VeB. 8.] SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI, 245
sence, of the Lord, and dwelt iu the land of Nod, in the east of Eden.' How did he go from the presence of the Lord, seeing God is everywhere ? The meaning is, he went from that part and quarter of the world where God had his church, the place of his special presence. God's children have left many conveniences to enjoy ordinances, as Moses left the honours of Egypt for the company of the people of God. It is a fault in christians to turn their backs upon the church and go to a Sodom, where they will be grieved to see and hear God dishonoured.
2. About flying in times of persecution.
[1.] In general, it is lawful in some cases. We have a precept, at least an allowance for it : Mat. x. 23, ' When they persecute you in this city, flee ye to another ' — viz., when our life shall serve more for God's glory and the church's good, than our death can. If God driveth us out of our place, and provideth another, accept it with thankfulness. I prove this by example and reason. By example — Christ fled into Egypt when Herod sought his life: Mat. ii. 13, 'And when they were de- parted, behold the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream saying. Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word : for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.' And Christ hid himself, and went out of the temple, when the Jews threatened to stone him : John viii. 59, ' Then took they up stones to cast at him ; but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.' So the prophets and holy men in scripture — Elijah fled to Beersheba when Jezabel sought his hfe : 1 Kings xix. 3, ' And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba.' Paul was let down by the wall in a basket to escape the Jews : Acts ix. 25, ' Then the disciples took him by night and let him down by a wall in a basket.' We are bound to keep our lives till God requireth them. Life is a treasure he hath lent us, and we must keep it till the owner demandeth it of us, and to lay it out for his use ; as when a man delivereth money to you, you must answer for it to him. To draw danger on ourselves is to tempt God ; when means of escape are offered, we must use them with thankfulness, and when God in his providence openeth a fair door. All this showeth that it is not unlawful in itself
[2.] Though it be lawful to fly in persecution, yet it is not lawful for all. Austin saith, In graviori pei'secutione nee omnes fugere, neque omnes manure debent ; all should not stay, nor should all fly, as not those that are useful to the church ; John x. 12, * He that is an hire- ling and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth ; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.' This is not to avoid persecution, but to run away from OQr duty. He that should be an example of fortitude and constancy should not first manifest fear. Though in a personal persecution, when pastors are most aimed at, they may fly, as in the before-mentioned examples of Christ, Elijah and Paul, and the prophets that were hid by Obadiahby fifty and fifty in a cave, 1 Kings xviii. 13. Those that by a special instinct of the Spirit of God are called to sufier and confront the adversaries of the truth must not decline it, ' Paul went bound in spirit to Jerusalem,' Acts xx. 22 ; and when his sufter- ings were foretold, and the disciples besought him not to go to Jerusalem,
246 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. XLI.
he answered : Acts xxi. 13, ' Wliat mean you to weep, and to break my heart ? I am ready, not to he bomid only, but to die at Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus.' God had picked him out for a champion, and he would not draw back. Or when all lawful means of escape are taken away from us, so that we cannot fly without dis- honesty and disobedience, and scandal, we must go through it. God, that is Lord of thy life, requireth it of thee : Kom. xiv. 7-9, ' For no man liveth to himself, and no man dietli to himself ; for whether we live, we live unto the Lord, and whether we die, we die unto the Lord ; whether we live therefore or die, we are the Lord's.' For to this end Christ both died and rose and revived, that he might be lord both of dead and living.' By a base flying from suffering you retract your vows when God challengeth you upon them.
[3.] For a more particular determination general rules cannot be given, but it is left to every one's particular prudence and faithfulness, that we act so that we neither wound conscience nor dishonour God ; and w-e are not faithful unless we seek wisdom of God, what to do in this particular. It is most natural to us to fly, and think of starting holes ; but the best way is to fly to Christ, and make his name our strong tower. Otherw-ise we cannot fly from God ; the Jews brought a tempest with them whitliersoever they went.