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Do you thus fear? Then buckle close unto you the complete armour with the girdle of sincerity, exercise yourselves beforehand at your spiritual weapons: with all watchfulness preserve your peace with God, under whom, at such times, you must shelter yourselves, and by whose power it is that you must stand in that evil day, Ephes. vi. 11, 13, 14. But know that a child of God need not fear persecution with such discouraging and distrustful fear, neither should you; for this will but give advantage to your enemies of all sorts, and will make your hands feeble, and your hearts faint. Raise up your spirits, and chase away your fears thus: Consider the goodness of your cause. Consider the wisdom, valour, and power of him that has already redeemed you with his blood, who has already led captivity captive, who is your champion, and has engaged himself for you, until he has brought you to glory; I mean Christ Jesus, who is Lord of Hosts, under whose banner you fight in the whole Christian warfare. Consider likewise the faithfulness of God's promise, made to all his children, concerning his presence and help in time of persecution; commanding them not to take thought concerning it, having promised to give them a mouth and wisdom, which all their adversaries shall not be able to resist, Luke xxi. 14, 15. Consider, last of all, the blessed experience which the holy martyrs have had of God's love and help, according to his promise, in their greatest persecutions and fiery trials. Observe the wisdom and courage of those who in their own nature were but simple and fearful. Read the Book of Martyrs next after the Scriptures for this purpose, and through God's grace, though you were naturally as fearful as hares, when you shall be called to it, you shall be as courageous as lions.

It is not hard for you to know now, whether you shall be able in time of persecution to stand fast and not fall away. If you now, in the peace of the gospel, can deny yourselves in your lusts, through love to God, and for conscience sake towards him, and can rather part with them, than with the sincere adherence to