of tlninder afar off, which affrights not as a clap over our head. I toUl you the minister's hohhiess must ho meek and merciful; hut not to prejudice zeal. 'V\w physician may sweeten his pill, to nuike his patient swallow it the hetter; hut not to such a degree as to weaken the force of its operation.
Section IV. — Some helps to procure this boldness. First, A holy fear of God. We fear man so much, because we fear God so little. One fear cures another. When man's terror scares you, turn )'our thoughts to the wrath of God ; this is the way Jeremiah was cured of his aguish distemper of man's fear: 'Be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them,' chaj). i. 17. If we nuist be broken in pieces, (so is the original) hetter man do it than God. A\'hat man breaks in pieces, Ciod can make whole again. ' Who- soever shall lose his life for my sake, and the gospel's, the same shall save it,' Mark viii. 33. But if Ciod break us in pieces, it is beyond the skill of man to gather the fragments, and re-make what God hath marred.
Secondly, Castle thyself within the power and promise of God for thy assistance and protection. He that is a coward in the open iield, grows valiant when within strong walls and bidwarks. Jeremiah was laying down his arms, and flying from the face of those dangers to which his ministry to a i-ebellious people exposed him. Hear what course he had in his thoughts to take, because tiie word of the Lord was made a reproach to him, and a derision daily : 'Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name,' Jer. XX. 9. Now, what kept him from this cowardly flight? ' But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one,' ver. 11. Now he takes heart, and goes on with his work undauntedly. Our eye, alas ! is on our danger, but not on the invinci- ble walls and bulwarks which Ciod hath promised to set about us. The prophet's servant, that saw the enemy's army approaching, was in a panic; but the pro- phet, that saw the heavenly host for his life-guard about him, cai"ed not a rush for them all. If Ciod be not able to protect thee, why dost thou go on his errand at all? If thou believest he is, why art thou afraid to deliver it, when he is able to deliver thee ?
'I'hirdly, Keep a clear conscience : he cannot be a bold reprover, that is not a conscientious liver; such a one must speak softly, for fear of waking his own guilty conscience. He is like one that shoots with a foul piece, his reproofs recoil upon himself. Unholiness in the preacher's life, either will stop his mouth from reproving, or the people's ears from receiving. O how harsh a sound docs such a cracked bell make in the ears of his auditors ! Every one desires, if he must be smitten, that it may he by the hand of the righteous, Psa. cxli. 5. Good counsel from a wicked man produces no effect. Our Saviour was fain to bid them hear the Pharisees, because their persons were a scandal to their doctrine, Matt, xxiii. 2, 3. Even those that are good, are too j)rone to turn their back on the ordinance, because of the scandal of him that officiates. This is their weakness and sin ; but woe he to them at whose wickedness they stumble upon this temptation. It shews a man hath a very good appetite, that can eat his dinner out of a slovenly cook's hands ; and he hath a very souiul judgment and quick appetite to the word, that can make a hearty meal of it without any prejudice from the miscarriages of the preacher.
Fourthlv, That which thou most fearest is best prevented by thy freedom and holy boldness in thy ministry. Is it danger to thy life? There is no such way to secure it, as by being faithful to him that hath the sole disposal of it. In whose hands art thou ? Surely in Ciod's ; then it is thy best policy to keep him thy friend ; for, when thy ways please him, he can make thy enemies to be at peace with thee. Man-pleasing is both endless and needless. If thou wouldst thou coiddst not please all ; and if thou couldst, there is no need, if thou pleasest him that can turn all their hearts and bind their hands. Tiiey speed best that dare be faithful. Jonah was afraid of his work : O, he durst not go to such a great city with such a sad message : to tell them that they should be destroyed, was to set them at work to destroy him that brought the news; but how near was he losing liLs life by running away to save it? Jeremiah seemed the only man likely to lose his life by his bold preaching; yet he had fairer (puu'ter at last than" the smooth preachers of his time. However, it is better to die honourably than live sliamefnlly. Is it thy name thou art tender of? If thou art free and bold, tlie word thou deliverest will be a reproach and daily derision to
gJ4, BOLDLY.