A discourse concerning the grace of courage, wherein the nature, beneficialness, and necessity of…

3. A Courageous man is resolute and undaunted in the way of Duty, and that because it is his duty. The Command of God makes him to act Courageously, Josh. •. 9. Have not I Commanded ⟨p. 6⟩thee, be strong, and of a good Courage. That's a good Courage when Conscience of the Command does animate a man unto his duty. Desperate Resolutions in an evil design are not the Virtue of Courage, but most opposite thereunto. Absalom had Russians for his Servants, who would venture on any wicked attempt though never so hazardous, which their Master would put them upon. He said to them, when I say to you, Smite Amnon, then kill him, fear not, be Courageous and Valiant, 2 Sam. 13. 28. To kill one of the Kings Sons was a bold undertaking: They might well think that David the King would be avenged on them for it: but their venturing on so dangerous an action was not as Absalom called it Courage and Valour, because what they did was wicked, and although' according to the Command of their revengeful Master, most contrary to the holy Commandment of God. There is a Boldness which is not the Grace of Fortitude, or true Magnanimity, but Madness rather. So it is when men fight against God. When they are bold and desperate in the ways of Sin. Eliphaz says of the wicked man, That he stretcheth out his hand against God, and strengthens himself against the Almighty, he runneth upon the thick bosses of his buckler, Job 15. 25, 26. Moreover, The Grace of Courage does not only incline a man to do his duty, but therefore to do it notwithstanding difficulties in his way, because it is his duty. Suppose a man does what his duty obligeth him unto, and ⟨p. 7⟩runs through great dangers in the performance of it; if he is animated with carnal Motives only, we cannot say that he has the Grace of Courage, nor indeed any Grace at all. When Jehu executed Judgment on the house of Ahab, he did what God Commanded him, but he aimed at getting a Crown for himself, and that spoiled all. Ecclesiastical Writers inform us of men that would Murder themselves out of vain glory, hoping that they should on that account be Esteemed and Honoured as Martyrs. This was not their duty, nor was Conscience of duty that which emboldened them so to act. Thus we see what is implied in the Grace of Fortitude and Courage.