The excellency of holy courage in evil times by Jeremiah Burroughs

But now that we may conclude this argument in a word of Exhortation, as sinful fear is a most dreadful evil, so the true fear of God is a most precious Jewel in Isa. 33.6. The fear of the Lord is called the treasure ⟨p. 91⟩of Gods people, sinful fear hath a treasure of evil, and therefore to be avoided; Oh then let us take heed of sinful fear of the creature, as the Lord by the prophet Isa. 55.4. Say to them that are of a fearful heart be not afraid, do not plead and say I am of a fearful nature says God, say to them that are of a fearful heart be not afraid: so say I to you that are the people of God, in the way of God though you be by nature fearful, you that are of a fearful nature be not afraid whatsoever your natures have been, yet if your hearts have been brought under the power of the Gospel, now there is a spirit of magnanimity put into you; Give me says Lactantius, (speaking of the power of Christian religion upon the hearts of men) a man fearful of pain of death & if once Christian Religion prevails in his heart, he shall presently contemn crucifying fire, yea that cruel torture of Phalaris his Bull in which that cruel tyrant delighted to hear men roar being put into it when it was made burning hot. In the Epistle of Saint Peter. you have the the holy Ghost directing his exhortation to women who are naturally fearful 1 Peter, 3.6. Whose daughters you are as long as ye do well and are not afraid with any amazement: it seems very strange at first view, how the Apostle brings in this to women. It is brought in thus: First if you consider Sarah and as the wife of Abraham; Abraham was to go out of his own country and was like to meet with many dangers and difficulties and to suffer hard things; and this is the Commendation of Sarah and she is set before all Christian women as an example, that though she was a woman, and so by nature Fearful, yet she was not an hinderance to him, she was not afraid with amazement, she overcome the natural Fear of her sex by her Faith and it is a notable note For Women, when God calls their husbands to go out of their country, may be they would go but their wives are afraid of the Sea and of difficulties and they are hinderances to them:

But now that we may conclude this argument in a word of Exhortation, as sinful fear is a most dreadful evil, so the trrue fear of God is a most precious Jewel in