N01237:21
A discourse concerning the grace of courage, wherein the nature, beneficialness, and necessity of…
A discourse concerning the grace of courage, wherein the nature, beneficialness, and necessity of that virtue for all Christians, is described. Delivered in a sermon preached at Boston in New-England. June 5th. 1710. / By Increase Mather, D.D. ; [Two lines from I Corinthians]A discourse concerning the grace of courage, wherein the nature, beneficialness, and necessity of that vertue for all Christians, is described. Delivered in a sermon preached at Boston in New-England. June 5th. 1710. / By Increase Mather, D.D. ; [Two lines from I Corinthians]
Boston: printed by B. Green for Samuel Phillips, 1710
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. The Courage I am to discourse of is a Virtue. It is a Special Supernatural Grace wrought in the heart by the Spirit of God. In that it is distinguished from that Courage which is only Natural. There are Men who have a Natural undauntedness and greatness of Spirit, who never had any thing of the Virtue or Grace of Courage in them; Such as Alexander, Caesar, Pompey, and other great Heroes, admired by the World. There is a Courage which is no more than brutal. A Lion scorns to turn his back on any Creature Living. Prov. 30. 30. A Lion which is the strongest among beasts, turns not away from any. Writers say if he is pursued he will never run for it, but will walk slowly and with a majestic pace. Thus also there is a marvellous fortitude in the War Horse: It is Rhetorically set forth in the 39. Chapter of Job. Hast thou given the horse ⟨p. 4⟩strength, hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? Canst thou make him afraid as the grasshopper? He goeth on to meet the armed men, he mocks at fear, & is not affrighted, neither turns he back from the Sword, the quiver rattles against him, the glittering spear & the shield. He smells the battle afar off, the thunder of the Captains and the shouting. It is also said of the Leviathan, that he is made without fear. Thus men may be of fearless Tempers, and yet not have that fortitude which I am speaking of, since it is a Supernatural Grace. Hence some who are naturally of a timorous disposition, yet have excelled in Courage. The Martyr Books tell us of Women and Children who notwithstanding their being naturally of a fearful heart, have been adorned with a Divine and Heroic Courage. All the threatenings and tortures inflicted on them by cruel persecutors have not been able in the least to daunt them.
1. The Courage I am to discourse of is a Vertue. It is a Special Supernatural Grace wrought in the heart by the Spirit of God. In that it is distinguished from that Courage which is only Natural. There are Men who have a Natural undauntedness and greatness of Spirit, who never had any thing of the Vertue or Grace of Courage in them; Such as Alexander, Caesar, Pompey, and other great Heroes, admired by the World. There is a Courage which is no more than brutal. A Lion scorns to turn his back on any Creature Living. Prov. 30. 30