The Crown and Glory of Christianity, Uses · Use and exhortation 3 · Objections · Objection 4

The Crown and Glory of Christianity · Uses · Use and exhortation 3 · Objections · Objection 4

p. 369Fourthly, ſome may further object and ſay, We ſee that no perſons Object. 4 on earth are expoſed to ſuch troubles, dangers, afflictions and perſecutions, as thoſe are expoſed to, who mind holineſs, who follow after holineſs; theſe are days wherein men labor to frown holineſs out of the world, and to ſcorn and kick holineſs out of the World; and do you think that we are mad now to purſue after holineſs? Now to this great and ſore objection, I ſhall give theſe following anſwers.

Firſt, It muſt be granted, that afflictions and perſecutions has 1been the common lot and portion of the people of God in this world. Abel was perſecuted by Cain, Witneſs the ſufferings of the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apoſtles & Saints in all ages. Act. 7.52. Rev. 12.13. Act. 9.16. Lam. 5.5. The common cry of perſecutors have bin, Chriſtianos ad Leones.Acts 7:52Rev 12:13Acts 9:16Lam 5:51 Joh. 3.12. and Iſaac by Iſhmael, Gal. 9.29. That ſeems to be a ſtanding Law, All that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus, muſt ſuffer perſecution, 2 Tim. 3.12. A man may have many faint wiſhes, and cold deſires after Godlineſs, and yet eſcape perſecution; yea he may make ſome aſſays and attempts as if he would be godly, and yet eſcape perſecution; but when a man is thorowly reſolved to be godly, and ſets himſelf in good earneſt upon purſuing after holineſs, and living a life of godlineſs, then he muſt expect to meet with afflictions and perſecutions: 'Tis neither a Chriſtians gifts, nor his graces; 'tis neither his duties, nor his ſervices that can ſecure him; whoever eſcapes, the godly man ſhall not eſcape perſecution in one kind or another, in one degree or another; he that will live up to holy rules, and live out holy principles, muſt prepare for ſufferings: All the Roſes of holineſs are ſurrounded with pricking Briers. The Hiſtory of the ten perſecutions, and that little book of Martyrs, the 11. of the Hebrews, and Mr. Fox his Acts and Monuments, with many other Treatiſes that are extant, do abundantly evidence, that from age to age, and from one generation to another, they that have been born after the fleſh,Gal. 4.29. Within the firſt 300. years after Chriſt, all that made a profeſſion of the Apoſtles doctrine were cruelly murdered.Gal 4:29 have perſecuted them that have been born after the ſpirit; and that the ſeed of the Serpent have been ſtill a multiplying of troubles upon the ſeed of the woman. Would any man take the Churches picture (ſaith p. 370Luther) then let him paint a poor ſilly Maid, ſitting in a wilderneſs, compaſſed about with hungry Lyons, Wolves, Bores and Bears, and with all manner of other cruel hurtful Beaſts, and in the midſt of a great many furious men aſſaulting her every moment and minute, for this is her condition in the world. As certain as the night follows the day, ſo certain will that black angel, perſecution, follow holineſs where-ever it goes. In the laſt of the ten perſecutions, ſeventeen thouſand holy Martyrs were ſlain in the ſpace of one monethmonth. And in Queen Maries days, or if you will in the Marian dayes, not of bleſſed, but of moſt abhorred memory, the Popiſh Prelates in leſs then four years, ſacrificed the lives of eight hundred innocents to their Idols; and O that that precious innocent blood did not ſtill cry to Heaven for vengeance againſt this Nation. But,

2Secondly, Chriſt and his Apoſtles hath long ſince foretold us, that afflictions and perſecutions will attend us in this world; the Lord hath long ſince forewarned us, that we may be fore-armed, and not ſurpriſed on a ſudden when they come. Chriſt hath ſhot off many a warning piece in his word, and ſent many a Harbinger, that ſo we may ſtand upon our guard, and not be ſurpriſed nor aſtoniſhed when afflictions and perſecutions overtake us: Mat. 10.22. And ye ſhall be hated of all men for my names ſake; but he that endureth to the end, the ſame ſhall be ſaved. Chap. 16.24. Then ſaid Jeſus unto his Diſciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himſelf, and take up his croſs and follow me. Luk. 21.12. But before all theſe they ſhall lay their hands on you, and perſecute you, delivering you up to the Synagogues, and into priſons, being brought before Kings and Rulers for my names ſake. John 15.20. Remember the word that I ſaid unto you, The ſervant is not greater then the Lord: if they have perſecuted me, Non poteſt qui pati timet, ejus eſſe qui paſſus eſt. He that is afraid to ſuffer, cannot be his diſciple, who ſuffered ſo much. Tert.they will alſo perſecute you: if they have kept my ſaying, they will keep yours alſo. Ah Chriſtians, ſince they have crowned your head with thornes, there is no reaſon why you ſhould expect to be crowned with Roſe-buds. God-fry of Bullen, firſt King of Jeruſalem, refuſed to be crowned with a crown of Gold, ſaying, That it became not a Chriſtian there to wear a crown of Gold, where Chriſt for our ſalvation p. 371had ſometime worn a crown of thornes. Chap. 16. ult. Theſe things I have ſpoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace, in the world ye ſhall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. Acts 14.21, 22. And when they had preached the Goſpel to that City, and had taught many, they returned again to Lyſtra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, confirming the ſouls of the diſciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we muſt through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. As there was no way to Paradiſe, but by the flaming ſword, nor no way to Canaan but through a wilderneſs,Loddela Corda computeth fourty four ſeveral kinds of torments wherewith the Primitive Chriſtians were tryed. Adv. Sacr. cap. 128. ſo there is no way to heaven but by the Gates of hell; there is no way to a glorious exaltation, but through a Sea of tribulation. They do but dream and deceive their own ſouls, who think to go to heaven upon Beds of Doun, or in a ſoft and delicate way, or that think to be attended to glory with mirth and muſick, or with ſinging or dancing; the way to happineſs is not ſtrewed with Roſes, but full of Thornes and Briers, as thoſe of whom this world was not worthy have experienced. Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtories tells us that all the Apoſtles died violent deaths; Peter was crucified with his heels upward, Chriſt was crucified with his head upwards; but Peter thought this was to great an honor for him to be crucified as his Lord, and therefore he choſe to be crucified with his heels upward; and Andrew was crucified by Egeus King of Edeſſa; Acts 12.2.Acts 12:2& James the ſon of Zebedee was ſlain by Herod with the ſword; and Philip was crucified at Hierapolis in Aſia; and while Bartholomew was preaching the glad-tydings of ſalvation, multitudes fell upon him, and beat him down with ſtaves, and then crucified him, and after all this, his skin was fleaed off, and he beheaded; Thomas was ſlain with a Dart at Calumina in India; and Mathew was ſlain with a Spear, ſay ſome, others ſay he was run through with a ſword; and James the ſon of Alpheus (who was called the Juſt) was thrown down from off a Pinacle of the Temple, and yet having ſome life left in him, he was brained with a Fullers club; Lebbeus was ſlain by Agbarus King of Edeſſa; and Paul was beheaded at Rome under Nero; and Simon the Canaanite was crucified in Egypt, ſay ſome, others ſay that he and Jude was ſlain in a Tumult of the people; & Matthias was ſtoned p. 372to death;Rev. 1.9.Rev 1:9 and John was baniſhed into Patmos, and afterwards as ſome Hiſtories tells us he was by that cruel Tyrant Domitian caſt into a Tun of ſcalding Lead, and yet delivered by a miracle. Thus all theſe precious ſervants of God (except John) died violent deaths, and ſo through ſufferings entered into glory; they found in their own experience the truth of what Chriſt had foretold concerning their ſufferings and perſecutions. About the year 1626, A book formerly printed, and intituled, A preparation to the croſs of Chriſt (compoſed by John Frith Martyr) was brought in the belly of a Fiſh to the Market in Cambridge, Mr. Jer. Dyke in a Faſt Sermon at Weſtminſter.and that a little before the Commencement time; when there was a confluence of much people from all places of the Land, which was conſtrued by them that feared the Lord, to be no leſs then an heavenly warning to all the people of England, to prepare for the croſs; But ah, ſince that year, who can recount the heavy croſſes that has generally attended the people of this Nation? moſt have walked croſs to God, and croſs to one another, and God has walked as croſs to them; you have croſs't the commands of God, and the truths of God, and the ways of God, and the works of God, and the deſigns of God; and God has cros't you in your hopes, deſires, prayers, and endeavors, and God gave you warning of this before hand by a Fiſh, by a miracle, to provide for the croſs, but you would not, and therefore 'tis that the croſs lies ſo heavy upon you this day. When Mr. Bradford was told that his chain was a buying, and that he muſt be burnt, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and ſaid, I thank God for it, I have looked for this along time, it comes not to me ſuddenly, but as a thing waited for every day, yea every hour in the day, the Lord make me worthy thereof. If upon Gods warning you will but prepare for ſufferings, you will never fear nor faint under ſufferings, yea then you will be able under the greateſt perſecutions to bare up bravely, and with holy Bradford bleſs the Lord that has called you to ſo high an honor, as to count you worthy to ſuffer for his name. But,

