The excellency of holy courage in evil times by Jeremiah Burroughs

It is a notable expression Augustine hath upon that in his epistle to Honorius says he, he would have gone, he would not of himself have abstained from the danger least others should have been imitators of his sluggishness, but it was their work to keep him from it. But now to speak especially of the case of a Minister, whose tie is most to stand out against danger in dangerous times he is not very readily to Flee, especially when the persecution is general, and Saint Augustine hath notable expressions about this in his epistle that he writ to Honorius in answer to this question, being against it. He ⟨p. 67⟩that is weak shall perish by that knowledge, saith the Apostle in Cor. 1. S. 11. no, he that is weak, shall perish by thy ignorance rather. Again says he, There is more cause to fear that the living Stones of Christs building should be demolished, we fleeing, then that the stones of the buildings of our earthly houses should be set on fire, we being present.

It is a notable expression Augustine hath upon that in his epistle to Honorius says he, he would have gone, he would not of himself have abstained from the danger least others should have been imitators of his sluggishness, but it was their work to keep him from it. But now to speak especially of the case of a Minister, whose tye is most to stand out against danger in dangerous times he is not very readily to Flee, especially when the persecution is general, and Saint Augustine hath notable expressions about this in his epistle that he writ to Honorius in answer to this question, being against it. He ⟨p. 67⟩that is weake shal perish by that knowledg, saith the Apostle in Cor. 1. S. 11. no, he that is weak, shal perish by thy ignorance rather. Again says he, There is more cause to feare that the living Stones of Christs building should be demolished, we fleeing, then that the stones of the buildings of our earthly houses should be set on fire, we being present.

Again says he, Let us rather fear that the members of the body of Christ being destitute of their spiritual food should be hurt, then that the members of our bodies by the violence of our enemies should be tormented, and never so afflicted.