OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 105 evil and misery in them, as the other hath of good and blessedness; as though his state was any way to be complained of, who must undergo the one, whilst he hath an interest in the other ; or as though to escape theone, he hazard the enjoyment of the other. It is inseparable from our nature to have a fear of, and aversion from, great distressing sufferings, that are above the power of nature to bear. Even our Lord Jesus himself, having taken on him all the sin- less properties of our natures, had a fear and aversa- tion, though holy and gracious with respect to his own. Those who, through a stout heartedness, do contemn them before their approach, boasting in them- selves of their abilities to undergo them, censuring such as will not unadvisedly engage in them, are such as seldom glorify God when they are really to con- flict with them. Peter alone trusted to himself that he would not forsake his master, and seemed to take the warning ill that they should all do so ; and he alone denied him. All church histories are filled with instances of such as, having borne themselves high be- fore the approach of trials, have shamefully miscarried when their trials have come. Wherefore it is more- over allowed unto us, to use all lawful means for the avoiding of them. Both rules and examples of the scripture give sufficient warranty for it. But there are times and seasons wherein, without any tergiver- sation, they are to be undergone unto the glory of God, and in the discharge of our duty, confessing Christ before men, as we would be owned by him before his Father in heaven. All things do now call us to prepare for such a season, to be martyrs in res- olution, though we should never really lose our lives by violence. Nothing will give us this preparation,
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