3Thirdly, I anſwer that all the troubles, afflictions and perſecutions that do befall you for holineſs ſake, ſhall never hurt you nor harm you, they ſhall never prejudice you, nor wrong you p. 373in your main and great concernments. Exod. 3.2.The Hebrew word foreign ſignifies a dry buſh, a bramble buſh, and therefore it was the more ſtrange and miraculous, that it was not conſumed. Deut. 4.24. Heb. 12.29.Deut 4:24Heb 12:29 And the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midſt of a Buſh; and he looked, and behold the buſh burned with fire; and the buſh was not conſumed. Here you have a buſh, a dry buſh, a bramble buſh all on a light fire, and yet not conſumed; this burning-buſh was an excellent emblem of the Church in the fire of tribulation and perſecution; though the Church may ſeem to be all on fire by reaſon of afflictions and perſecutions, yet it ſhall be preſerved, it ſhall not be deſtroyed, though God be a conſuming fire, yet he will never conſume the bramble-buſh; the buſh was on fire, and yet the fire did not in the leaſt hurt or harm the buſh, it did not one whit prejudice or wrong the buſh: So though the Church of God be on fire by the means of fiery trials, yet theſe fiery trials ſhall never hurt nor harm the Church, they ſhall never prejudice it nor wrong it: Pſal. 105.12, 13, 14, 15. when they were but a few men in number, yea very few, and ſtrangers in it, when they went from one Nation to another, from one Kingdom to another people, he ſuffered no man to do them wrong, yea he reproved Kings for their ſakes, ſaying,That is the King of Egypt and the King of Gerar. Gen. 12.17. & Ch. 20.3. and Ch. 35.5. Zach. 2.8.Gen 12:17Zech 2:8 Touch not mine anointed, nor do my Prophets no harme. God would not ſuffer his anointed ones, his ſanctified ones, ſo much as to be touch't, hurt, or harmed by thoſe who had malice enough in their hearts, and power enough in their hands, not onelyonly to hurt them, but even to deſtroy them. Sanctified perſons are ſacred perſons, and they that touch them touch the Apple of Gods eye, and whoſoever ſhall be ſo bold to touch the Apple of Gods eye ſhall dearly ſmart for it; 'twas no ſmall affliction to have no ſettled habitation, to flye from place to place, from Kingdom to Kingdom, and from Nation to Nation, was without all peradventure, an afflicted condition; doubtleſs many fears and frights, many hazards and dangers did attend them, when they conſidered that they were as Lillies among the thornes, and as a few Sheep among a multitude of Wolves.Deut. 7.1.Deut 7:1 In the Land of Canaan there were ſeven mighty Nations now for the people of God, who were ſo few in number, (that they might eaſily and quickly be told) to ſojourn and wander among p. 374theſe,As David laid a charge upon his ſouldiers, 2 Sam. 18.5. That by no means they ſhould hurt his ſon Abſolom; ſo God laid a prohibition upon the enemies and perſecutors of his people, that they ſhould not touch them, that they ſhould not in in the leaſt hurt or harm them.2 Sam 18:5 could not but be very dangerous and perilous, and yet ſuch was the love of God to them, and the care of God over them, that he ſuffered no man, whether he was high or low, honorable or baſe, rich or poor, civil or prophane, to hurt or harm them. Dan. 3.25, 27. And the King anſwered and ſaid, Lo, I ſee four men looſe, walking in the midſt of the fire, and they have no hurt, and the form of the fourth is like unto the Son of God. And the Princes, Governors and Captains, and the Kings Councellors being gathered together, ſaw theſe men, upon whoſe bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head ſinged, neither were their coats changed, nor the ſmell of fire had paſſed on them. Though theſe holy men were caſt into a furnace, into a fiery furnace, into the midſt of a hot fiery furnace, yet God will work a miracle, yea a glorious miracle, rather then the fire ſhall in the leaſt hurt or harm them: God gives a commiſſion to the fire, to burn thoſe mighty men that made the fire, and that caſt his children into the fire, and whom the King would have to be ſpared and ſaved; and he lays a law of reſtraint upon the fire, that it ſhould not hurt nor harm them whom the King would have deſtroyed: Thoſe whom the King of kings will not have hurt, ſhall not be hurt, let Kings and Princes do their worſt; that fire that burnt their bonds, had no power to burn (no nor to touch) their bodies: God would not ſuffer the fire to ſinge a hair of their heads, nor to change the colour of their coats, nor to leave ſo much as an ill ſmell upon his people, that thoſe heathen Princes might ſee how tender he was of them, and how willing he was to put forth his Almighty power, rather then he would ſee them wronged or harmed. So Chap. 6.21, 22, 23. Then ſaid Daniel unto the King, O King live for ever. My God hath ſent his Angels, and hath ſhut the Lyons mouths, that they have not hurt me: foraſmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and alſo before thee, O King, have I done no hurt. Then was the King exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they ſhould take Daniel up out of the Den: ſo Daniel was taken up out of the Den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, becauſe he believed in his God. Holineſs, innocency, and integrity will preſerve a man even among Lyons. Daniel p. 375preferred the worſhip of his God before his life; he made no great reckoning of his life, when it ſtood in competition with divine glory, and therefore rather then Daniel ſhall be hurt, God will by a miracle preſerve him, he will ſtop the mouthes of the hungry Lyons, and he will tame their rage, and overmaſter their cruelty, rather then a hair of Daniels head ſhall periſh; when Daniel was taken out of the Den, there was no hurt, no wound, no ſore, no bruiſe found upon him: Daniel was a harmleſs man, and God keeps him from harms in the midſt of harms. Acts 18.9, 10. Then ſpake the Lord to Paul in the night by a viſion, be not afraid, but ſpeak and hold not thy peace, For I am with thee, and no man ſhall ſet on thee, to hurt thee, for I have much people in this City. Paul met with many trials and troubles, bonds and priſons, oppoſitions and perſecutions,Acts 20.23.Acts 20:23 and yet none of all theſe hurt him, but God miraculouſly preſerved him, even to old age. All the troubles,Phil. 9. afflictions and perſecutions that attends holineſs, can never reach a Chriſtians ſoul, they can never diminiſh a Chriſtians treaſure, they reach the ſhell, not the kernel, the Caſe, not the Jewel, the lumber, not the goods, the out-houſe, not the Palace, the ribbon in the hat, not the gold in the purſe; the moſt fiery trials and perſecutions can never deprive a Chriſtian of the ſpecial preſence of God, nor of the light of his countenance,Pſal. 23.4. 2 Cor. 1.8, 9, 12.Ps 23:42 Cor 1:82 Cor 1:92 Cor 1:12 nor of the teſtimony of a good conſcience, nor of the joys of the ſpirit, nor of the pardon of ſin, nor of fellowſhip with Chriſt, nor of the exerciſe of grace, nor of the hopes of glory; and therefore certainly they can't hurt a Chriſtian, they can't wronge a Chriſtian in his greateſt and chiefeſt concernments. O Chriſtian, let perſecutors do their worſt, they can't reach thy ſoul, thy God, thy comfort, thy crown, thy Paradiſe, &c. and therefore let no man be kept off from purſuing after holineſs, becauſe of afflictions or perſecutions, ſeeing none of theſe can reach a Chriſtians great concernments. When the Emperor Valens threatned to confiſcate Baſils goods, and to torment him, and to baniſh him, or kill him, Baſil makes this noble reply, He needs not fear confiſcation of goods, that hath nothing to looſe, nor baniſhment, to whom heaven onelyonly is a country, nor torments, when his body may be daſh't with one blow, nor death, p. 376which is the onelyonly way to ſet him at liberty; the Emperor hearing of him thus undantedly to ſpeak, told him that he was mad, to whom he replyed (opte me in aeternum ſic delirare) I wiſh that I may be for ever thus mad. Baſil knew that no torments nor ſufferings could hurt him or harm him, and therefore he bravely triumphs over them. They may kill me ſaid Socrates of his enemies, but they cannot hurt me: So may a Saint ſay, they may kill my body, but they cannot hurt my ſoul; they may take away my natural life, but they cannot take away my ſpiritual life, for that is hid with Chriſt in God;Col. 3.3.Col 3:3 they may take away this and that outward comfort,Heb. 11.Heb 11 but they cannot take away my Chriſt; they may take away my coſtly ornaments, but they cannot take away that Robe of righteouſneſs that Chriſt has put upon me;Iſa. 61.10.Isa 61:10 they may take away my earthly crown, but they cannot take away that crown of righteouſneſs which Chriſt the righteous Judge,2 Tim. 4.8.2 Tim 4:8 has laid up for all that love his appearing. Methinks, ſaid one of the Martyrs, I tread upon pearls, when he trod upon hot burning coals,Vincentius. and I feel (ſaid he) no more pain, then if I lay in a bed of Doune, and yet he lay in flames of fire. I have read of Nero, that he had a ſhirt made of a Salamanders skin, ſo that if he walk't through the fire in it, it would keep him from burning, it would keep him from being hurt or harmed by the fire; our Lord Jeſus Chriſt is this Salamanders skin that will keep the Saints from burning, yea from being hurt or harmed by the moſt fiery afflictions and perſecutions that can befall them in this world. But,

4Fourthly, I anſwer, That the condition of perſecutors, of all conditions under heaven, is the moſt ſad and deplorable condition; and this will appear by the conſideration of theſe five things.

