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FORTITUDE RECOMMENDED ON THE SIDE OF TRUTH
IT is by no means uncommon to see men valiant in their country’s cause, or fearless in the commission of iniquity. But courage on the side of religion is a quality but rarely seen. This virtue attaches not itself to strength of nerves, nor is it a necessary attendant on constitutional intrepidity. It is a grace, produced in the heart by the Holy Spirit; and is found equally to adorn the weaker as the stronger sex. The want of natural courage is a fault in those only who enter into professions where the exercise of it is essential to a proper discharge of their duty: but the want of spiritual valour is a crime, for which we must answer before God: yea, it is a great and heinous crime, for which we have reason to dread his heaviest judgments. The prophet, when enumerating the sins which prevailed among the Jews, and which caused him to weep over them day and night, mentions this as one that called for his severest reprehension; namely, that when they could “proceed with undaunted effrontery from evil to evil,” they “were not valiant for the truth upon the earth.”
In illustrating these words, we propose to shew,
I. That valour is requisite on the side of truth—
Let “truth” be taken in the lowest sense, as meaning nothing more than common justice and equity, and there will still be found need of valour for the maintenance of it in the world. Let a magistrate set himself vigorously to reform abuses, and he will soon find that vice and profaneness will maintain a violent contest against him, and that he has need of courage to carry his plans into full effect.
But if we understand “the truth” as comprehending the whole extent of our duty not only as men but as Christians, our need of valour in maintaining it will be still more apparent. We stand in need of it,
1. To profess the truth—
[Who does not know that a profession of religion subjects us to contempt? What was said of the Christians of the first ages, is equally true at this day; “We know that this sect is everywhere spoken against.” Men will “gaze strangely at us, as soon as we cease to run with them into their excess of riot [Note: 1Pe_4:4.].” As soon as we “depart from evil, we make ourselves a prey [Note: Isa_59:15.],” which every one feels himself at liberty to hunt. What the Gibeonites experienced, when they made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel, is a striking emblem of what must be expected by all who submit to Jesus, and associate themselves with his people [Note: Jos_10:3-4.] — — — And does it not require courage to endure this? — — — Verily, there are many who would find it easier to walk up to the mouth of a cannon, than to brave the contempt and obloquy to which a profession of religion would expose them.]
2. To practise it—
[Let a person be solicited by his friends to unite with them in courses which he disapproves; let him be ridiculed as indulging needless scrupulosity and preciseness, or perhaps as hypocritically pretending to more sanctity than his neighbours; will he find it easier to be steadfast in his obedience to God, dissembling no truth, omitting no duty, conforming to nothing dubious or sinful? Will he need no courage to stem the torrent, to disregard the appearances of singularity, and to maintain a conscience void of offence towards God and man? — — —]
3. To recommend and enforce it—
[The Gospel enjoins us, not only to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather to reprove them.” Now we know what have been the consequences of such faithfulness in all ages; “I hate Micaiah, because he doth not speak good concerning me, but evil:” “The world hateth me, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil [Note: Joh_7:7.].” And is it a light matter to encounter the hatred of our friends, and relatives, yea, and of the whole world? When we foresee these consequences, are we in no danger of withholding the admonitions and instructions which we ought to give? Are we in no danger of “putting our light under a bushel,” when we know what offence will be taken at us, if we suffer it to shine forth? Are we under no temptation to indulge that “fear of man which bringeth a snare?”]
If we cannot recommend, or practise, or even profess, religion, without valour, we can have no doubt about,
II. The duty of exercising it—
It is a duty we owe,
1. To God—
[God has not told us to obey his commandments only as far as the world will approve, but to “follow him fully,” and to love and serve him with our whole hearts, Will he then be contented to see us “partial in the law?” Will he accept our plea, if we urge our fear of man as a reason of our not fearing and obeying him? No: he has bidden us “not to fear man, who can only kill the body; but to fear him, who can destroy both body and soul in hell [Note: Luk_12:4-5.].”]
2. To our neighbours—
[What will they think of religion, if they see us, who profess it, violating its most sacred obligations through feat of offending man? Will they not imagine that it is not worth contending for? Will they not be emboldened to shew the same preference to the world that we do; and to regard the opinions of men more than the commands of God? On the contrary, Would not a firm, bold, decided conduct tend to convince them, that God is worthy to be served, and that “his loving-kindness is better than life itself?”]
