4. There is in it the Credit of true Courage. Meekness is commonly despised and run down by the Grandees of the Age,1, as a piece of Cowardice and Mean-spiritedness, and the evidence of a little Soul, and is posted accordingly, while the most furious and angry Revenges are celebrated and applauded under the pompous Names of Valour, and Honour, and Greatness of Spirit, which ariseth from a mistaken Notion of Courage, the true Nature whereof, is thus stated by a very ingenuous Pen*, That it is a Resolution never to decline any evil of pain, when the choosing of it, and the exposing of our selves to it, is the only Remedy against a greater evil; And therefore he that accepts a challenge, and so runs himself upon the evil of sin, which is the greater evil, only for fear of shame and reproach, which is the less evil, he is the Coward, while he that refuseth the challenge, and so exposeth himself to reproach, for fear of sin, he is the valiant Man. True Courage is such a presence of Mind, as enableth a Man rather to suffer than to sin, to choose Affliction rather than Iniquity, to pass by an Affront, tho' he lose by ⟨p. 50⟩it, and be hissed at for a Fool and a Sneak, rather than to engage in a sinful Quarrel. He that can deny the brutal Lust of Anger and Revenge, rather than violate the Royal Law of Love and Charity (however contrary the Sentiments of the World may be) he is truly Resolute and Courageous.3 The Lord is with thee, thou mighty Man of Valour. Fretting and Vexing is the fruit of the Weakness of Women and Children, but much below the strength of a Man, especially of the New Man, that is born from above. When our Lord Jesus is described in his Majesty, riding prosperously, the Glory he appears in, is Truth, and Meekness, and Righteousness, Psal. 45. 4. The Courage of those who overcome this great red Dragon of Wrath and Revenge, by meek and patient suffering, and by not loving their Lives unto the Death, Rev. 12. 11. will turn to the best and most honourable account on 'tother side the Grave, and will be crowned with Glory, and Honour, and Immortality, when those that caused their terror in the Land of the Living, fall ingloriously, and bear their shame with them that go down to the Pit, Ezek. 32. 24.
4. There is in it the Credit of true Courage. Meekness is commonly despised and run down by the Grandees of the Age,1, as a piece of Cowardise and Mean-spiritedness, and the evidence of a little Soul, and is posted accordingly, while the most furious and angry Revenges are celebrated and applauded under the pompous Names of Valor, and Honour, and Greatness of Spirit, which ariseth from a mistaken Notion of Courage, the true Nature whereof, is thus stated by a very ingenuous Pen*, That it is a Resolution never to decline any evil of pain, when the chusing of it, and the exposing of our selves to it, is the only Remedy against a greater evil; And therefore he that accepts a challenge, and so runs himself upon the evil of sin, which is the greater evil, only for fear of shame and reproach, which is the less evil, he is the Coward, while he that refuseth the challenge, and so exposeth himself to reproach, for fear of sin, he is the valiant Man. True Courage is such a presence of Mind, as enableth a Man rather to suffer than to sin, to chuse Affliction rather than Iniquity, to pass by an Affront, tho' he lose by ⟨p. 50⟩it, and be hiss'd at for a Fool and a Sneak, rather than to engage in a sinful Quarrel. He that can deny the brutual Lust of Anger and Revenge, rather than violate the Royal Law of Love and Charity (however contrary the Sentiments of the World may be) he is truly Resolute and Couragious.3 The Lord is with thee, thou mighty Man of Valor. Fretting and Vexing is the fruit of the Weakness of Women and Children, but much below the strength of a Man, especially of the New Man, that is born from above. When our Lord Jesus is described in his Majesty, riding prosperously, the Glory he appears in, is Truth, and Meekness, and Righteousness, Psal. 45. 4. The Courage of those who overcome this great red Dragon of Wrath and Revenge, by meek and patient suffering, and by not loving their Lives unto the Death, Rev. 12. 11. will turn to the best and most honourable account on 'tother side the Grave, and will be crowned with Glory, and Honour, and Immortality, when those that caused their terror in the Land of the Living, fall ingloriously, and bear their shame with them that go down to the Pit, Ezek. 32. 24.
- 1Magni animi est proprium, placidumesse & injurias superne despicere. Sen.
- *Norris, Miscell. p. 167, 168.
- 3Paul shew'd more true Valour when he said, I can do nothing against the Truth, than Goliath did when he desyed all the Hosts of Israel. Ward.Paul shew'd more true Valor when he said, I can do nothing against the Truth, than Goliah did when he desyed all the Hosts of Israel. Ward.
