The excellency of holy courage in evil times by Jeremiah Burroughs

Thirdly, If there be such a tie upon a Minister to his people, his people had need labour what possibly they can to encourage their Minister, there need be strong union in their spirits, and they should take heed of catching of this body, and that body, or that melancholy suspicions be cast to hinder the least union, that if time of danger come, they may freely and cheerfully venture themselves amongst them: we know not what things God may call us to, the way that we walk in, and desire to walk in, is that which the world and the Devil hate, and though through Gods providence we have a breathing time, yet if we resolve to walk in this way whatsoever befall, we may meet with much before we die; and as we are bound to venture all that we are or have for you; so all that you are or have should be bound to us.

Thirdly, If there be such a tye upon a Minister to his people, his people had need labor what possibly they can to encourage their Minister, there need be strong union in their spirits, and they should take heed of catching of this body, and that body, or that melancholy suspicions be cast to hinder the least union, that if time of danger come, they may freely and chearfully venture themselves amongst them: we know not what things God may call us to, the way that we walk in, and desire to walk in, is that which the world and the Devil hate, and though through Gods providence we have a breathing time, yet if we resolve to walk in this way whatsoever befal, we may meet with much before we die; and as we are bound to venture all that we are or have for you; so al that you are or have should be bound to us.

But in some cases a Minister may be so afraid as to Flee, and yet not to sin; as the Prophets, Christ, and the Apostles did Flee in the time of danger. A minister may Flee, if the persecution be personal, and not general, and so as his people be provided for otherwise by others, and so as he may be more useful to his people being absent, then he could have done being present, and if he Flee being willing to return again, when God shall show him his way, and if people break their relations; when things fall thus, then certainly he may Flee. In that Epistle of Augustine to Honorius, he instanced in Athanasius, and justifies his Fleeing; because the Emperor was incensed, and enraged against his person and he was willing to return when God should give occasion. I might instance in all these, but I will only instance