1Firſt, By the prayers and enditements, that the Saints have preferred againſt them in the higheſt court of Juſtice, I mean in the Parliament of Heaven, Pſal. 35.3.—9.Pſa. 69.22, 29. Neh. 4.3, 4, 5. turn to it.Ps 69:22Ps 69:29Neh 4:3Neh 4:4Neh 4:5 Draw out the Spear, and ſtop the way againſt them that perſecute me: ſay unto my ſoul I am thy ſalvation. Let them be confounded and put to ſhame that ſeek after my ſoul: p. 377let them be turned back and brought to confuſion, that deviſe my hurt. Let them be as chaffe before the winde: and let the Angel of the Lord chaſe them. Let their way be dark and ſlippery, (or darkneſs and ſlipperineſs) and let the Angel of the Lord perſecute them. For without cauſe have they hid for me their net, Both good and evil Angels are at Gods beck ready to execute vengeance upon his and his peoples enemies and perſecutors; and therefore the Text may be underſtood of both.in a pit, which without cauſe they have digged for my ſoule. Let deſtruction come upon him, ar unawares; and let his net that he hath hid, catch himſelfe: into that very deſtruction let him fall. So in that 83 Pſalme, David ſighs out his ſad complaints againſt his perſecutors, from ver. 2. to ver. the 9th; and from ver. the 9. to ver. the 18. he prayes againſt them; turne to it, 'tis a text that is worthy of your moſt ſerious meditation, Pſal. 119.84. How many are the dayes of thy ſervant? when wilt thou execute judgement on them that perſecute me? Jer. 15.15. O Lord, thou knoweſt, remember me, and viſite me, and revenge me of my perſecutors; take me not away in thy long ſuffering: know that for thy ſake I have ſuffered rebuke. Chap. 17.18. Let them be confounded that perſecute me, but let not me be confounded, let them be diſmayed, but let not me be diſmayed; bring upon them the day of evill, and deſtroy them with double deſtruction, or break them with a double breach. Lam. 3.61.—ult. Thou haſt heard their reproach, O Lord, and all their imaginations againſt me. The lips of thoſe that roſe up againſt me, and their device againſt me all the day. Behold their ſitting down, and their riſing up, I am their muſick, (or I am their ſong) Render unto them a recompence, O Lord, according to the work of their hands. Give them ſorrow of heart, thy curſe unto them. Perſecute and deſtroy them in anger, from under the heavens of the Lord. 2 Tim. 4.14. Alexander the Copper-ſmith did me much evill, the Lord reward him according to his works. Thus you ſee how the hearts of the Saints have been drawn out againſt their perſecutors. Prayers are the Armes that in times of perſecution the Saints have ſtill had recourſe to. The Romans being in great diſtreſs, were put ſo hard to it, that they were faine to take the weapons out of the Temples of their gods to fight with their enemies, and ſo they overcame them; ſo when the people of God have been hard put to it, by reaſon of afflictions and perſecutions, the weapons that they have fled to, has been prayers and teares, and with theſe they p. 378have overcome their perſecutors, as is evident in the three Children, in Daniel, and many others, &c. But,

2Secondly, Perſecutions doe but raiſe, whet, and ſtir up a more earneſt and vehement ſpirit of prayer among the perſecuted Saints.See Acts 4.17.21, 29, 31. compared. Luke 18.7. Lam. 5.59, 60, 61, &c.Acts 4:17Acts 4:21Acts 4:29Acts 4:31Luke 18:7Lam 5:59Lam 5:60Lam 5:61 Rev. 6.9, 10. And when he had opened the fift ſeal, I ſaw under the Altar the ſouls of them that were ſlaine for the word of God, and for the teſtimony which they held. And they cryed with a loud voice, ſaying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, doeſt thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? The bloodBlood hath as many tongues as drops to cry for vengeance; which made King James ſay, that if God did leave him to kill a man, he would think God did not love him. 1 Cor. 6. ult. 1 Pet. 1.18, 19.1 Cor 61 Pet 1:181 Pet 1:19 of the perſecuted cryes aloud for vengeance upon the perſecutors. By the ſouls under the Altar, you are to underſtand the perſons of the Saints which were martyred and lay ſlaine upon the ground, like ſacrifices at the foot of the Altar, under the Roman perſecuting Emperours. There is no blood that cries ſo loud, and that makes ſo great a noiſe in heaven, as the blood of the Martyrs, as the blood of butchered perſecuted Saints. Perſecutors, like theſe Roman Emperours, in all ages have cauſleſly and cruelly deſtroyed the people of God; they delight in the blood of Saints, they love to wallow in the blood of Saints, they take pleaſure in glutting themſelves with the blood of Saints, they make no conſcience of watering the earth, nor of colouring the Sea, nor of quenching the flames with the blood of the Saints, yea if it were poſſible they would willingly ſwim to heaven through their hearts-blood, whom Chriſt has purchaſed with his own moſt precious blood, (as all Hiſtorians know, and as you may all know if you would but ſearch a little into Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtories) and therefore 'tis no wonder if the blood of the Martyrs cry aloud for vengeance upon ſuch deſperate perſecutors: The blood and prayers of perſecuted Saints, will firſt or laſt bring down wrath and ruine upon their perſecutors. Perſecution puts an edge, yea a ſharp edge upon the prayers of the Saints; Acts 12.5. Peter therefore was kept in priſon, but prayer was made without ceaſing of the Church unto God for him: The Greek word (foreign) ſignifies earneſt and ſtretched-out prayer. When Peter was in priſon,All theſe circumſtances doe wonderfully declare the power of God in his deliverance. Some ſay he had 16. others ſay he had 20 Souldiers for his Guard; the greater was his deliverance. ſleeping between two Souldiers, and bound with two chains, and the keepers ſtanding before the priſon doore; O how earneſt! O how inſtant! O how fervent! O how p. 379vehement! O how conſtant were the Saints in their prayers for his deliverance! O their hearts, their ſouls, their ſpirits were in their prayers; O their prayers were no cold prayers, no formal prayers, no luke-warme prayers, nor no dull or drowſie prayers, but their prayers were full of life, and full of warmth, and full of heate; they knew Herods bloody intention to deſtroy this holy Apoſtle by his impriſoning of him, and by the chaines that were put on him, and by the ſtrong Guards that were ſet upon him, and by his bathing of his ſword in the innocent blood of James, James was the firſt of the Apoſtles that dyed a violent death.that his hand might be the more apt and ready for further acts of murther▪ and cruelty; and O how did the conſideration of theſe things whet and provoke their ſpirits to prayer! O now they will have no nay, now they will give God no reſt, till he has overturn'd the Tyrants counſell and deſignes, and ſent his Angel to open the priſon doores, and to knock off Peters chains, and to deliver him from the wrath and fury of Herod; and their prayers were ſucceſsfull, as is evident in the 12. ver. And when he had conſidered the thing, he came to the houſe of Mary the mother of John, This houſe is thought by many to be the houſe, where the Apoſtles commonly had their meetings.whoſe ſurname was Mark, where many were gathered together, praying, or rather as the Originall has it, where many thronged together to pray: the violence and rage of their perſecutors did ſo raiſe, whet, and incourage them to prayer, that they throng together, they crouded together to pray, yea when others were a ſleeping they were a praying, and their prayers were no ſleepie prayers, they were no lazy droniſh prayers, nor they were no book-prayers, but they were powerfull and prevalent prayers; for as ſo many Jacob's, or as ſo many Princes they prevailed with God; they prayed and wept, and wept and prayed, they call'd and cryed, and cryed and call'd, they beg'd and bounc'd, and they bounc'd and beg'd, and they never left knocking at heavens Gates, till Peters chains were knockt off, and Peter given into their Armes, yea their boſomes, as an anſwer of prayer. O the power and force of joynt prayer, when Chriſtians doe not only beſeech God, but beſiege him, and beſet him too, and when they will not let him goe till he has bleſt them, and anſwered their prayers and the deſires of their ſouls. I have read that Mary Queen of Scots (that was mother to King James) was p. 380wont to ſay, that ſhe was more afraid of Mr. Knox's prayers, and the prayers of thoſe Chriſtians that walk't with him, then ſhee was of a knocking Army of ten thouſand men. And that is a remarkable paſſage of the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 109.3, 4. They compaſſed me about alſo with words of hatred; and fought againſt me without a ca…ſe; The like ſpeech you have in that Pſal. 120.7. Vaani uzephillah. But I prayer.Ps 120:7For my love they are my adverſaries, but I give my ſelfe unto prayer; or as the Hebrew has it, But I am prayer, or a man of prayer. Perſecuted Saints are men of prayer, yea they are as it were made up all of prayer. David prayed before, but O when his enemies fell a perſecuting of him, then he gave up himſ…lf wholly to prayer, O then he was more earneſt, more fervent, more frequent, more diligent, more conſtant, and more abundant in the work of prayer.Plutarch in the life of Numa. When Numa King of the Romans was told that his enemies were in Armes againſt him, he did but laugh at it, and anſwered, and I doe ſacrifice; ſo when perſecutors arme themſelves againſt the people of God, they doe but divinely ſmile and laugh at it, and give themſelves the more up to prayer; when men arme againſt them, then they a…me themſelves with all their might to the work of prayer; and woe woe to them that have Armies of prayers marching againſt them. But,

