shaken with the wind, is not fit for this warfare, which demands a firm purpose of soul, a constant, determined resolution. One that is wanting in this, may set his hand to the plow: but how soon will he look back? He may indeed endure for a time. But when persecution or tribulation, public or private troubles, arise because of the work, immediately he is offended.
7. Indeed it is hard for any to persevere in so unpleasing a work, unless love overpowers both pain and fear. And therefore it is highly expedient that all engaged therein, have the love of God shed abroad in their hearts: that they should all be able to declare, we love him, because he first loved us. The presence of him whom their soul loveth, will then make their labour light. They can then say, not from the wildness of an heated imagination, but with the utmost truth, [♦]and soberness.
[♦] duplicate ‘and’ removed