When the emperor Vespasian had commanded Fluidius Priscus not to come to the senate ; or, if he did, to speak nothing but what he would have him ; the senator returned this brave and noble answer, " * That as lie was a senator, it was fit he should be at the " senate ; and if, being there, he were required to give his advice, " he would speak freely, that which his conscience commanded " him." The emperor threatening that then he should die ; he returned thus, " Did I ever tell you that I was immortal ? Do you " what you will, and I will do what I ought. It is in your power " to put me to death unjustly, and in me to die constantly." O think, what mischiefs your fears may do yourselves, and the dis- covery of them to others. O learn to trust God with your lives, liberties, and comforts, in the way of your duty ; and at what time you are afraid trust in him : and do not magnify poor dust and ashes, as to be scared, by their threat, from your God and your duty. The politic design of Satan herein, is to affright you out of your coverts, where you are safe, into the net. I will enlarge on this no farther ; I have f elsewhere laid down fourteen rules for the cure of this, in what of mine is public.
Inf. 5. Learn hence, How much a man may differ from himself according as the Lord is with him, or withdrawnfrom him. The Christian does not always differ from other men, but sometimes from himself also : yea, so great is the difference betwixt himself and himself, as if he were not the same man. And where is he that doth not so experience it ? Sometimes bold and courageous, des- pising dangers, bearing down all discouragements in the strength of zeal, and love to God : at another time faint, feeble, and dis- couraged at every petty thing. Whence is this but from the differ- ent administrations of the Spirit, who sometimes gives forth more, and sometimes less, of his gracious influence. These very men that flinched now, when the Spirit was more abundantly shed forth upon them, could boldly own Christ before the council, and despised all dangers for his sake.
A little dog, if his master be by, and encourage him, will ven- ture upon a greater beast than himself. Peter stood at the door without, when the other disciple, (or one of the other disciples,
* Charron, of wisdom, p. 358. + A Saint indeed.
354* THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. SEItM. XXVIII.
as the Syriac turns it, and * Grotius approves it as the best), i. e. one of the private disciples that lived at Jerusalem, went in so bold- ly, John xviii. 16, 17. We are strong or weak, according to the deo-rees of assisting grace. So that as you cannot take the just measure of a Christian by one act, so neither must they judge of themselves, by what they sometimes feel in themselves.
But when their spirits are low, and their hearts discouraged, they should rather say to their souls, " Hope in God, for I shall yet " praise him :" It is low with me now, but it will be better.
Inf. 6. Was the sword drawn against the Shepherd, and he left alone to receive the mortal strokes of it ? How should all adore both the justice and mercy of God so illustriously displayed herein ! Here is the triumph of divine justice, and the highest triumph that ever it had, to single forth the chief Shepherd, the man that is God's fellow, and sheathe its sword in his breast for satisfaction. No won- der it is drawn and brandished with such a triumph ; awake rejoic- ingly, O sword, against my Shepherd, SfC. For in this blood shed by it, it hath more glory than if the blood of all the men and women in the world had been shed.
And no less is the mercy and goodness of God herein signalized, in giving the sword a commission against the Man, his fellow, ra- ther than against us. Why had he not rather said, Awake, O sword, against the men that are mine enemies ; shed the blood of them that have sinned against me, than smite the Shepherd, and only scatter the sheep. Blessed be God, the dreadful sword was not drawn and brandished against our souls ; that God did not set it to our breasts ; that he had not made it fat with our flesh, and bathed it in our blood ; that his fellow was smitten, that his enemies might be spared. O what manner of love was this ! Blessed be God therefore for Jesus Christ, who received the fatal stroke himself ; and hath now so sheathed that sword in its scab- bard, that it shall never be drawn any more against any that be- lieve in him.
Inf. 7. Were the sheep scattered when the Shepherd was smit- ten ? Learn hence, That the best of men know not their own strength till they come to the trial. Little did these holy men imagine such a cowardly spirit had been in them, till temptation put it to the proof. Let this therefore be a caution for ever to the people of God. You resolve never to forsake Christ, you do well ; but so did these, and yet were scattered from him. You can never take a just measure of your own strength, till temptation have tried it. It is said, Deut. viii. 2. that God led the people so many years in the
* One of the other disciples, not any one of the twelve, but some other, an inhabi- tant of Jerusalem, not so well known to be a favourer of Jesus. Grotius.
SEHM. XXVIII. THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE. 355
wilderness, to prove them ; and to know them, (i. e. to make them know) ivhat was in their hearts. Little did they think such un- belief, murmurings, discontents, and a spirit bent to backslidings, had been in them ; until their straits in the wilderness gave them the sad experience of these things.