N01237:26
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.
Several things may be mentioned for the further confirmation of the Truth before us, showing that the Servants of God ought not to be dismayed, but to be very Courageous, and that they have reason to be so. For,
Several things may be mentioned for the further confirmation of the Truth before us, shewing that the Servants of God ought not to be dismayed, but to be very Couragious, and that they have reason to be so. For,
1. They have many and great Enemies. Therefore they have need of a great measure of Courage that so they may bear up against them. The World is their Enemy. They meet with great Temptations in the way of Obedience from the things of the World, and in truth those which are called the good things of the World, the Profits, Pleasures, Preferments of it are the greatest Temptation. Some who have stood out Courageously against the Evil things of the World, that Prisons and Cruel Punishments could not move them from their Holy Profession, when they have been Tempted with the Riches, and Honours of the World, they have fallen Lamentably and Shamefully, to their Eternal ruin. There is need of much Grace that so they may be able to Resist and Conquer all Temptations of that nature. But then the Men of the World are Enemies to the ⟨p. 10⟩Faithful Servants of God. Ungodly men, are and ever have been, and ever will be haters of the Godly. The old Enmity between the Seed of the Serpent, and the Seed of the Woman remains still, and will do so to the end of the World. He that is upright in his way, is an abomination to the wicked. Nor is this to be marvelled at, 1 Joh. 3. 13. Marvel not my Brethren if the World hate you. For the Servants of God and of the World are of very differing both Principles and Practices. The Laws by which they are governed are not the same. It was an old complaint against the People of God, Esther 3. 8. Their Laws are diverse from all People. They do by a contrary Profession and Practice condemn the world, (as Noah did) and that exposeth them to the worlds hatred and rage. Christ said to some of his natural Relations, who were carnal and worldly men: