N01237:40
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. The Ministers of Christ, need a good measure of Courage. They must deliver the Messages of God with freedom and boldness. The Apostles prayed that they might do so. Act. 4. 29. Grant unto thy Servants that with all boldness they may speak thy word. And Paul desired the Christian Ephesians to pray for him that he might Speak boldly as he ought to speak, Eph. 6. 20. It belongs to them as well as unto Civil Rulers to Endeavour to Reform the World. When there was great Corruptions and Immoralities in the Jewish Church, and a Reformation of those abuses ⟨p. 22⟩was discoursed of, it was said to Ezra the Minister of God, this Matter belongs to thee, be of good Courage, and do it, Ezr. 10. 4. When a Storm of Persecution riseth it falls chiefly upon them. They are (as Uriah was) Set in the Fore-front of the hottest battle. The Malignity of the old Serpent and of his Seed aims at them especially, because they are Eminently instrumental in pulling down Satan's Kingdom,& in advancing the Interest & Kingdom of Christ in the World. One of the Kings in Persia caused all the Ministers of Christ throughout his Dominions to be Martyred when their Flocks escaped his fury. He thought that if the Shepherds were all destroyed, their Flocks would soon be scattered and come to nothing. They are the Lords Witnesses who are a torment to them that dwell on the Earth. They are by their Office Reprovers. And therefore must Reprove the Sins of men impartially, without sparing any who are Guilty, be they Great or Small. This Charge did the Lord lay upon his Prophet; Isa. 58. 1. Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy Voice like a Trumpet, and show my People their Transgressions, and the House of Jacob their Sins. Sometimes they are called to Oppose and Reprove the Generality of their People. Aaron should have done so; but he wanted Courage: It seems he was afraid the People would then do him a mischief, Exod. 32. 22. Some of the Jewish Writers say, (how truly I know not, the Scripture mentions nothing of it) that Hur one of the Princes in Israel Opposed their Idolatry in