*8. But all these means will nothing avail, if we consult in any thing with flesh and blood, or with other fearful men. As ever therefore we desire to be made free, we must either wholly forsake these persons, and avoid all conversation with them, or at least, use it so far as absolute necessity requires with the utmost caution and circumspection. Many have undertaken a good thing in readiness of faith, but while they did not set about it immediately, without conferring with flesh and blood, but first asked the advice of this and another friend, they gave over the design, and stifled the gift of God that was in them. Indeed it is not to be expressed how many useful designs are by this means hindered and laid aside. Doubtless, we ought not to rely too much on our own prudence, or to slight the advice of experienced men: but we must beware too of the other extreme, of _being tossed about with every wind of doctrine_: for it is a good thing that the heart be established; which stability is obtained by faith, but is easily lost again by the fearful talk of those that have little faith. 9. On the contrary, let us confer with the holy apostles, and observe the unusual earnestness wherewith they labour to free every one that nameth the name of Christ, from the fear of man. Would you know with what weapons they armed themselves against it, _as good soldiers of Jesus Christ_? Why they _took unto them the whole armour of God, and so were able to withstand in the evil day_. And thus may you gain the victory, which you will never be able to obtain by human weapons, such as wit and learning. 10. Indeed, not only the writings of the apostles; not only all holy writ, from the beginning thereof to the end; but heaven and earth, yea, and all the creatures of God would assist us, would we consider them with a believing heart. Doth not our Saviour, to reproach our idle fear, send us even to the sparrows for better information? _Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing, and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father?_ Nay, he directs us to the very hairs of our head, saying, _But the very hairs of your head are all numbered_. Elsewhere, he takes the grass of the field to witness against our little faith: and all this to expose our horrible unbelief, and to represent to us in a clear light, that a man by faith becomes the most glorious, and by unbelief the most base and miserable of all creatures.