Nay, St. Paul assures us, that a man not only overcomes thereby, but that he is more than conqueror; intimating, that by this victory he gains an inconceivable advantage over all the sufferings that can befal him for the gospel’s sake. Who shall separate us from the love of God? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword: nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors. Nor does he stop here, but expresses the undaunted chearfulness of his heart yet more emphatically; I am persuaded that neither life, nor death, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor heighth, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God. Let us, dear brethren, in like manner, press on in spirit into the living and powerful fellowship of Jesus Christ: so that we may live no more, but he may live in us; and the life which we now live in the flesh, we may live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us, and gave himself for us. Thus all fear will soon vanish out of our heart, and the joyful Spirit of Christ will fill up the room it had there, and make us grow in strength, comfort and encourage us in all our combats, and afford us a continual train of victories.
6. Let us then apply ourselves to God in earnest prayer, that he would be pleased to vouchsafe us this spirit, even the spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. This is not of us, but the free gift of God; which gift he is most ready to impart to those who heartily pray for it. Let us then ask, that we may receive: and more especially at such times, when we are called to act any thing that requires some exerting of the power of faith, let us have a care to do nothing according to our own fancy, but, in the first place, lay it open before God in prayer, and then set upon it, armed with the whole armour of God.
7. Now, as Jesus Christ is he that can most certainly deliver us from all fear of man; so none can teach us better than he himself, by what means we must fight against it. And this he hath carefully done, especially in the latter part of his state of humiliation, leaving his disciples, in his farewel discourse to them, St. John 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 chapters) a most effectual medicine against it. Now the chief point insisted on herein is, his promise of sending the Holy Ghost to his disciples; whom also he calls the Comforter, because he drives away all fear of man out of the heart, filling and overflowing the same (which bare reason cannot do) with a stream of life and power.
Therefore, let him that would be a follower of Christ in truth, read and consider this with due application: and then with full assurance accept of and rely upon this his promise: and with filial freedom and confidence pray to Christ to make it good unto him. And verily if we do bear reproach for his name’s sake, the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon us. And since Christ himself is so near to them who suffer for his sake, that thereby they become habitations of God, upon which the glory of God resteth, yea, which are filled with the Spirit of glory and of God; should we not, when tempted to fear man, be strongly moved thereby, to resist the temptation with all our might, and stedfastly to believe that the power of God will be perfected in our weakness? And what a comfort it is, that the Spirit himself helpeth our infirmities? Yea, and maketh intercession for us with groans that cannot be uttered? That is, most powerfully, and in a manner altogether inconceivable by human reason: he being our continual advocate in heaven, and in the council of the Holy Trinity, bequeathed to us by Christ, as long as we continue orphans in this world. Nay, Christ himself, who is at the right hand of God, ever maketh intercession for us. O that we were thoroughly sensible of the joy and readiness lodged in the heart of God, to support all those who, seeking all their help from him alone, rely wholly on his paternal goodness! How easily then should we get rid of the fear of man, and even blush for shame, that we had ever been diverted by it from any good undertaking!
*8. But all these means will nothing avail, if we consult in any thing with flesh and blood, or with other fearful men. As ever therefore we desire to be made free, we must either wholly forsake these persons, and avoid all conversation with them, or at least, use it so far as absolute necessity requires with the utmost caution and circumspection. Many have undertaken a good thing in readiness of faith, but while they did not set about it immediately, without conferring with flesh and blood, but first asked the advice of this and another friend, they gave over the design, and stifled the gift of God that was in them. Indeed it is not to be expressed how many useful designs are by this means hindered and laid aside. Doubtless, we ought not to rely too much on our own prudence, or to slight the advice of experienced men: but we must beware too of the other extreme, of being tossed about with every wind of doctrine: for it is a good thing that the heart be established; which stability is obtained by faith, but is easily lost again by the fearful talk of those that have little faith.
9. On the contrary, let us confer with the holy apostles, and observe the unusual earnestness wherewith they labour to free every one that nameth the name of Christ, from the fear of man. Would you know with what weapons they armed themselves against it, as good soldiers of Jesus Christ? Why they took unto them the whole armour of God, and so were able to withstand in the evil day. And thus may you gain the victory, which you will never be able to obtain by human weapons, such as wit and learning.
10. Indeed, not only the writings of the apostles; not only all holy writ, from the beginning thereof to the end; but heaven and earth, yea, and all the creatures of God would assist us, would we consider them with a believing heart. Doth not our Saviour, to reproach our idle fear, send us even to the sparrows for better information? Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing, and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father? Nay, he directs us to the very hairs of our head, saying, But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Elsewhere, he takes the grass of the field to witness against our little faith: and all this to expose our horrible unbelief, and to represent to us in a clear light, that a man by faith becomes the most glorious, and by unbelief the most base and miserable of all creatures.
11. Stand fast therefore, as becomes those to whom are made all those glorious declarations; ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; which plainly alludes to Exodus xix. 3–4. where we find these emphatic expressions of God; ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles wings, and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people. For all the earth is mine: and ye shall be a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.
Now, not only Israel after the flesh, but all the people of God, have a right to lay claim to, and comfort themselves with all these his glorious promises. And to what purpose did he make them? Was it not to assure all his servants, that none, how powerful soever, should be able to hurt them, as long as they continue faithful in his covenant? Nor is it possible for the whole world to hurt one that entirely relies on his promises. For he who trusts in God, doth by this faith so unite himself to the power of the living God, that thereby he becomes much stronger than the whole world, whether visible or invisible.
This precious promise of God, concerning the royal priesthood of his saints, was confirmed and sealed by the death and blood of the Son of God. Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the first begotten from the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth, hath loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father. Let every Christian then demonstrate himself to be one of these royal priests, by breaking through all difficulties, in true chearfulness of faith, which he is willing to give to all, without respect of persons: by fighting manfully the battles of the Lord, and pressing on for the prize of his high calling.