3Thirdly, It will appeare that the condition of perſecutors is the moſt ſad and deplorable condition of all conditions under heaven, if you will but ſeriouſly conſider and lay to heart the ſore Judgements that are threatned, and that have been executed upon them.Deut. 28.15.—ult.Deut 28:15 Deut. 30.7. And the Lord thy God will put all theſe curſes upon thine enemies, and on them which hate thee, which perſecuted thee. Nehe. 9.9, 10, 11. And didſt ſee the afflictions of our fathers in Egypt, Exod. 3.7. Chap. 14.10. &c.Exod 3:7and heardeſt their cry by the red Sea: And ſhewed ſignes and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his ſervants, and on the people of his Land: for thou kneweſt that they dealt proudly againſt them: So didſt thou get thee a name, as it is this day. And thou didſt divide the Sea before them, ſo that they went through the midſt of the Sea on the dry land, and their perſecutors thou threweſt into the deeps, as a ſtone into the mighty waters. Pharaoh and his Princes and people were very great oppreſſors and perſecutors of Gods Iſrael, As you may ſee in the 7, 8, 9, 10. and 12 Chap. of Exodus.and therefore God viſited them with ten dreadfull plagues, one after another; p. 381but when after all theſe plagues, God ſaw that their enmity againſt his people was as great, or rather greater then ever, and that they were ſtill ſet upon perſecuting of his people, then God takes up Pharaoh and his mighty Hoſt,Exodus 15.10.Exod 15:10 and throwes them as a ſtone into the mighty waters. Pſal. 7.11, 12, 13. God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. If he turne not, he will whet his ſword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. He hath alſo prepared for him the inſtruments of death; he ordaineth his arrowes againſt the perſecutors. God whets before he ſtrikes, he bends his bow befo…e he ſhootes, he prepares inſtruments of death, before he brings men downe to the grave, his hand takes hold on Judgement, before his Judgements take hold of men; but if all theſe warnings will not ſerve their turnes, God will overturne them with a witneſs; He ordaineth his arrowes againſt the perſecutors, or as the Hebrew has it, againſt the hot burning perſecutors; foreign from foreign and from Dalak is Daleketh that ſignifies a burning Ague.God has his hot burning Arrowes for hot burning perſecutors; let perſecutors be never ſo hot againſt the Saints, God will be as hot againſt them; and let them be never ſo much inflamed againſt the people of God, God will be as much inflamed againſt them. Jer. 20.10, 11. For I heard the defaming of many, feare on every ſide: Report, ſaid they, and we will report it: All my familiars watched for my halting, ſaying, peradventure he will be enticed, and we ſhall prevaile againſt him, After the Reigne of Decius, under whom the ſeventh perſecution began; God ſent a plague Ten years together, which made divers places of the world deſolate, eſpecially where the perſecution moſt raged, &c.and we ſhall take our revenge on him. But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my perſecutors ſhall ſtumble, and they ſhall not prevaile, they ſhall be greatly aſhamed, for they ſhall not proſper; their everlaſting confuſion ſhall never be forgotten. When malicious & miſchievous perſecutors have done all they can, to vex and fret, to daunt and affright, to diſmay and diſcourage the people of God, then God will terrifie the moſt terrible among them, and they ſhall not prevaile nor proſper, yea they ſhall ſtumble and fall, they ſhall be aſhamed and confounded. Iſa. 33.1. Wo to thee that ſpoileſt, and thou waſt not ſpoiled; and dealeſt treacherouſly, and they dealt not treacherouſly with thee: when thou ſhalt ceaſe to ſpoile, thou ſhalt be ſpoiled; and when thou ſhalt make an end to deale treacherouſly, they ſhall deale treacherouſly with thee. When the time is expired that God has prefixed for his p. 382peoples ſufferings, then God will retaliate upon their perſecutors, then they that ſpoyled his people, ſhall be ſpoyled, and they that dealt perfidiouſly and treacherouſly with them, ſhall be dealt perfidiouſly and treacherouſly withall; 2 Theſ. 1.6. Seeing it is a righteous thing with God, to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you: 'Tis but Juſtice that God ſhould trouble thoſe that are the troublers of his people; 'tis but Juſtice that perſecutors ſhould be puniſhed, and that the perſecuted ſhould be righted; 'tis but Juſtice that God ſhould trouble them in both worlds, who would be troublers of his people in both worlds; 'tis but Juſtice that God ſhould trouble them to all eternity, who would be a troubling of his people to all eternity, if their power were but anſwerable to their malice: And God has even in this life been a ſwift witneſs againſt the perſecutors of his people; Cain was a perſecutor, and his Brothers blood purſued him to hell; Pharaoh was a great oppreſſor and perſecutor of his people, and God followed him with plague upon plague, and Judgement upon Judgement, till he had overthrowne him in the red Sea; Saul was a perſecutor, and falls by his own ſword; Haman was a great perſecutor of the Saints, and he was Feaſted with the King one day, and made a Feaſt for Crowes the next;Jer. 20.1, 2, 3.Jer 20:1Jer 20:2Jer 20:3 Paſhur was a great perſecutor, he ſmote the Prophet Jeremiah, and put him in the Stocks, and God threatned to make him a Magor-miſſabib, a terrour to himſelf,1 Kings 22.1 Kgs 22 and to all his friends; Zedekiah was a perſecutor, he ſmote the Prophet Micaiah on the cheek for dealing plainly and faithfully with the Kings, and in the day of trouble and diſtreſs, he goes from chamber to chamber to hide himſelfe.Chap. 18.4.13. verſes. 2 Kings 9.30.—ult. Euſeb.2 Kgs 9:30 Jezabel was a great perſecutor, ſhe ſlew the Prophets of God, and ſhe was thrown out of a window, and eaten up of dogs. Herod the Great, who cauſed the babes of Bethlehem to be ſlaine, hoping thereby to deſtroy Chriſt, ſhortly after was plagued by God with an incurable diſeaſe, having a ſlow and ſlack fire continually tormenting his inward parts; he had a vehement and greedy deſire to eate, and yet nothing would ſatisfie him; his inward bowels rotted, his breath was ſho…t and ſtinking, ſome of his members rotted, and in all his members he had ſo violent a Cramp, that nature was not able to bare it; and ſo growing mad with paine he dyed miſerably.

p. 383Herod Antipas, who beheaded John Baptiſt, Euſeb.not long after falling into diſgrace with the Roman Emperour, with his inceſtuous Herodias, the ſuggeſter of that murder, they were baniſhed, and fell into ſuch miſery and penury, that they ended their wretched lives, with much ſhame and miſery.

Herod Agrippa was a great perſecutor of the Saints,Acts 12. Joſeph. Antiq. l. 19. ch. 7.Acts 12 and he was eaten up of wormes. In the third yeare of his Reigne, as Joſephus obſerves, he went to Caeſarea to keep certain Playes in the honor of Caeſar; the Gowne he was in (as the ſame Author relates) was a Gowne of ſilver wonderfully wrought, and the beames of the Sun reflecting upon it, made it ſo gliſter that it dazled the eyes of the beholders; and when he had made an end of his ſtarched Oration in this his bravery, his flatterers extolled him as a God, crying out, 'Tis the voice of a God, Acts 12.21, 22, 23. Joſeph: Antiq: lib. 18. ch. 13. Thales Mileſius the prime wiſe man of Greece, being demanded what he had obſerved to be of moſt difficulty in the world; Anſwered Tyrannum ſenem, To ſee a Tyrant live to be an old man.Acts 12:21Acts 12:22Acts 12:23and not of a man; whereupon he was preſently ſmitten by the Angel of the Lord, and ſo dyed with wormes that eate up his very intrailes; the blow the Angel gave him was an inward blow, and ſo not viſible to others, and his torments more and more increaſing upon him, the people put on ſackcloth and made ſupplication for him, but all in vaine, for his paines and torments growing ſtronger and ſtronger every day upon him, they ſeperated his wretched ſoule from his loathſome body within the compaſs of five dayes; And 'tis very probable that the prayers of the perſecuted Church did helpe to ſpeed this perſecutor out of the world.**Euſeb. Caiaphas the high Prieſt, who gathered the Councel, and ſuborned falſe witneſſes againſt the Lord Chriſt, was ſhortly after put out of his Office, and one Jonathan ſubſtituted in his roome, whereupon he killed himſelf.

††Euſeb. Hiſt. li. 2. c. 7.Not long after Pontius Pilate had condemned our Lord Chriſt, he loſt his Deputiſhip, and Caeſars favour, and being fallen into diſgrace with the Roman Emperour, and baniſhed by him, he fell into ſuch miſery that he hanged himſelfe.

Nero that Monſter of men, who raiſed the firſt bloody perſecution, (to pick a quarrel with the Chriſtians) ſet the City of Rome on fire, and then charged it upon them; under which pretence he expoſes them to the fury of the people, who cruelly tormented them, as if they had been common burners and deſtroyers of Cities, and the deadly enemies of mankinde; yea p. 384Nero himſelf cauſed them to be apprehended, and clad in wild Beaſts skins, and torne in pieces with Doggs; others were crucified; ſome he made Bonfires of to light him in his night-ſports; to be ſhort, ſuch horrid cruelty he uſed towards them, as cauſed many of their enemies to pitty them; but God found out this wretched perſecutor at laſt, for being adjudged by the Senate an enemy to mankinde, he was condemned to be whipt to death, for the prevention whereof he cut his own throat.

Domitian the Author of the ſecond perſecution againſt the Chriſtians, was by the conſent of his wife ſlaine by his own houſhold ſervants with daggers in his privy chamber, his body was buried without honour, his memory curſed to poſterity, and his Armes and Enſignes were thrown downe and defaced.

Trajan raiſed the third perſecution againſt the Church, and the vengeance of God followed him; for firſt he fell into a Palſie, then loſt the uſe of his ſenſes, afterwards he fell into a Dropſie, and dyed in great anguiſh.

