Jer. ix. 3. They are not valiant for the truth upon the earth.
IT is by no means uncommon to see men valiant in their country's cause, or fearless in the commission
of iniquity. But courage on the side of religion is a quality but rarely seen. This virtue attaches not itself to strength of nerves, nor is it a necessary at- tendant on constitutional intrepidity. It is a grace, produced in the heart by the Holy Spirit ; and is found equally to adorn the weaker as the stronger sex. The want of natural courage is a fault in those only who enter into professions where the exercise of it is essential to a proper discharge of their duty : but the want of spiritual valour is a crime, for which we must answer before God : yea, it is a great and heinous crime, for which we have reason to dread his heaviest judgments. The prophet, when enu- merating the sins which prevailed among the Jews, and which caused him to weep over them day and night, mentions this as one that called for his severest reprehension ; namely, that when they could " pro- ceed with undaunted effrontery from evil to evil," they " were not valiant for the truth upon the earth."
In illustrating these words, we propose to shew, I. That valour is requisite on the side of truth —
Let " truth" be taken in the lowest sense, as meaning nothing more than common justice and equity, and there will still be found need of valour for the maintenance of it in the world. Let a magis- trate set himself vigorously to reform abuses, and he will soon find that vice and profaneness will maintain a violent contest against him, and that he has need of courage to carry his plans into full effect.
But if we understand " the truth" as comprehend- ing the whole extent of our duty not only as men but as Christians, our need of valour in maintaining it will be still more apparent. We stand in need of it,
1. To profess the truth —
[Who does not know that a profession of religion subjects us to contempt ? What was said of the Christians of the first ages, is equally true at this day ; " We know that this sect is everywhere spoken against." Men will " gaze strangely at us, as soon as we cease to run with them into their excess of riota." As soon as we " depart from evil, we make ourselves a prey V*
a 1 Pet. iv. 4. f Isai. lix. 15.