Chapter. 10. How far we may lawfully avoid danger without fear of men.
God's people, claiming that they are impudently bold, but those who truly rely on the grace of God through His Spirit and maintain their faith are not impudently bold. Other individuals, although bold in many things, are far from possessing the excellent spirit found in God's people.
Chapter 10:
Showing How Far We Can Rightly Avoid Danger Without Fear of Men 1. Religion does not teach people to be foolish or desperate.
2. A Christian's concern should be to fulfill their duty rather than avoiding potential dangers that may arise in the course of duty.
3. When God allows His people to face danger, His intention is to exercise and strengthen their graces, not merely to test their discretion.
4. While it may be possible to avoid danger, it is more honourable for a Christian to be called to exercise faith, courage, patience, and suffer for the sake of their faith, rather than relying solely on prudence to avoid danger.
5. Be cautious of mistaking discretion, which does not diminish the vigour of God's graces but rather enhances and strengthens them.
6. The primary aim of a Christian should be to align their will with God's will.
Now, the last point to be addressed in explaining this matter is as follows: Faith helps to overcome the fear of danger and the fear of man.
Objection: Some may argue that what has been said so far may encourage people to recklessly rush into danger. This is the justification used by many who willingly expose themselves to danger, ultimately leading to their own downfall. We should not fear men.
Response: In answer to that, I state that religion does not teach people to be foolish or desperate. It is an excessive boldness for anyone to expect God's assistance in foolish, desperate, or reckless actions. As Cyprian said, God would rather have us wait to demonstrate our faith until we are called by Him and see Him leading the way, rather than acting on our own accord. Faith, in its great act of entrusting the soul to the Covenant of Grace, is grounded upon the Word. Similarly, in every action prompted by faith, it is grounded upon the Word. Proverbs 10:8 provides a notable text on this matter: "The wise in heart will receive commandments, but a prating fool shall fall." The wise in heart, those who are truly gracious, receive commandments. Before rushing into danger, they wait for the commandment, for the Word. However, a prating fool who boldly ventures into danger, speaking or acting without being called to do so, will ultimately fall into it. Such a person should not expect God's assistance in such ventures.
Question: If we should not fear man, can we not flee from danger?
Can we not make efforts to deliver ourselves from it when it arises? If we should not fear creatures, must we not protect ourselves from them?
Answer: First, I will provide some general answers, and then I will specifically address the question of whether it is permissible for a Christian to flee from danger.
In response to the general question, consider the following five points:
Your question pertains to whether a Christian may flee from danger.
First, the foremost concern of a Christian should be to fulfill their duty rather than simply avoiding potential dangers that may arise in the course of fulfilling that duty. We should be more afraid of our own base, earthly, cowardly, and unbelieving hearts than we should be afraid of any harm that may come from the malice and power of all the people in the world or the devils in hell. No Christian is in as much danger from the malice and power of others as they are in danger from the mischief that their own heart can cause. If one does not fear their own heart and its vileness more than they fear the power and malice of people and devils, then they do not truly understand their own heart. It is a greater judgment to be delivered to one's own heart than to be delivered to the malice of all the enemies in the world, and it is an even greater judgment to be delivered to one's own heart than to be delivered to the devil himself.
Those who are eager to deliver themselves from the danger and harm caused by the power of others should first strive to free themselves from the danger and harm caused by their own hearts.
Secondly, you ask whether you may flee from danger. My answer is that when God arranges events in such a way that His people are brought into danger, it is usually His intention to exercise their faith, courage, and patience more than their discretion, even though both
may be required. Our primary concern should align with God's usual intent. Often, in times of danger, the focus of most Christians is on exercising their discretion for their own safety rather than exercising the faith, courage, and patience that God calls for.
Thirdly, even if the danger can be avoided, a Christian should consider it more honourable to be called to exercise faith, courage, and patience in the face of suffering, rather than being called to exercise discretion in avoiding it. While God does not always call us to the most honourable service, a Christian should still regard suffering as more honourable. They should not take pride in their better condition compared to others who are called to suffer, as it provides them with an opportunity to exercise faith, courage, and patience, while they are given the liberty to avoid suffering and exercise their discretion. The most honourable Christians are those who endure suffering.
Fourthly, when God does require the exercise of discretion to avoid suffering, Christians must be careful not to mistake discretion as something that diminishes the vigour, activity, and strength of any of God's graces. On the contrary, the role of discretion is to manage, improve, and increase all the graces of God's spirit. There is a common misconception that being zealous must be tempered by discretion, which is believed to reduce the activity and vigour of grace. However, no grace is an enemy to another to the extent of diminishing its vigour and activity. The true exercise of discretion lies in effectively managing and improving our faith, courage, patience, and all other graces for the glory of God and the benefit of His people. If discretion is understood as something that diminishes the vigour and activity of grace, although it may be labelled as such,
God refers to it by different names such as cowardice, self-seeking,