Secondly, But you will say, though it may be done, it seems to be some abatement to faith, and courage. No, the avoiding of danger when it is in the way of God must not be counted the least abating of faith and courage; and for that I will give you two texts of scripture that are very remarkable for that purpose, In Math. 10.23. Where Christ says, when they persecute you in one city flee into another: The next thing that he says is fear not them. vers. 26. and again, fear not them that kill the body, verse 28. Here seems to be a cross thing: they might say blessed Saviour, doest not thou bid us flee? How can we flee and not fear? this shows there may be fleeing from danger, that may not come from the least degree of cowardliness and fear of man and there may be fleeing from danger, and yet no abatement of faith and confidence. As in Psal. 3. The title of the Psalm you have thus. A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his Son, When David saw himself in danger of Absalom, he doth not venture boldly ⟨p. 61⟩upon it, and say God hath established me in my kingdom, and made me many promises to uphold me why should I flee? he did flee, but was it not an abatement of his faith and confidence in God? no, at vers. 3 But thou O Lord art a shield for me, my glory and the lifter up of my head: To show there may be fleeing and yet confidence in God as our shield, and glory, and lifter up of our head and at verse 5. I laid me down and slept, I awaked for the Lord sustained me, he Fled, but he was quiet for all that in verse. 6. I will not be afraid of ten thousand of people that have set themselves against me round about. He Fled from his Son and yet said he would not be afraid of ten thousands of people. in verse, 7. Arise O Lord, save me O God for thou hast smitten all my enemies upon the cheek bone, thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. His faith was so confident as it made him to think that which was to be done as done already and yet he penned this psalm in a Fleeing condition. So that the second thing is apparent,
Secondly, But you wil say, though it may be done, it seems to be some abatement to faith, and courage. No, the avoiding of danger when it is in the way of God must not be counted the least abating of faith and courage; and for that I will give you two texts of scripture that are very remarkable for that purpose, In Math. 10.23. Where Christ says, when they persecute you in one city flee into another: The next thing that he says is feare not them. vers. 26. and againe, feare not them that kill the body, verse 28. Here seems to be a cross thing: they might say blessed Saviour, doest not thou bid us flee? How can we flee and not feare? this shews there may bee fleeing from danger, that may not come from the least degree of cowardlyness and feare of man and there may be fleeing from danger, and yet no abatement of faith and confidence. As in Psal. 3. The title of the Psalme you have thus. A Psalme of David, when he fled from Absalom his Son, When David saw himself in danger of Absalom, he doth not venture boldly ⟨p. 61⟩upon it, and say God hath established me in my kingdom, and made me many promises to uphold me why should I flee? he did flee, but was it not an abatement of his faith and confidence in God? no, at vers. 3 But thou O Lord art a shield for me, my glory and the lifter up of my head: To shew there may be fleeing and yet confidence in God as our sheild, and glory, and lifter up of our head and at verse 5. I laid me down and slept, I awaked for the Lord sustained me, he Fled, but he was quiet for al that in verse. 6. I wil not be affraid of ten thousand of people that have set themselves against me round about. He Fled from his Son and yet said he would not be affraid of ten thousands of people. in verse, 7. Arise O Lord, save me O God for thou hast smitten all my enemies upon the cheek bone, thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. His faith was so confident as it made him to think that which was to be done as done already and yet he penned this psalm in a Fleeing condition. So that the second thing is appearent,