There was not one of thoſe perſecuting Emperours that carried on the Ten bloody perſecutions againſt the Saints, but came to miſerable ends; yea Hiſtories tell us of three and forty perſecuting Emperours, who fell under the revenging hand of God, and came to untimely ends. Among the many thouſand thouſands of inſtances that might be given of the Judgements of God that have fallen upon the perſecutors of the people of God in theſe latter dayes, I ſhall only give you a few. Faelix Earle of Wartenburge was a great perſecutor of the Saints, and ſwore that ere he dyed he would ride up to the ſpurs in the blood of the Lutherans; but the very ſame night wherein he had thus ſworne and vowed, he was choaked with his own blood: nothing would ſerve him but the blood of Gods people, and God makes him drunk with his own blood. Sir Thomas More, once Lord Chancelour of England, was a ſworn enemy to the Goſpel, and perſecuted the Saints with fire and faggot; and amongſt all his praiſes, he reckons this the chiefeſt, that he had been a perſecutor of the Lutherans, i. e. the Saints; but what became of him? he was firſt accuſed of Treaſon, and then condemned, and at laſt beheaded. Judge Morgan was a great perſecutor of the people of God; but ſhortly after he had paſſed the ſentence p. 385of condemnation upon that vertuous Lady, the Lady Jane Grey, he fell mad, and in his mad raving fits he would continually cry out, Take away the Lady Jane, take away the Lady Jane from me; and in that horror he ended his wretched life. Drahomira, after the death of her husband, uſurped the Government of Bohemia, and was a cruell perſecutor of the people of God; but by a righteous hand of God it ſo fell out, that on that very place where the Miniſters bones lay unburied, the earth opened of it ſelf, and ſwallowed her up alive, with her Chariot and thoſe that were in it, which place is now to be ſeen before the Caſtle of Prague. Acts and Mon. 1911.The Arch-Biſhop of Toures was an earneſt Sutor for the erection of a Court called Chamber Ardent, for the condemning of the French Proteſtants to the fire, but before he dyed he had fire enough, for he was ſtricken with a diſeaſe called, The Fire of God, which began at his feete, and ſo aſcended upward, which occaſioned one member to be cut off after another, and ſo he ended his miſerable dayes. Thomas Arundell Arch-Biſhop of Canterbury, was a grievous perſecutor of the people of God, and a great ſuſpender and ſilencer of good Miniſters; he made uſe of his tongue, braines, and power to ſtop the mouthes, and tye up the tongues of Gods faithfull Miniſters; but God in his righteous Judgement ſo ſtruck him in his tongue, that it ſwel'd ſo big, that he could neither ſwallow nor ſpeak for ſome dayes before his death, and ſo he was ſtarved, choked, and killed by this ſtrange tumour of his tongue.Mr. Groves Gleanings. p. 155, 156. I have read of one M^r. W. who was very buſie in proſecuting an Indictment againſt his Miniſter at a Quarter Seſſions, for omitting the Croſs in Baptiſme; and being a man in high favour with the Juſtices, he made no queſtion of prevailing; at night (according to his uſual manner) he falls to drinking, till he was ſo extream drunk that he was faine to be carried home; in the morning his wife began mildly to blame him for his acting againſt the Miniſter the day before, at which he with fearefull oathes ſwore, that he would ſoon rid the Towne of that Puritan; but behold the hand of God, for as this wretched man was about to riſe, and having put one arme in his Dublet (even as the oathes were uttering) he was taken ſpeechleſs, yea and ſenſleſs, and ſo dyed. To conclude, the Judgements of God p. 386upon the perſecutors of the Saints in Bohemia was ſuch, that it was uſed as a Proverb among the adverſaries themſelves, that if any man were weary of his life, let him but attempt againſt the Piccardines (for ſo they called the Saints) and he ſhould not live a yeare to an end. And thus you ſee by theſe inſtances, that moſt ſevere Judgements have ſtill followed the perſecutors of the people of God: Let me cloſe up this argument thus; look as in Princes Courts they are judg'd but ſilly ſhallow, brain'd men, that profeſs open and mortall hatred to the greateſt favourites of the King, becauſe in ſo doing they take the right and ready way to ruine themſelves and families; ſo they are doubtleſs the moſt ſilly ſhallow-brain'd men in the world (how wiſe ſoever they may be in their own eyes, or in others eyes who are like unto themſelves) who perſecute the favourites of the King of Kings, that being the ready way to their owne ruine and deſtruction. But,

4Fourthly, It will appeare that perſecutors are in the moſt ſad and deplorable condition, if you doe but conſider that there is a day a coming wherein God will fully reckon with all perſecutors for their perſecuting of his Saints: Pſal. 9.12. When he maketh inquiſition for blood, foreign Damim bloods in the plural; it notes the killings and murderings of Gods afflicted ones. Gen. 4.10. 1 Kings 9.26. 2 Chron. 24. Chap. 22.Gen 4:101 Kgs 9:262 Chr 24he remembreth them; he forgetteth not the cry of the humble: There is a time when God will make inquiſition for innocent blood; the Hebrew word Dor…ſh from Daraſh, that is here rendred inquiſition, ſignifies not barely to ſeek, to ſearch, but to ſeek, ſearch, and enquire with all diligence and care imaginable. O there is a time a coming, when the Lord will make a very diligent and carefull ſearch and enquiry after all the innocent blood of his afflicted and perſecuted people, which perſecutors and Tyrants have ſpilt as water upon the ground; and woe to perſecutors when God ſhall make a more ſtrict critical and carefull enquiry after the blood of his people, then ever was made in the inquiſition of Spaine, where all things are carried with the greateſt diligence, ſubtilty, ſecrecy, and ſeverity. O perſecutors, there is a time a coming, when God will make a ſtrict enquiry after the blood of Hooper, Bradford, Latimer, Taylor, Ridly, &c. There is a time a coming, wherein God will enquire who ſilenced and ſuſpended ſuch and ſuch Miniſters, and who ſtop't the mouthes p. 387of ſuch and ſuch, and who impriſoned, confined, and baniſhed ſuch and ſuch, who were once burning and ſhining lights, and who were willing to ſpend and be ſpent, that ſinners might be ſaved, and that Chriſt might be glorified. There is a time when the Lord will make a very narrow enquiry into all the actions and practiſes of Eccleſiaſtical Courts, High Commiſſions, Committees, Aſſizes, Seſſions, &c. and deale with perſecutors as they have dealt with his people. Pſal. 12.5. For the oppreſſion of the poore, for the ſighing of the needy, now will I ariſe, (ſaith the Lord) I will ſet him in ſafety from him that puffeth at him. When oppreſſors and perſecutors doe ſnuffe and puffe at the people of God, when they defie them, and ſcorne them, and thinke that they can with a blaſt of their breath blow them away, then God will ariſe to judgement, as the Chaldee has it; at that very nick of time when all ſeemes to be loſt, and when the poore oppreſſed and afflicted people of God can do nothing but ſigh and weep, and weep and ſigh, then the Lord will ariſe, and eaſe them of their oppreſſions, and make their day of extremity, a glorious opportunity to work for his own glory, and his peoples good. Math. 22.6, 7. And the remnant took his ſervants, and entreated them ſpitefully, and ſlew them: But when the King heard thereof, he was wroth; and he ſent for his Armies, and deſtroyed thoſe murderers, and burnt up their City. Chriſt ſent his Apoſtles and Diſciples to invite the Jewes to a marriage feaſt, to a ſtately feaſt, to a feaſt made by a King, upon the account of his Son, of his only Son, of his beloved Son, of his Son that is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords,Rev. 1.5. Compare theſe Scriptures, Acts 5.40. ch. 7.58. and ch 12.2. and ch. 21.32. 2 Cor. 11.24. Heb. 11.37, 38.Rev 1:5Acts 5:402 Cor 11:24Heb 11:37Heb 11:38 but they entreated them ſpitefully, calling them peſtilent fellows, and movers of ſedition, and ſome they impriſoned and ſcourged, and others they put to death, as Stephen and James, &c. and O what ſpitefulneſs and ingratitude was this to returne evill for good, to requite them with reproaches, priſons, ſcourges, and death, for their endeavouring to ſave their ſouls, and to make them happy for ever: But will this great King put up theſe injuries, indignities and abuſes that are done to his ſervants? no, he will not; for as ſoon as he heard of it, he was wroth, and ſent forth his Armies to be revenged on them: The murderers in the text were the Jewes, and the Armies were the Romans; now they p. 388are called Gods Armies, Dan. 9.26.Dan 9:26becauſe God imployed them as the executioners of his wrath upon Jeruſalem; now theſe Roman Armies did burne up their City,Joſephus. Antiq: lib. 20. c. 8. which was once the Paradiſe of the world, and brought to ruine and deſtruction a 11 millions of men, women, and children, beſides multitudes that were ſold for ſlaves, and others that were ſcattered among all nations; and thus God took vengeance on theſe perſecutors, and turn'd their Temple and City into aſhes.Plutar: Lib. de ſuperſtitione. Plutarch writing of the quality of Tygres, ſaith, That if Drums or Tabours ſound about them, they will grow mad, and rend and tear their own fleſh in pieces; O there is a day a coming when the laſt Trumpet ſhall ſound, and then all the perſecutors of the Saints will grow mad, O then they will fret and fume,Rev. 6.15, 16, 17.Rev 6:15Rev 6:16Rev 6:17 and tear and torment themſelves, and wiſh for the mounta…s and rocks to fall upon them, and to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb, who in that day will with a witneſs avenge all his afflicted and perſecuted ones. Alas, all the ſorrows, troubles, afflictions, vexations, torments and puniſhments that befall the perſecutors of the Saints in this life, they are but quaſi tales, as it were ſuch, they are but the beginnings of ſorrows, they are but Types and Figures of thoſe eaſeleſs, endleſs, and remedileſs torments and puniſhments that will at laſt inevitably fall upon all the perſecutors of the Saints. But,

