I2. HOLY FORTITUDL, tsERM. XXXI. I might add other instances of a kindred. nature in . common life, wherein christian fortitude is greatly neces! sery, especially in..this corrupt and degenerate age As when a trader must look poverty in the face, and meet approaching ran in his outward circumstances, unless he make some inroad . upon his honesty, and practise falsehood and deceit. But if the case be thus, if a chris- tian'sees himself sinking in the world, . by the frowns of providence, he, must dare to sink rather than cheat his. neighbour, and save himself by any hase and dishonest. methods. A man of religion and honour must stand firm to his'word, must follow strict equity in all things, and neither enter into any methods of fraud, nor of vio- lence, to retrieve his deee.ying circumstances. O how many little knavish contrivances do persons often practise to secure a good bargain to themselves, and sometimes they support their dying credit in the world at the expence and loss of their innocent neigh- bour ! Theyborrowwhat they know,they are not able to pay: They draw up false accounts of their own estate: They impose upon the credulous with words of a double meaning, or with downright lies: They almost forget, theyare'christians, for fear lest they should be undone, and practise the things at which an heathen would have blushed and started, because they have not . courage, enough to be honest and poor. VIII. Christians have need of holy fortitude, to ven- ture.their lives at the demand of providence, and expose themselves to violence, and to a bloody death. Some- times they are called to this glorious service in the cause of God and his church : So were many of the prophets, the apostles, and primitive.christians, as well as the mar- tyrs of later ages. Sometimes in the cause of our coun- try, divine providence calls us to expose our blood, and to assist or guard the nation against invasions from abroad, or tumults at home, and tó quell the rage of a, . brutal multitude. In a just. and necessary war for our country, or in defence of our natural or religious rights, we may fight withchristian courage, when we have well surveyed the justice of our cause, and find it ap -. proved of God. And there are seasons whenwe may be called to venture our lives for our christian brethrea. .1 John iii. t.
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