The excellency of holy courage in evil times by Jeremiah Burroughs

Reason. 5.

The fifth Reason is because sometimes our hearts are filled with more heavenly consolation then at other times that does refresh the souls of Gods people as with new wine, that they can go forth as a Giant, call them to any duty, and they can go through fire and water. As for sin when a mans heart is warmed with sin and they have had delight and satisfaction in their sin, come and speak what you will against it and they can easily cast it off, and so for duty when Gods people have been warmed by duty, and their spirits are refreshed in Gods way, with what resolution do they go: and as that martyr Mr. Saunders said, that which made the difference in him was because God was pleased to come in with such refreshments to his spirit that he felt the consolation of God, not only upon his soul, but flow into his body; and that put a great deal of courage in him: And in the stories that I have read of Scotland Mr. Knox reports of a young man, of eighteen years of age, that suffered martyrdom under the Bishop of Glasgow: and when he came to suffer he was mightily afraid, and thought to have recanted, and it pleased God that his spirit came in mightily to him at that time, and he fell down on his knees and blest God. Blessed Lord (said he) great is thy mercy to man kind, and to me poor wretch, that was like to forsake Christ my saviour, and put my self into ⟨p. 108⟩eternal damnation, and now thou hast come with the consolation of Heaven, and hast filled my heart and now I am freed from those fears that suppressed my soul, let men do what they can I am ready. And to God sometimes comes to fill the hearts of his people with mighty consolations and that makes a mighty difference.

The fifth Reason is because somtimes our hearts are filled with more heavenly consolation then at other times that does refresh the souls of Gods people as with new wine, that they can go forth as a Giant, cal them to any duty, and they can go through fire and water. As for sin when a mans heart is warmed with sin and they have had delight and satisfaction in their sin, come and speak what you wil against it and they can easily cast it off, and so for duty when Gods people have been warmed by duty, and their spirits are refreshed in Gods way, with what resolution do they go: and as that martyr Mr. Saunders sayd, that which made the difference in him was because God was pleased to come in with such refreshments to his spirit that he felt the consolation of God, not only upon his soul, but flow into his body; and that put a great deal of courage in him: And in the stories that I have read of Scotland Mr. Knox reports of a young man, of eighteen years of age, that suffered martirdome under the Bishop of Glasgow: and when he came to suffer he was mightily affraid, and thought to have recanted, and it pleased God that his spirit came in mightily to him at that time, and he fell down on his knees and blest God. Blessed Lord (said he) great is thy mercy to man kind, and to me poor wretch, that was like to forsake Christ my saviour, and put my self into