An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

Thirdly, There is required in him that suffereth for Christ, Spiritual fortitude ¹and courage. No such enemy to this duty of suffering, as worldly fears and pusillanimity of spirit. Indeed there is a godly fear, whereby we have an holy jealousy of our strength, and therefore rest alone upon Gods power: and this is an excellent preservative against Apostasy in the hour of temptation. Many that have been exceeding fearful, have yet been more faithful and stout in the hour of danger, then those who have been more confident, as many instances in the History of the Martyrs will evidence. When Peter was so presumptuous, as to say, Though all men should forsake thee, yet I will not: He proved more cowardly than any. So that there is a good humble fear, whereby we renounce our own strength, and this we are to preserve. But then there is a carnal, worldly, natural and excessive fear, this is to be mortified. Now against this, Christian courage is the proper help; but this is the gift of Gods Spirit. Therefore none can suffer for Christ, but such who have the Spirit of God enabling them. It's a gift to suffer not only by way of honour, but also by way of power. Hence when Stephen and others were enabled to be bold against their adversaries, they are said to be filled with the holy Ghost. And thus Timothy is exhorted to be strong in the grace of God, 2 Tim. 2. 1. and to endure hardness as a good soldier of Christ. So Ephes. 6. 10. Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. It is true, Aristotle speaketh of fortitude a moral virtue, despising deaths and dangers; but he was ignorant of God, and so giveth us a Glowworm in stead of a Star. Pray therefore for this holy courage in the way of God.

Thirdly, There is required in him that suffereth for Christ, Spiritual fortitude ¹and courage. No such enemy to this duty of suffering, as worldly fears and pusillanimity of spirit. Indeed there is a godly fear, whereby we have an holy jealousie of our strength, and therefore rest alone upon Gods power: and this is an excellent preservative against Apostasie in the hour of temptation. Many that have been exceeding fearfull, have yet been more faithfull and stout in the hour of danger, then those who have been more confident, as many instances in the History of the Martyrs will evidence. When Peter was so presumptuous, as to say, Though all men should forsake thee, yet I will not: He proved more cowardly than any. So that there is a good humble fear, whereby we renounce our own strength, and this we are to preserve. But then there is a carnal, worldly, natural and excessive fear, this is to be mortified. Now against this, Christian courage is the proper help; but this is the gift of Gods Spirit. Therefore none can suffer for Christ, but such who have the Spirit of God inabling them. It's a gift to suffer not only by way of honour, but also by way of power. Hence when Stephen and others were inabled to be bold against their adversaries, they are said to be filled with the holy Ghost. And thus Timothy is exhorted to be strong in the grace of God,