SEAM. XXXI.I OR R$ME11$S AGAINST FAR 3 raise our hope, that as he endued his people in ancient times With his grace, so he will bestow this spirit of holy fortitude upon us also, and that as our day is, so our strength shall be. To cast my discourse into some method, I shall, First, Briefly describe this divine temper of mind. In the next place, Secondly, I would represent the various occasions which we shall find for the exercise of it. Thirdly, I shall mention a fewmotives to excite us to acquire this holy fortitude, and to maintain it throughout our whole course of life. And, Fourthly, Propose some remedies against a spirit of slavish fear, which is directly opposite to this christian virtue. The first thing proposed is, to describe what I mean by fortitude and courage; and to this end, we musk distinguish it into that of the active and that of the pas- sive kind. Active valour or courage, is such a temper of soul, as to attempt and venture upon any bold act of duty, which may endanger our present ease, and worldly interest; and prompts us to pursue it with a becoming steadiness and bravery of mind, undaunted at every opposition we meet with, and unterrified at all the threatening dangers that stand in our way. Passive valour is such an habitual firmness and con- stancy of soul, as enables us to bear what sufferings we fall under, without repinings and inward vexations, and., without any outward tokens of sinking or despondency. When we sustain heavy sorrows, or anguish of the flesh, without any wild and unreasonable groanings of nature, without rage and unbecoming resentment; without tumult and confusion of spirit. And this should be the temper of our souls, and our christian conduct, whether the sufferings which we feel; arise from the immediate hand of God, or from the injustice and violence of men. In the second place, I come to represent the various occasions that we shall fund in the christian life, for the exercise of this holy courage, and that under both kinds of it viz. the active and the passive, or that which con- sists in doing, and that which consists in suffering; and I shall enlarge upon each of them in a practical way. B
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