SPIRITIJAI. PEACE AND COMFORT. 331 hended themselves to be in danger by it. The fear of man is that restraineth them. But for this, no man's life would be in any safety, for every malicious man would be a murderer. He that feareth not the loss of his own life; is master of another man's. Do these men think that the apprehension of bodily dangers may carry them on through all undertakings, and be the potent string of most of their actions, and warrant all those courses that else would be unwarrantable, so that they dare plead necessity to war- rant those fearful things which, by extenuating language, (like Saul's,) are called irregularities ! . And yet that it is unlawful or unmeet for a Christian, yea, the weakest Christian, to live in any apprehensions of danger to their soul; either danger of sinning, or fallingaway, or perishing forever ? No wonder if suchdo sin, and fall away and perish. Would these menhave fought well by seaor land, iftheyhad apprehended no danger ? Would the earth have been so coveredwith carcasses, and with blood, (yea, evenofsaints,) and the world filled with the doleful calamities that accompanied and have followed, if there had been no apprehensions of danger? Would they take physic when they are sick? Would they avoid fire or water, or thieves, but through an apprehension of danger? Let them talk what they please, if ever they escape hell, without a deep apprehension of the danger of it, it must be in a way not known by Scripture, or by nature. Sure I am Paul did tame his body, and bring it into subjection, through an apprehension of this danger, lest, when he had preached to others, himself should be a castaway or reprobate; 2 Cor. ix. 27. And Christ himself, when he biddeth us "fear not them that can kill the body," (whom _yet these men think it lawful to fear and fight against,). yet chargeth us with a double charge to "fear him that is able to destroyboth body and soul in hell: yea, I say unto you, (saith Christ,) fear hirn;" Luke xii. 5. What can be plainer? and to his disciples? My detestation of these destructive Antinomian principles, makes me to run out further against them than I intended ; though it were easy more abundantly to manifest their hatefulness. But my rea- sons are these: 1. Because the mountebanks are still thrusting in themselves, and impudently proclaiming their own skill, and the excellency of their remedies for the cure of wounded consciences, and the settling of peace; when, indeed, their receipts are rank poison, gilded with the precious name of Christ, and free grace. 2. Because I would not have your doubtings cured by the devil ; for he will but cure one disease with another, and a lesser with a far greater. If he can so cure your fears and doubtings, as to bring you into carnal security and presumption, he will lose nothing by the cure, and you will get nothing. If he can turn a poor, doubting, troubled Christian to be a secure Antinomian, he hath
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