[5.] Fifthly, It is most suitable to Christian courage to die in the place, and to put it to the utmost hazard rather than to yield. According to Vespasian’s motto, Oportet imperatorem stantem mori. Every Christian should say, ‘Shall such a one as I fly?’ [Neh. vi. 11;] one that hath given up my name to God; one that hath professed holiness afore men; one that hath so many advantages for resistance, and such sweet encouragements from a victorious general!
Quest. But the great question is, What is this fear that is forbidden, and the courage which is enjoined?
Ans. The fear forbidden is an unbelieving weakness and pusillanimity, through which, as hopeless of success, men throw down their weapons and yield themselves up to Satan, when the hearts of men fail them to the giving up of the victory.
Spiritual courage, on the contrary, is a serious resolve of fighting it out in the strength of the Lord, and it consists of these two parts:—
First, A sincere resolution to be on Christ’s side against all iniquity, a deliberate unfeigned determination to stand for God and his holy ways, against Satan and sin. [1.] The ground of this determination is a conviction of the evil of sin, even to a hatred of it. He that hath not thoroughly weighed the misery of living in sin, and fully purposed within himself to forsake it, can have no true Christian courage when it comes to a pinch. [2.] From this ground he lays himself under solemn engagements to Christ his general, as soldiers list themselves under their captains, that he will follow him and observe his commands; he gives up himself to God by covenant. So that now he is no longer his own, but Christ’s servant, bound for his work. [3.] And this with such or so much belief of his promises for aid and victory, that he hath some hopes or expectations at least, that God may at last so assist him that he may attain to some real degree of the mortification of the ‘flesh, with the affections and lusts thereof,’ [Gal. v. 24.]
Secondly, The second part of this courage consists in a suitable management of this undertaking. Courage is not only seen in the first onset, but in the prosecution of the warfare; and this lies in two things. [1.] When there are real endeavours against sin, answerable to this undertaking, in all ways of striving to oppose it. When men do not engage against sin with big words only; or as the children of Ephraim—who, arming themselves and carrying bows, seemed to have stout resolves, but then ‘turned back in the day of battle;’ but with real and conscientious wrestlings, setting themselves with all their might and care against every temptation, and studying to pursue the victory, where in any degree it is obtained, to a greater height. [2.] When these endeavours are sincerely persisted in, without being quite wearied out or utter fainting, so that it never comes to this, though they may be sometime under Satan’s feet, that they relinquish their first solemn engagement, or repent of their undertaking, and then turn their backs upon God, listing themselves under Satan’s colours. Such a fainting as this would bereave men of their crown; ‘Ye shall reap in due time if ye faint not,’ Gal. vi. 9. Upon this hazard are the children of God cautioned, Heb. xii. 3, ‘Lest ye be wearied and faint in your mind.’ [3.] There is also a particular kind of courage expressed in a holy and humble contempt of Satan’s suggestions, when after all means used they cease not to be troublesome. This is not to slight sin but to slight Satan, who, though he is resisted, ceaseth not to molest.[477]
Applic. I shall particularly apply this first direction, [1.] To those that propound ease to themselves in their race or warfare, which is a thing impossible to one that doth the work of a soldier, not considering that work and courageous endeavours do abide them. [2.] To those that pretend themselves Christ’s soldiers, courage and Christian magnanimity is your cognizance. By this must you be known. How do ye stand? what are your resolutions and undertakings? Those Christians that have ‘joy and peace in believing’ can more easily satisfy themselves in this; but those that fight in tears and grief, in disquiets and troubled thoughts, are apt to conclude themselves unbelieving, because they are fearful; or to think that they look not up to Jesus, the ‘author and finisher of their faith,’ because they apprehend themselves weary and ‘faint in their minds.’ For the ease and help of such, I shall shew in a few things that there is as real a Christian courage in such mourners as in some that sing songs of triumph.
[1.] First, It is a real courage and undertaking against sin for any to resolve his utmost, out of detestation of it, before he can satisfy himself that God will accept of it. To oppose sin under such a discouragement, or at such a venture, is a courageous hatred; and yet so do these mourners.
[2.] Secondly, To be under continual grievings because of miscarriages, so that other things of outward enjoyment cease to be pleasing, is a courageous hatred; but this is their case.
[3.] Thirdly, To wrestle against sin under high discouragements, when afflicted and tossed, when Satan runs upon them and shakes them by the neck, and yet they continue their wrestling and withstanding as they are able; this is faithful resistance, ‘a resistance unto blood, striving against sin,’ Heb. xii. 4; that is, if that expression be proverbial, like that, ad sanguinem usque, they resist sin faithfully, under great hazards and inconveniencies, even to wounds and blood, till they have broken heads and broken faces; and can say to God, though we have been ‘broken in the place of dragons,’ and have these wounds to shew, yet ‘have we not departed from thee,’ [Ps. xliv. 19,] nor quitted our desires after thee and holiness, for all these buffetings of Satan; but this is the character of these dejected ones.