The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

but that is the part of a base coward, rather to live basely than to die honourably, rather to be under any base servitude, than to be in any hazard of their lives, though perhaps their lives may be saved too. I remember Philo tells us, even of women, (for in these times, the public cause of the Kingdom, suffers exceedingly much by the timorousness of the spirits of women) that being in danger of their enemies, of being brought into bondage by them, they took their children and threw them into the rivers, with these words, You shall not serve, we had rather see you die than be slaves. I commend not that fact that it was well done, but to show what a spirit the heathen women had ⟨p. 302⟩to see their children die rather than have them bondslaves: Indeed, what were our lives worth? were they worth having if we return to our bondage again? The utmost of the danger is, our lives, the killing of our bodies, yet we hope God will preserve them too, but suppose the worst, it is but death; but if our lives should not be hazarded now, and if through base cowardice, we should decline the Cause of God, surely our lives would not be worth taking up, the living after that manner we are like to live, in that bondage unto these Cavaliers, notorious wretches, blasphemers of God himself, that would make our lives worth very little, nay your children perhaps to be brought up in Popery, and to hold a candle to a mass-Priest at the Altar; that may be the employment of your children, if so be that they should live: But these people being now in this extremity, and manifesting so much passion, being in a distemper; Moses as the Captain of the Lord comes to the people, and speaks bravely to them, encouraging of them, saith Moses, Fear not, but stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord: stand still, the word is [Greek or Hebrew] state, it signifies to settle and compose, to be in a settled condition; it is a reflect word upon our selves, so the Learned know, that it is to work upon our selves, to form, signifies so, it is as much as if he should say, Do you work upon your own hearts, to get your hearts to stand still, work upon your hearts to do that, work arguments upon your spirits, and never leave working until you have wrought your hearts into such a frame, as that you may stand still, & be quiet:

but that is the part of a base coward, rather to live basely than to die honourably, rather to be under any base servitude, than to be in any hazard of their lives, though perhaps their lives may be saved too. I remember Philo tels us, even of women, (for in these times, the publik cause of the Kingdom, suffers exceedingly much by the timorousness of the spirits of women) that being in danger of their enemies, of being brought into bondage by them, they took their children and threw them into the rivers, with these words, You shall not serve, we had rather see you die than be slaves. I commend not that fact that it was wel done, but to shew what a spirit the heathen women had