§ 15. (4.) Courage or boldness is another affection to be exercised in heavenly contemplation. It leadeth to resolution and concludeth in action. When you have raised your love, desire, and hope, go on, and think thus with yourself; "_Will God indeed dwell with men?_ And is there such a glory within the reach of hope? Why then do I not lay hold upon it? Where is the cheerful vigor of my spirit? Why do I not _gird up the loins of my mind_?[375] Why do not I set upon my enemies on every side, and valiantly break through all resistance? What should stop me, or intimidate me? Is God with me, or against me in the work? Will Christ stand by me, or will he not? _If God_ and Christ _be for me, who can be against me_[376] In the work of sin, almost all things are ready to help us, and only God and his servants are against us, yet how ill doth that work prosper in our hands? But in my course to heaven, almost all things are against me, but God is for me; and therefore how happily doth the work succeed? Do I set upon this work in my own strength, or rather in the strength of Christ my Lord? and _cannot I do all things through him that strengthens me_?[377] Was he ever foiled by an enemy? He hath indeed been assaulted, but was he ever conquered? Why then doth my flesh urge me with the difficulties of the work? Is any thing too hard for Omnipotence? May not Peter boldly walk on the sea, if Christ gives the word of command? If he begin to sink, is it from the weakness of Christ, or the smallness of his faith? Do I not well deserve to be turned into hell, if mortal threats can drive me thither? Do I not well deserve to be shut out of heaven, if I will be frighted from thence with the reproach of tongues? What if it were father, or mother, or husband, or wife, or the nearest friend I have in the world, (if they may be called friends that would draw me to damnation) should not I forsake all that would keep me from Christ? Will their friendship countervail the enmity of God, or be any comfort to my condemned soul? Shall I be yielding to the desires of men, and only harden myself against the Lord? Let them beseech me upon their knees, I will scorn to stop my course to behold them; I will shut my ears to their cries: Let them flatter, or frown; let them draw out tongues or swords against me; I am resolved in the strength of Christ to break through, and look upon them as dust: If they would entice me with preferment, even with the kingdoms of the world, I will no more regard them than the dung of the earth. O blessed rest! O glorious state! Who would sell thee for dreams and shadows? Who would be enticed or affrighted from thee? Who would not strive, and fight, and watch, and run, and that with violence, even to the last breath, in order to obtain thee? Surely none but those that know thee not, and believe not thy glory." [Footnote 375] 1 Peter i, 13. [Footnote 376] Romans viii, 31. [Footnote 377] Philippians iv, 13.