N01237:22
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.
2. This Grace will make those in whom it is, to surmount difficulties and dangers. It is a Virtue contrary to despair, and despondency of Spirit. When great difficulties appear, men are apt to think they shall never be able to conquer them, so do they grow faint hearted, and lye down under discouragements. But the Grace of Courage will surmount all difficulties. This we see in the Spies who were sent to search the Land of Canaan. The Cowards among them said, the People are strong that dwell in the Land, we be not able to go up against them, ⟨p. 5⟩they are stronger than we. They are men of great stature, they are Giants, the Sons of Anak. Thus did they despond and despair, and would not go forward when they had an express promise from God that they should conquer if they would have obeyed his Command in the Season of it. But Courageous Caleb, (who was like his Name, Caleb signifies All heart) said, Let us go up and possess the Land for we are well able to overcome it: fear ye not the People of the Land, they are bread for us; Their defence is departed from them. Here was the Grace of Courage. It is a Grace contrary to all sinful fear as well as despair. It bears up the heart against sinful Unbelieving fears: Josh 10. 25. Fear not nor be dismayed, be strong and of good Courage. Danger causeth fear: but the Grace of Courage makes a man to be above the fear of danger. Hezekiah manifested this Grace to be in him, when he encouraged his Captains and Soldiers notwithstanding the danger they were in from a formidable Enemy beleaguering them, with a numerous Army, 2 Chron. 32. 6, 7. He set Captains of War over the People, and spake comfortably to them, saying, be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the King of […], nor […] all the multitude that is with him.
2. This Grace will make those in whom it is, to surmount difficulties and dangers. It is a Vertue contrary to despair, and despondency of Spirit. When great difficulties appear, men are apt to think they shall never be able to conquer them, so do they grow faint hearted, and lye down under discouragements. But the Grace of Courage will surmount all difficulties. This we see in the Spies who were sent to search the Land of Canaan. The Cowards among them said, the People are strong that dwell in the Land, we be not able to go up against them, ⟨p. 5⟩