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GERM.
XXXI.)
OR
REMEDIES AGAINST
FEAR.
There
is
need
of
a
noble
spirit and
a pious
bravery,
to
rise
up
against
any foolish
or
vicious customs,
to combat
any rooted principles or habits
of error or
iniquity, and
to
oppose
any number
of
persons
that
are engaged
in
an
evil
course.
Moses forbids
us
to follow
a
multitude
to
do
evil, E.x,
xxiii.
And
there are
seasons when
we
may
be
called
to oppose a multitude
of
evil
-doers And
though
no man
stand
by us,
yet
we
are
bound to
stand
by
the cause
of
God and
goodness.
So
divine
a
cause
ICleserves
and demands
such divine courage.
How glorious
was
the
character
of
Caleb
and.
Joshua,
who spoke well
of the
land of
promise,
and encouraged
The
armies
of
Israel,
while
all the
rest
of
the
spies which
were
sent
brought
an
evil
report
upon the
good
land!
Nunn.
x-iii.
31,
S.
The
people believed
-the evil
report,
and
spoke
of
stoning
Joshua
and
Caleb:
But
the glory
of
the Lord
appeared
in
the
tabernacle, and
God` him-
self
gave a
testimony from heaven to the sacred courage
and
honour of
these
Jewish
heroes.
What
a brave
spi-
rit
dwelt
in.
Elijah,.
who
attempted
to reform.
Israel from
.idolatry
!
He
would-
not
fall down
and
worship Baal,
though.he thought
he
had been
left alone, the
'only
wor-
shipper
of
the
true God
in
the nation,
1
Kings
xix. 14.
VII.
-
There are
some
other, and
very
common occa-
sions for the exercise
of
sacred
courage, which
attend
persons, especially
in
the lower
ranks
of life:
As
for
in-
stance;
when a
servant
is
called
by
providence
to
speak
the
truth,
and yet,
he
dare not
do
it without
offend-
ing
his
master: When a poor man
is
required
to
bear
witness
in
some
important
concern, and
his
rich neigh-
bour
frowns
and
looks
sour
upon him: When a person
-of
inferior
characteris
tempted
to
join
with
the
mighty
in
some
unjust and dishonourable practices, and
while his
superiors invite
him
to it,
his.
conscience forbids his
compliance.
It
is
a noble
act
of
christian courage, in
such instances
as
these,
to
follow
truth,
equity,_
and
con-
.
science,
wheresoever they lead,
in
an opposition to all
the
allurements,
the
frowns,
and the threatenings
of
persons
in
an
higher station.
Let
those
who fall
under
such
a
temptation remember, there
is
an higher than the high-
est,
and
the
great God, the Lord
of
heaven and
earth,
is.
the
patron of truth and
righteousness, the
guardian
of
innocence,
and
the
dreadful avenger of deceit and
lying.