5Fifthly, and laſtly, Perſecutors at preſent are under an evident token of perdition and deſtruction, they have the marks and ſignes of divine diſpleaſure upon them.Mr. Bradford looked upon his ſufferings as an evidence to him that he was in his right way. Phil. 1.28. And in nothing terrified by your adverſaries, which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of ſalvation, and that of God. Perſecuted Chriſtians ought not to be diſheartned or diſcouraged, but rather to take heart and courage by all the perſecutions that are raiſed againſt them, becauſe they are moſt certaine witneſſes and evidences from God himſelf, both of their own ſalvation, and of their perſecutors perdition and deſtruction. A ſtate of unbeliefe,John 3.18.36. Iſa. 6.9, 10. 1 Tim. 4.2. John 3.19, 20. Pſal. 81.12.John 3:18John 3:36Isa 6:9Isa 6:101 Tim 4Ps 81:12 hardneſs of heart, blindneſs of mind, ſearedneſs of conſcience, perverſneſs of ſpirit, ſlighting and deſpiſing of that which is good, hating of the light, and a mans being given up to the wayes and luſts of his own heart, are dreadfull tokens of perdition, and fearefull witneſſes and evidences of p. 389deſtruction; and theſe tokens and evidences, all perſecutors are under, though it may be they want eyes to ſee them, and hearts to be affected with them: plaine and evident tokens of wrath and ruine are ſtampt in Roman Characters upon all perſecutors, and did they but ſee thoſe tokens, they would be as ſo many hand-writings upon the wall againſt them. And thus you ſee by theſe five things, that there is no condition under heaven that is ſo ſad and deplorable a condition, as the condition of perſecutors is. But,

Fifthly, I anſwer, that God will bare his people company 5in all their afflictions and perſecutions; if the Buſh (the Church) be all on a light fire,Exod. 3.2, 6. Math. 10.17, 18, 19, 20. Acts 6.9, 10. Rom. 8.33, 34, 35.Exod 3:2Exod 3:6Matt 10:17Matt 10:18Matt 10:19Matt 10:20Acts 6:9Acts 6:10Rom 8:33Rom 8:34Rom 8:35 the Angel of the Covenant will be in the midſt of it. Iſa. 43.2. When thou paſſeſt through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they ſhall not overflow thee: when thou walkeſt through the fire, thou ſhalt not be burnt; neither ſhall the flames kindle upon thee. Both in the waters of affliction, and in the fire of perſecution, God will bare his people company. So in that Dan. 3.24, 25. Then Nebuchadnezzar the King was aſtonied, and roſe up in haſt, and ſpake and ſaid unto his Counſellers; Did not we caſt three men bound into the midſt of the Fire? they anſwered and ſaid unto the King, true, O King. He anſwered and ſaid, lo, I ſee foure men looſe walking in the midſt of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the forme of the fourth is like unto the Son of God. Chriſt is never ſo neare to his people as when they are in their fiery tryals; and the hotter the Furnace is, the more eminently preſent will Chriſt be with his people; Saints never enjoy ſo much of the ſupporting, imboldning, comforting, and encouraging preſence of the Lord, as they doe when the Sun of perſecution ſhines hotteſt upon them. Though Mr. Glover wanted the preſence of God for a time, yet when he came neare to the ſtake where he was burnt, he clapt his hands for joy, and cryed out, He is come, he is come. 2 Cor. 4.8, 9. We are troubled on every ſide, yet not deſtroyed; we are perplexed, but not in deſpair; perſecuted, but not forſaken; caſt down, but not deſtroyed. Divine help is nea…eſt when a Saints danger is greateſt: It is the deriding queſtion which perſecutors put to the Saints in the time of their tryals and troubles, Ʋbi Deus? Where is now your God? Pſal. 79.10.Ps 79:10but they may returne a p. 390bold and confident anſwer, Hic Deus, Our God is here, our God is nigh unto us, our God is round about us, our God is in the midſt of us, our God has given us his promiſe, that he will never, Heb. 13.5.Heb 13:5never leave us, nor forſake us; in every trouble, in every danger, in every death the Lord will be ſure to keep us company:Hoſ. 2.14.Hos 2:14 God will bare his children company, not only whilſt they are in a delightfull Paradiſe, but alſo when they are in a howling wilderneſs.Auguſt. de Civit. Dei. lib. 2. cap. 39. When a company of poor Chriſtians were going into Baniſhment, one ſtanding by to ſee them paſs along, ſaid that it was a very ſad condition that thoſe poor people were in, to be thus hurried from the ſociety of men, and to be made companions with the Beaſts of the field; True, ſaid another, it were a ſad condition indeed, if they were carried to a place where they ſhould not find their God, but let them be of good chear, for God goes along with them, and will exhibite the comforts of his preſence whitherſoever they goe; his preſence is infinite,Pſal. 139.Ps 139 and filleth all places. The Rabbins put Makom, which ſignifies place, among the names of God; Bithner brings them in expounding that text, Eſth. 4.14. thus; Deliverance ſhall ariſe from another place, that is, from God; now they call'd God place, becauſe he is in every place, filling heaven and earth with his preſence. Where ever God ſcatters his people, he will be a little SanctuaryA little Sanctuary is oppoſed to that faire and glorious one that was at Jeruſalem. to them. Ezek. 11.16. Therefore ſay, thus ſaith the Lord God, although I have caſt them far off among the heathen, and although I have ſcattered them among the Countreys, yet will I be to them as a little Sanctuary in the Countries where they ſhall come. The Heathens were wont to ſay of a valiant man (Omne ſolum forti patria) every ſoyle is his Countrey; ſo I may ſay of a Chriſtian, every Countrey is his home, who enjoyes the preſence of God with him, who finds God to be a little Sanctuary to him; perſecuted Saints ſhall be ſcattered no where but God will be a little Sanctuary to them; in the want of a viſible Sanctuary, God will be an inviſible Sanctuary to them; in the want of outward ordinances, they ſhall have the preſence of his grace and favour, God will be a protection to them, and a ſpring of joy and comfort in them; his power ſhall be as a wall of fire about them, and his Spirit ſhall be the Guide and Leader of them. Though the Jews at Jeruſalem, who p. 391enjoyed their glorious Temple, and their pompious worſhip, and ſolemn aſſemblies, and precious ordinances, lookt upon their Brethren in Babylon as a poor, miſerable, deſpicable, forlorne, and forſaken people, yea as a people without God, and without his worſhip and ordinances, and as thoſe that had nothing to doe with their magnificent Temple, they having no outward ſplendor or glory at all upon them; yet ſays God by Ezekiel, I will have them to know that I have other thoughts, and better thoughts concerning their Captived Brethren; for I have thoughts of grace, and thoughts of mercy, and thoughts of love, &c. for I will dwell among them, and be a little Sanctuary to them, and make up the want of all outward ordinances and priviledges to them. I have read of the Tyrians, that they bound their Gods with chains,Joſh. 1.5. Pſal. 89.33, 34. Jer. 32.38, 39, 40, 41.Josh 1:5Ps 89:33Ps 89:34Jer 32:38Jer 32:39Jer 32:40Jer 32:41 that they might not leave them in their greateſt need; but our God has bound himſelfe with many Golden chains, I meane promiſes, that he will never leave nor forſake his people in their greateſt neceſſity and extremity. Theodoret had a precious preſence of God with him in his ſufferings; for he ſound ſo much ſweetneſs when he was on the Rack in the midſt of his tortures, that he profeſt he did not find any anguiſh in his torments, but a great deale of pleaſure; and when they took him down from the Rack, he complained that they did him wrong in taking of him down, and in ceaſing to torment him; for, ſaid he, all the while I was on the Rack, and you were venting your malice againſt me, I thought there was a young man in white, an Angel that ſtood by me, which wiped off the ſweat, and I found a great deale of ſweetneſs in my ſufferings, which now I have loſt. O! Chriſtians, in all your ſufferings the Angel of Gods preſence will bare you company, and he will ſweeten the moſt cruel torments, and wipe off all the ſweat,Iſa. 63.9.Isa 63:9 and take away all the paine, yea he will turne your paines into pleaſure. If Joſeph be caſt into priſon,Gen. 39.20, 21. Jer. 36.6. to the 14. Pſal. 23.4, 5.Gen 39:20Gen 39:21Jer 36:6Ps 23:4Ps 23:5 the Lord will be with him there; If Jeremiah be throwne into the Dungeon, the Lord will be with him there; If David walk through the valley of death, Gods Rod and his Staffe ſhall comfort him; If the three Children be caſt into a fiery Furnace, the preſence of the Son of God ſhall preſerve them; if Daniel muſt to the Lyons Den, God will keep him company there, and chain up the Lyons nature, p. 392and ſow up the Lyons mouths, and lay a law of reſtraint upon the Lyons pawes, that they ſhall not have ſo much as a diſpoſition to touch him, or in the leaſt to hurt him, or harme him;2 Tim. 4.16, 17, 18.2 Tim 4:162 Tim 4:172 Tim 4:18 If Paul be brought before Nero's Judgement ſeate, God will ſtand by him, though all men forſake him, and bring him off with credit and triumph. Thus you ſee that in all the afflictions and perſecutions that doe befall the people of God, God will not faile to keep them company; and therefore let not troubles trouble you, let not afflictions afflict you, nor let not perſecutions diſcourage you. But,