3. To ourselves—
[Our own everlasting welfare depends upon our steadfastness in the ways of God. “If we are ashamed of him, he will be ashamed of us:” “if we deny him, he will deny us;” “if we draw back, it will be unto perdition; for his soul can have no pleasure in us:” “he only that overcometh, shall inherit all things;” and “he only that endureth unto the end, shall ever be saved.” If then we have any regard for our own souls, we must be valiant, and “quit ourselves like men:” for if even life itself be suffered to stand in competition with his will, our souls will be forfeited and lost for ever [Note: Mat_10:39.].]
It is not however sufficient to possess valour: we should also understand,
III. In what way it should be exercised—
Here we are very liable to err: true Christian valour should be shewn,
1. In meek and patient sufferings—
[Passive valour is by far the most valuable. Would we see it illustrated? Let us see how it operated in the Apostle Paul: “Being defamed,” says he, “we entreat; being persecuted, we suffer it.” Would we behold the most striking exemplification of it that ever existed? Let us behold Jesus, who had just before evinced his power over his enemies by striking them all to the ground with a word, yielding up himself to them, and led as a sheep to the slaughter. Behold him, “dumb before them, even as a sheep before her shearers; giving his back to the smiters, and his cheeks to them that plucked off the hair, and not hiding his face from shame and spitting:” “when he was reviled, he reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself unto him that judgeth righteously:” yes, here was precisely the valour which we are called to exercise. We must “possess our souls in patience,” and “let patience have its perfect work.” If once we recede from this ground, we are vanquished, If we would “not be overcome of evil, we must overcome evil with good.”]
2. In firm and steady perseverance—
[Obedience to God is the great point: to that we must adhere at all events. We must resemble Daniel and the Hebrew youths, and determine to suffer the most cruel death, rather than violate the dictates of our conscience [Note: Dan_3:16-18.], or neglect any known duty whatsoever [Note: Dan_6:10.]. Next to our blessed Lord, St. Paul perhaps endured more for the truth’s sake than any of the children of men: in every place, bonds and afflictions awaited him: but “none of those things could move him, neither counted he his life dear unto him, so that he might but fulfil the ministry” committed to him: he was “willing not only to be bound, but also to die,” at any place, at any time, and in any manner, for his Master’s sake: when he had been stoned, and left for dead, at Lystra, he returned again speedily to that very city, regardless of his own life, and intent only on executing the commission which he had received of the Lord Jesus [Note: Act_14:8; Act_14:19; Act_14:21.]? Thus must we go on, “steadfast, immoveable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord:” and in such a course we shall approve ourselves “good soldiers of Jesus Christ.”]
We would add to what has been said, a word,
1. Of caution—
[Let not any imagine that Christian fortitude at all militates against the duties which we owe to our parents, or to any that are placed in authority over us. Many are apt to mistake pertness and forwardness as marks of valour: but “they know not what spirit they are of;” they are, in fact, displeasing God as much as man, while they indulge a petulant, froward disposition. We need look well to ourselves in this particular, and see that we are not gratifying our own self-will, under a pretended regard for the commands of God. We should never forget the respect due to our superiors: and when we are forced to act contrary to their commands, we should strive as much as possible to conciliate them in our manner of doing it; and shew them, that our opposition to their will is not a matter of choice, but of necessity.]
2. Of encouragement—
[None need to fear, as though they should not be able to act valiantly in the hour of trial: for God has promised, that we shall not be tempted above our ability to withstand, or without a way for us to escape [Note: 1Co_10:13.]. We are told of women, who, under the most grievous sufferings for conscience sake, would not accept deliverance, when it was offered as an inducement to recede from their principles [Note: Heb_11:35.]. We need not fear therefore but that “our strength also shall be according to our day [Note: Deu_33:25.].” God will “strengthen us by his Spirit in our inward man, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness:” and “his strength shall be perfected in our weakness.” In the weakest amongst us shall that promise be exemplified, “They that do know their God, shall be strong, and do exploits [Note: Dan_11:32.].”]