The excellency of holy courage in evil times by Jeremiah Burroughs

1. It is unbeseeming the Estate of a Christian. What is the estate of a Christian? It is a raised estate, higher than the estate of the world, but this makes their estates low, for it subjects them to the Justs and humours of men, we need not fear what man can do when he walketh not by the rule, and when he abuseth his power, it is his lust, and when we fear sinfully we subject our selves to the lusts of men, and it is against the raised estate of a Christian to subject himself to the lust of any man in the world, we must be subject unto the power of man according to Gods rule, but be subject unto the lusts of no man though it were the greatest Monarch in the world. The estate of a Christian is a rich and established estate, but this fear makes it uncertain, as if he had nothing to rest upon; The estate of a Christian hath many privileges; but this makes it seem as if there were no good to make up the least evil. The estate of a Christian is such as all the attributes of God work for it, the power, and wisdom, and mercy, and truth of God: But this sinful fear shows as if we had nothing to help us in our straights and distresses. The estate of a Christian is such as must make account of a great deal of trouble in his way, but this sinful fear shows as if we promised to our selves nothing but ease and contentment to the flesh. The estate of a Christian is such as hath gone through a great many fears before, other manner of fears than the Creature can cause; the fear of the wrath of God, and ⟨p. 87⟩the stroke of Justice, and the Curse of the Law, but this sinful fear makes it seem as if we had never been acquainted with such fear.

1. It is unbeseeming the Estate of a Christian. What is the estate of a Christian? It is a raysed estate, higher than the estate of the world, but this makes their estates low, for it subjects them to the Iusts and humors of men, we need not fear what man can do when he walketh not by the rule, and when he abuseth his power, it is his lust, and when we fear sinfully we subject our selves to the lusts of men, and it is against the raised estate of a Christian to subject himself to the lust of any man in the world, we must be subject unto the power of man according to Gods rule, but be subject unto the lusts of no man though it were the greatest Monarch in the world. The estate of a Christian is a rich and established estate, but this fear makes it uncertaine, as if he had nothing to rest upon; The estate of a Christian hath many priveledges; but this makes it seem as if there were no good to make up the least evil. The estate of a Christian is such as all the attributes of God work for it, the power, and wisdom, and mercy, and truth of God: But this sinful fear shews as if we had nothing to help us in our straights and distresses. The estate of a Christian is such as must make account of a great deal of trouble in his way, but this sinful fear shews as if we promised to our selves nothing but ease and contentment to the flesh. The estate of a Christian is such as hath gone through a great many fears before, other manner of fears than the Creature can cause; the feare of the wrath of God, and