N01237:41
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.
Jer. 5. 5. I will get me to the Great men, and will speak to them. How shall they do this without a great Fortitude of spirit? When King Uzziah would presume to go into that part of the Temple, which none but the Priests might enter into; and offer Incense there: It is said, that Azariah the Priest went in after him; and with him Four-score Priests of the Lord, who were Valiant men: And they withstood Uzziah the King. How did they withstand him? Not by offering any Violence to his Person: but by faithful Admonitions and Reproofs. They said to him, Thou hast Trespassed; neither shall it be for thine Honour, from the Lord God: Meaning, that God would leave a mark of Infamy upon him, for that his Trespass: And so it came to pass, for he was immediately smitten with an incurable Leprosy. He Died a Leper, which was not for his Honour, 2 Chron. 26. 17, 18, 19. A Courage not altogether unlike to this, there was in Ambrose: For when the Emperor Theodosius had in his Passion caused many innocent men to be Slain, among some who were guilty of a Treasonable Offence; Ambrose refused to ⟨p. 24⟩Administer the Sacrament to him, until he had manifested a very deep Penitence and Repentance for his Error. The Ministers of God may well be Courageous in the discharge of their Duty, considering whom they Represent; and whose Name they come in, when they deliver the Messages of God. When David was to Encounter with Goliath; that which made him so Courageous, was that he could say, I come to thee in the Name of the Lord of Hosts, 1 Sam. 17. 45. As a Message from God ought to be received with great respect, although' it comes by the hand of an inferior Person. When Ehud said to a Prince, I have a Message from God unto you; he arose out of his Seat to hear it. When Balaam was sent with a Message from God to Balak the King of Moab; he said to him, Rise up and hear, Numb. 23. 18. So that Consideration is sufficient to inspire the Messenger with Courage.
Jer. 5. 5. I will get me to the Great men, and will speak to them. How shall they do this without a great Fortitude of spirit? When King Uzziah would presume to go into that part of the Temple, which none but the Priests might enter into; and offer Incense there: It is said, that Azariah the Priest went in after him; and with him Four-score Priests of the Lord, who were Valiant men: And they withstood Uzziah the King. How did they withstand him? Not by offering any Violence to his Person: but by faithful Admonitions and Reproofs. They said to him, Thou hast Trespassed; neither shall it be for thine Honour, from the Lord God: Meaning, that God would leave a mark of Infamy upon him, for that his Trespass: And so it came to pass, for he was immediately smitten with an incurable Leprosy. He Died a Leper, which was not for his Honour,