Sixthly, I anſwer, That he ſhall be ſure to ſuffer from Chriſt, that refuſes to ſuffer, or that is afraid to ſuffer for Chriſts ſake, or holineſs ſake, or the Goſpels ſake; no man can ſuffer ſo much for Chriſt, as he ſhall be ſure to ſuffer from Chriſt, if he diſdaine and refuſe to ſuffer for Chriſt. Mark 8.35. For whoſoever will ſave his life, ſhall loſe it; but whoſoever ſhall loſe his life for my ſake, That Huſbandman that keepes his wheat looſes his wheat, but he that ſowes his wheat renewes his wheat.and the Goſpels, the ſame ſhall ſave it: He that ſhall attempt to ſave his life by croſſing his light, by ſhifting off of truth, or by forſaking of Chriſt, ſhall loſe it; he that thinks to ſhun ſuffering by ſinning, ſhall be ſure to ſuffer with a witneſs; 'tis a gainfull loſs to ſuffer for the truth, 'tis a loſsfull gaine by time-ſerving and baſe complying with the luſts and humors of men, to provide for our preſent ſafety, ſecurity, plenty, peace, and eaſe, &c. either by denying the truth, or by betraying the truth, or by exchanging the truth, or by forſaking the truth. When Henry the fourth of France French Hiſtory.had conquered his enemies, he turn'd Papiſt, and gave this reaſon of it, That he might ſettle himſelfe in peace and ſafety. Ravilliak, who ſlew him as he was riding abroad in his Coach to refreſh himſelf, confeſſed that the reaſon why he ſtabb'd him was, becauſe he was of two Religions; and thus by endeavouring to ſave his life he loſt it. One Philbert Hamlin in France, having converted a Prieſt to the profeſſion of the truth, was together with the Prieſt apprehended and caſt into priſon at Burdeaux: But after a while, the Prieſt being terrified with the priſon, and feare of death, renounced Chriſt, and was ſet at liberty; whereupon Philbert ſaid to him; O unhappy and more then miſerable man, is it poſſible that to ſave your life for a few dayes, you ſhould ſo deny the truth? p. 393Know therefore, that though you have avoided the corporal fire, yet your life ſhall not be prolonged, for you ſhall die before me, and you ſhall not have the honor to die for the cauſe of Chriſt, but you ſhall be an example to Apoſtates; And accordingly as he went out of the priſon, two Gentlemen that had a former quarrel with him, met him and ſlew him: And thus he alſo loſt his life by endeavoring ſinfully to ſave it. Though life be ſweet, and every creature makes much of it, from the higheſt Angel to the loweſt worm, yet wo to him that is ſet upon ſaving of it, when Chriſt calls upon him to be divinely prodigal of it; no fool to him who thinks to avoid a leſs danger by running himſelf into a greater danger, who thinks to ſave his body by loſing his ſoul, and to ſave his temporal life by loſing eternal life; there is no loſer to him, who by ſinful attempts to ſaved his life, ſhall loſe a better life then ever he can ſave. So ver. 38. Whoſoever therefore ſhall be aſhamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and ſinful generation, of him alſo ſhall the Son of man be aſhamed when he cometh in the glory of his Father, with the holy Angels. Ah friends, what are priſons and dungeons, and racks, and flames, to Chriſts being aſhamed of a man in the great day, when he ſhall be attended with Troops of Saints, and millions of Angels? when in the face of the Court of Heaven, when all the Princes of glory ſhall ſet upon their thrones, Chriſt ſhall diſdain a man, and ſcorn ſo much as to look upon him, or take any notice of him, or ſhew the leaſt reſpect or favor towards him: O what a Sea of ſorrow, and a hell of horror will this raiſe in him? I have read that when Sapores King of Perſia raiſed a violent perſecution againſt the Chriſtians,Sozom. Hiſt. l. 2. c. 8. Ʋſthazares, an old Nobleman, and one of King Sapores Eunuches and Courtiers, being a Chriſtian, was ſo terrified, that he left off his profeſſion, and ſetting at the Court-gate, when Simeon an aged holy Biſhop was led to priſon, and riſing up to ſalute him,You may ſee the ſame ſtory in Mr. Fox his book of Martyrs, fol. 97. 98. the good Biſhop frowned upon him, and turned his face with indignation from him, as diſdaining to look upon a man that had denyed the faith; upon this, Ʋſthazares fell a weeping, and went into his Chamber, and put off his Courtly garments, and then brake out into theſe (like) words, Ah how ſhall I appear before that God that I have denyed? with what face ſhall I behold p. 394that God of whom I have been aſhamed, when Simeon my old Familiar acquaintance will not endure to look upon me, but diſdains to beſtow a civil ſalute upon me? if he frown now, O how will God behold me when I ſhall ſtand before his Tribunal-Seat? And this Phyſick ſo wrought with him, that he recovered his ſpiritual ſtrength, and went boldly and profeſſed himſelf a Chriſtian, and dyed a glorious Martyr; the application is eaſie. Well Sirs, remember this, 'tis infinitely better to ſuffer for God, then to ſuffer from God, 1 Pet. 3.17. For it is better, Non poena, ſed cauſa facit martyrim. 'Tis not the puniſhment, but the cauſe that makes the Martyr. Acts and Monu. fol. 835.if the will of God be ſo, that ye ſuffer for well-doing, then for evil-doing; 'Tis better to ſuffer for well-doing from men, then to ſuffer for ill-doing from God. Cyprian in his Sermon de lapſis, makes mention of divers, who forſaking the profeſſion of their faith, were given over by God to be poſſeſt by evil ſpirits, and ſo died fearfully and miſerably. The Angrognians that yielded and complyed with the Papiſts that came againſt them, were more ſadly and cruelly handled by them, then their neighbors that continued conſtant in the truth. Under the fourth perſecution there were ſome Chriſtians, who for fear of torments and death, denied their faith, and ſacrificed to idols, yet did not their bloody perſecutors ſpare them; and it was obſerved, that being full of guilt, they went to their deaths with dejected and ill-favoured countenances, ſo that the very Gentiles took notice of it, and reproached them as degenerous perſons, and worthy to ſuffer as evil doers. Weſt that was Chaplain to Biſhop Ridley, Acts and Mon. fol. 1570.refuſing to dye in Chriſts cauſe with his Maſter, ſaid Maſs againſt his conſcience, and ſoon after pined away with ſorrow. A Smith in King Edward the ſixth's days, called Richard Denſon, was a forward profeſſor of Religion, and by his Chriſtian inſtructions, the happy inſtrument of the converſion of a young man to the Faith; afterwards in the reign of Queen Mary, this young man was caſt into priſon for his Religion, who remembring his old friend and ſpiritual father the Smith, (to whom he always carried a reverend reſpect for the good that he had received by him) ſent to know whether he was not impriſoned alſo, and finding that he was not,Fox Acts and Mon. fol. 873. deſired to ſpeak with him, and when he came, he asked his adviſe, whether he thought it beſt for him to remain p. 395in priſon? and whether he would encourage him to burn at a Stake for his Religion? To whom the Smith anſwered, that his cauſe was good, and that he might with comfort ſuffer for it; But for my part (ſaid the Smith) I cannot burn: But ſhortly after, he that could not burn for Religion, by Gods juſt Judgement was burned for his Apoſtaſie, for his Shop and houſe being ſet on fire, and he over-buſie to ſave his goods, was burnt in the flames. They that will not burn for Chriſt when he calls them to it, ſhall burn whether they will or no. O how much better had it been for this Smith to have burnt for Chriſt, then that Chriſt ſhould ſet his houſe on fire, and burn him in the midſt of it? He that will not ſuffer for Chriſt, ſhall be ſure to ſuffer worſe things from Chriſt, then ever he could have ſuffered for Chriſt;Ibid. 1382. and therefore Doctor Taylor the Martyr hit it, If I ſhrink from Gods truth (ſaid he) I am ſure of another manner of death then Judge Hales had; who being drawn for fear of death to do things againſt his conſcience, did afterwards drown himſelf.

In the Bohemian perſecution,The famous Poet. John Campan having forſaken his Religion, ſaid to his wife, this day is ſalvation come to our houſe, whereunto ſhe anſwered, this day a curſe is brought into our houſe, and ſo it proved, for he ended his life in deſpair.

Thoſe Apoſtates that left Galeacius, to enjoy their ſinful pleaſures and delights, &c. were taken by the bloody inquiſition, and forced publikely to recant and abjure their Religion, and when they had done it, they became the ſubjects of miſery and infamy, and were equally odious to both parties.

