The excellency of holy courage in evil times by Jeremiah Burroughs

Fifthly, Besides sinful fear is that which doth mightily hearten the enemies of Gods people and dishear tens Gods people, it makes the enemies of Gods people so much the more bold; the fear of an enemy heartens an Enemy, as Gideon when he came to the Host of his enemies, and heard their communication that they were afraid of Gideon, then he was so much the more heartened; and so the spies that went to the land of Canaan, when they heard that the fear of them was amongst the people this heartened them, and so when one knows his adversary is afraid of him, he will be heartened; a dog will follow another, that runs from him. And this discourages the people of God when they see others afraid in the cause of God.

Fifthly, Besides sinful fear is that which doth mightily hearten the enemies of Gods people and dishear tens Gods people, it makes the enemies of Gods people so much the more bold; the fear of anenemy heartens an Enemy, as Gideon when he came to the Host of his enemies, and heard their communication that they were affraid of Gideon, then he was so much the more heartned; and so the spies that went to the land of Canaan, when they heard that the fear of them was amongst the people this heartened them, and so when one knows his adversary is affraid of him, he will be heartned; a dog will follow another, that runs from him. And this discourages the people of God when they see others afraid in the cause of God.

Sixthly, It is a great evil, because it is that which is threatened as a great judgment of God upon a people, it is not only a sin but a punishment for some former sin, in Deut. 28.65.66. This is Gods judgment against wickedness, and therefore a sore, and great evil that Christians should count to be upon them, if the spirit of fear be upon them.

Sixthly, It is a great evil, because it is that which is threatned as a great judgment of God upon a people, it is not only a sin but a punishment for some former sin, in Deut. 28.65.66