SEI MVI. XXX. COURAGE AND HONOUR, &C. 01, And for the same reason the word virtue in my text cannot signify the whole system of moral duties, because St. Paulin the same verse had been recommending truth, justice, and purity, or temperance, which are so many pieces of morality ; and it is not reasonable to imagine that he brings in a general name that comprehends them all in the midst of so many particulars, which is contrary to the use of all writers, and to his own custom too. I confess if he had said, if there be any other virtue, as he does in the like case, Rom. xiii. 9. when he had omitted any particular, we might then have understood virtue in the general sense but now it is evident; that he means a particular excellency, distinct from those before-men- tioned : and the word itself requires us to understand a brave, bold, and generous spirit and practice. He re- commends to them a great and excellent behaviour; wherein their holy courage may appear, when the call of providence gives a just occasion. Courage is a virtue which stands in opposition both to fear and shame ; and it guards the mind ofman from the evil influence of both those passions. The man' of cou- rage has not such a feeling fondness for his flesh nor his estate, as to be afraid to profess his sentiments, or to ful- fil his duty at every call of providence, though his estate may suffer damage by it, or his flesh be exposed to pain : Nor has he such a tenderness for his honour, as to secure it with the loss of his innocence. He is not ashamed to appear for virtue in an age of vice and scandal : He stands up boldly for the honour of his God, and ventures a thousand perils rather than wound his conscience, or betray his trust : He dares profess and practice temper- ance among an herd of drunkards, and purity in the midst of the lewd and unclean : The man of courage can de- spise the threatenings of the great, and the scoffs of the witty, conscious of his own integrity and truth: He can face and oppose the world with all its terrors, and travel onwards in the paths of pietywithout fear. " The righ- teous man is bold as a lion." Prow. xxviü. 1. Now -it is the apostle's advice to the Phillippian con- verts, that whensoever there is anyjust occasion given to exert their fortitude, whether it be in the defence of the 'rights of mankind, and the liberties of their country, or in vindication of the cause of God or virtue, let the chris-
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