1. Stand still out of amazement. This is when a man through fear is
The word is used in Scripture at various times for standing fast, as in Philippians 1.27, that you stand fast in one spirit. Now, the word fast is not in the Greek text, but only the other word. And so you have the same word in the other Scriptures. In 1Corinthians 16.13, Watch, stand fast in the faith — the word is stetite; it is only two words in the Greek, as it is in the English: stand fast. So that, this stand means not only standing, but standing fast; stand still in your ranks, fast.
Don't be in a hurry up and down; and don't be in confusion. If upon danger, soldiers in the army were quickly put to confusion, what would become of them? And so the truth is, in a city, in any place where there is danger, if people grow into confusion, they are gone; they are lost. You must stand still in your ranks; stand still.
There are several stand stills; some very vile and naughty, and others very good. Here is the first.
1. Stand still out of amazement. This is when a man through fear is at a standstill, and dares not stir any further. Now, this cannot be meant in this text, for Moses says, Fear not, but stand still. Therefore it isn't standing still out of fear because we're astonished (shocked).
2. There is standing still out of ignorance. It is because we don't know which way to take; but this is not in the text either. Thus many in our time, standing still, plead ignorance. They stand still, and will take no side, pleading ignorance. They don't know what to do, for one says one thing, and another says another thing. The King commands one thing, and the Parliament another. They don't know what to do. To go against the King, isn't that rebellion? And so they stand still because they plead ignorance, and their consciences are not informed.
It has been the work of various Ministers who have hazarded themselves in this, to open to you the Counsel of God, and to set your consciences at liberty. I have said diverse things in this place, but certainly men blind their own eyes, and are willing to stand still, to plead ignorance after so much light is revealed. It is strange that any rational man should speak of rebellion now, when as we know, the King himself sent aid to the Rochellers, and we know in the case of their liberties and religion, they took up arms to defend themselves against their own King. And he sent help to them. Surely he didn't himself take them to be rebels. And King James in his answer to