Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

This is that which the Scripture calls boldness: when the Apostles were to preach the Gospel, and had the priests, and the whole Counsel against them, now was the time for them to speak boldly: therefore you see it is so expressed, when Joshua was to fight with the Canaanites, with the Anakims, and cities walled up to heaven, Now be of a good courage, be strong, (that word is used, ¹Jos. 1. 6) that is, now is the time. So Jeremiah, Jer. 26. when he had a special business to be done with much hazard, that he must go & speak in the name of the Lord to the King, and Princes, and people, which were ready to put him to death, Now be strong, and keep not a word back. So John Baptist, he was to tell Herod of his fault, of that sin; you know what hazard that action was accompanied with: now it was a time for John to stir up his strength and to use it. So in all such exigences as these when God puts us to the trial whether we will do any thing for him; ⟨p. 214⟩whether we will part with any thing for his sake; whether we will deny our selves, and take up our cross and follow him, I say these are the times. And therefore i• a man have any treasure in heaven, and be persuaded of the vanity, and worthlessness of outward things: herein stands his boldness to neglect them, to let them go, so he may do service to God, and bring glory to his name, and do good to the Church: for indeed in that stands the stirring up of our strength. As Luther said, when he was so bold, he gives the reason of his boldness: saith he, What ²can they take from me? my credit? what care I for that, it is but small; they may take away my estate, that is but little: they may take away my life, but I make no account of it saith he; if other men made as little account of these things as I do, they would be as bold as I.

This is that which the Scripture calls boldness: when the Apostles were to preach the Gospel, and had the priests, and the whole Counsel against them, now was the time for them to speak boldly: therefore you see it is so expressed, when Ioshua was to fight with the Canaanites, with the Anakims, and cities walled up to heaven, Now be of a good courage, be strong, (that word is used,