Encouragements to Courage. Its Nature, Cause, and End. Its Greatness and Renown. Its Ornaments and Companions. Its Objects, Circumstances, Effects and Disadvantages; how Difficulties increase its Vertue. Its Ver[tues] and Triumphs. How subservient it is to Blessedness and Glory.

LOVE and Prudence are the Parents of Courage. A Feeble Hen, a Timerous Mother, will Sacrifice their Lives for their young ones. And he that forgetteth all his own Interests, divests himself (together with them) of his Fears, and despising Death first, easily slighteth all other Things. Even a Coward by Nature, is made more Bold and confident by Skill at his weapon. And he that is always assured of the Victory, can never be afraid of the Encounter, or the Enemy. He that is Dexterous at the use of all Vertues, and knows how to apply them so, as ever to come off more honourably, will laugh at the Trial of his own Innocence and make a Game of Difficulties and Terrors.

VALOUR is a right and strong Resolution of the Soul whereby it dare encounter with any Difficulty and Trouble, for Vertues sake. It is the Armour of the Soul against all Impressions of Fear, its Effect is an Equal and uniform stayedness of Mind, against all Dangerous and Terrible Accidents. It containeth Magnanimitie, Patience, Constancy, Invincible Resolution, Boldness and Industry in it Nature. Its cause is the Love of Vertue, and the sence of Honour, Indignation against any thing that is Base and vile, a High Ambition and desire of Glory. Its End is the preservation of a Mans person and Honesty, the Conquest of all Opposition in the Way to Bliss, the Destruction or Subjection of Enemies, Triumph and Conquest, the Establishment of Peace, the Attainment of Liberty and Glory. Its Attendants are Prudence, Justice and Temperance, the principal Ornament and Grace of valour is Worth and Goodness. its Aids and Encouragements are infinite, it groweth Great and High, by making use of all the Causes of Hope and Confidence. Conflicts and Dangers are the Element in which it lives, it owns its whole being to them; for without Causes of Fear, there could be no courage in all Nature. The Knowledge of GOD is the root of Divine Valour, and Fidelity to his Laws its Commendation.