Chriſt ſeems to ſay to all that refuſe to ſuffer for him, as King Rehoboam ſaid to the Ten Tribes (the order of the words being onelyonly inverted) My little finger ſhall be thicker then your perſecutors loins, and I will add to your yoke, 1 King. 12.10.—15.1 Kgs 12:10and whereas they would have chaſtiſed you but with whips, I will chaſtiſe you with Scorpions. O my friends, 'tis ten thouſand times worſe to be given up to a proud heart, a hard heart, a worldly heart, a formal heart, an hypocritical heart, a perſecuting heart, an impenitent heart, or a deſparing heart, &c. for this is to be whipt with Scorpions, then 'tis to be given up to priſons, or Racks, or p. 396Lyons, or flames, or baniſhment, &c. for this is onelyonly to be chaſtiſed with whips, yea with ſuch whips that can onelyonly reach our bodies, but can never touch our immortal ſouls. And therefore as you would not ſuffer ſuch hard things from Chriſt, O take heed of being unwilling to ſuffer any thing for Chriſts ſake, or the Goſpels ſake. But,

7Seventhly, I anſwer, That great are the advantages that will redown to you by all the troubles,Luk. 21.13.Luke 21:13 afflictions, and perſecutions that ſhall befall you for righteouſneſs ſake, for holineſs ſake. Perſecutions are the work-men that will fit you and ſquare you for Gods buildings, they are the rods that will beat off the duſt, and the Skullions that will ſcour off the ruſt from your ſouls; they are the fire that will purge you from your droſs, and the water that will cleanſe you from your filthineſs. Phyſitians, you know apply Horſe-leeches to their deſtempered Patients; now the Horſe-leech intends nothing but to ſatiate and fill himſelf with the blood of the ſick patient, but the Phyſitian has a more noble aim, even the drawing away of that putrified and corrupt blood that endangers the life of his patient: So though perſecutors aim at nothing more then to draw out the heart-blood of Gods people, that they may ſatiate and fill themſelves with it, yet God has other thoughts, and other aims, even the drawing away of that corrupt blood, that pride, that ſelf-love, that worldlineſs, that carnalneſs, and that luke-warmneſs, that otherwiſe would endanger the life, the health, and welfare of their ſouls. But this great truth I ſhall make more evident by an induction of particulars, thus:

1Firſt, hereby you will give an evident proof of the ſoundneſs and uprightneſs of your own hearts:Phil. 1.27, 28, 29.Phil 1:27Phil 1:28Phil 1:29 Afflictions, and perſecutions, will diſcover what mettal men are made of: All is not Gold that gliſters; many there be that gliſter, and look like golden Chriſtians, but when they come to the fire, they prove but droſs; he is a golden Chriſtian indeed, who remains gold when under fiery trials. The ſtony ground did gliſter and ſhine very gloriouſly,Mat. 13.20, 21.Matt 13:20Matt 13:21 for it received the word with joy for a time, but when the Sun of perſecution riſe upon it, it fell away. Men that now imbrace the Word, will in times of perſecution diſtaſt the Word, if it be not rooted in their underſtandings, p. 397judgements, wills, affections, and conſciences; men may court the Word, and complement the Word, and applaud the Word, and ſeemingly rejoyce in the Word, but thy will never ſuffer perſecution for the Word, if it be onelyonly received into their heads, and not rooted in their hearts.Mat. 7.26, 27.Matt 7:26Matt 7:27 The Houſe built upon the ſand, was as lovely, as comely, as goodly, and as glorious a houſe to look upon, as that which was built upon the Rock; but when the rain of affliction deſcended, and the floods of tribulation came, and the winds of perſecution blew and beat upon that houſe, it fell, and great was the fall of it. No profeſſors will be able to ſtand it out in all winds and weathers, but ſuch as are built upon a Rock, all others will ſink, ſhatter,Mal. 3.2.Mal 3:2 and fall when the wind of perſecution blows upon them; as ſure as the rain will fall, the floods flow, and the winds blow, ſo ſure will an unſound heart give out when trials come; no heart but a ſound heart will hold out bravely, when hardſhips attends holineſs on both hands; no heart but a holy heart will bear the brunt of perſecution for holineſs ſake. The three children, Shadrach, Meſhech, and Abednego, Dan. 3.17, 18.Dan 3:17Dan 3:18would rather burn then bow, they would rather ſuffer then ſin, which was an evident proof of their ſincerity and ingenuity; they would be non-conformiſts, though Court, City and Country cryed up conformity, which was a ſure argument of their integrity; but now unſound hearts will exceedingly ſhuffle and ſhift to ſhift off perſecution; witneſs thoſe falſe Teachers in Gal. 6.12. As many as deſire to make a fair ſhew (or as the Greek has it, to ſet a good face on it) in the fleſh, foreign.they conſtrain you to be circumciſed: onelyonly leſt they ſhould ſuffer perſecution for the croſs of Chriſt. At this time the Jews out of zeal to their Law, did ſorely perſecute thoſe that did either preach or practiſe any thing contrary to their Law: Now theſe falſe Teachers ſet a good face on't, and make a fair ſhew, as if they were all for carnal Rites and Ceremonies, and they urged circumciſion upon the Galathians, but not out of any affection or zeal that they did bare to the Law, but onelyonly to procure favour on the one hand, and to avoid and eſcape the malice and perſecution of the Jews on the other hand: they that were no Jews to avoid perſecution, would comply with them that were; they p. 399would ſeem to be very earneſt for Judaiſm, but not for Chriſtianiſme, that ſo they might eſcape the fury of the Jews. Unſound hearts will ſay any thing, and do any thing, and be any thing to avoid perſecution, and to ingratiate themſelves with perſecutors.Joſeph Hiſt. Lib. 13. The Samaritans, as long as the Jewiſh Religion flouriſhed and was in honor, cauſed a Temple to be built on Mount Garazin, that therein they might not be inferior to the Jews; and they boaſted themſelves to be of the progeny of Joſeph, and worſhippers of God with them, but when they perceived that the Jews were cruelly afflicted and perſecuted by Antiochus Epiphanes, for worſhipping of the true God, and fearing leaſt they ſhould be handled in the like manner, they changed both their coat and their note, affirming that they were but Iſraelites, but Sidonians, and that they had built their Temple, not unto God, but to Jupiter. Thus times of affliction and perſecution will diſtinguiſh the precious from the vile, 'twill difference the counterfeit profeſſor from the true. Perſecution is a Chriſtians Touch-ſtone, 'tis a Lapis Lydius that will try what mettal men are made of, whether they be Silver or Tine, Gold or droſs, Wheat or Chaffe, ſhadow or ſubſtance, carnal or Spiritual, ſincere, or hypocritical; nothing ſpeaks out more ſoundneſs and uprightneſs, then a purſuing after holineſs, even then when holineſs is moſt afflicted, purſued, and perſecuted in the world; to ſtand faſt in fiery trials argues much integrity within. But,

2Secondly, All the troubles and perſecutions which Satan or his inſtruments raiſe againſt the Saints of the moſt high ſhall not diminiſh their number, but rather increaſe them. The more the Iſraelites in Egypt were oppreſſed, afflicted, and perſecuted, the more they increaſed and multiplyed, Exod. 1.10, 11, 12, 13.Cyprian ſpeaking of the Chriſtians & Martyrs in his time, ſaith, Occidi poterant ſed vinci non poterant. They may kill them▪ but they cannot overcome them. Come, ſay they, let us deal wiſely with them, leſt they multiply; let us increaſe their task, let us lay heavy burdens upon them, &c. and accordingly they did, thinking by low, this means to cow out their ſpirits, and to have brought them low, and to have leſſened their number; but did this ſtratagem prevail? O no, As you may ſee in verſ. 12. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplyed and grew. There were but ſeventy ſouls that went down to Egypt, but p. 398they multiplyed to ſix hundred thouſand, beſides children, as is evident by comparing Exod. 1.5.7. with Chap. 12.37, 38. So the Jews that were carried captive to Babylon, were but twelve thouſand ſix hundred, but they returned fourty two thouſand three hundred and threeſcore, beſides their ſervants and their Maids, of whom there were ſeven thouſand three hundred thirty and ſeven. Neh. 7.66, 67, &c. Ezra 2.64, 65. The Kingdom of Chriſt is ſet forth by a little ſtone cut out of a Mountain without hands;Dan. 2.34, 35.Dan 2:34Dan 2:35 and though in all ages there has been many hammers at work to break this little ſtone in pieces, yet they have not been able to do it, but this little ſtone has proved a growing ſtone, and in ſpite of the devil, and a perſecuting world will grow more and more, till it comes to be a-great mountain, and filleth the whole earth. In the 8. of the Acts you read of a great perſecution, and the ſtorm beat ſo hard upon the Churches, that it diſperſed and ſcattered them up and down; and this was ſo far from leſſening of the number of believers that it did mightily increaſe their number; witneſs verſ. 4, 5, 6, 8. Therefore they that were ſcattered abroad, went every where preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Chriſt unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto thoſe things which Philip ſpake, hearing and ſeeing the miracles which he did. And there was great joy in that city. Samaria was a very wicked corrupt place, and bewitch't by the Sorceries of Simon Magus, yet God had his people there,Verſ. 14, 15, 16, 17. and by the Miniſtry of Philip (not Philip the Apoſtle, but Philip the Deacon) who was a perſecuted brother, he called them home to be partakers of his Spirit and Grace. And thus the ſcattering of the Church was the great advantage and increaſe of the Church;Witneſs Faber, Farellus, Ruffus, and many others in France, and witneſs our Brethren who were forced to fly to New-England. the perſecution of one Church may be the gathering, edifying, multiplying, and erecting of many Churches. Such Miniſters who have been by perſecution driven from their own Churches, have been eminently inſtrumental in the planting of many other Churches. Though the Goſpel, and the faithful Preachers and profeſſors of it was by the Scribes, Phariſees, High Prieſts, Elders, and great council, exploded, blaſphemed and perſecuted at Jeruſalem (which was once the holy City) yet it was with joy received p. 400in the poluted, bewitched, ſcorned and diſpiſed City of Samaria. O the Freeneſs! O the riches of grace! Perſecution is the multiplication of the people of God; in all ages the more the Saints have been afflicted, oppreſſed, and perſecuted, the more they have increaſed. The removing of the ſeven Churches in Aſia, brought the Goſpel to Europe and Affrica. During the ten cruel perſecutions of the Heathen Emperors, the Chriſtian faith was ſpread thorow all places of the Empire, becauſe the oftner they were mowen down, the more they grew, as Tertullian witneſſeth; and the more we are cut down by the ſword of perſecution (ſaith the ſame Author) the more ſtill we increaſe. Perſecuted Saints are like Cammomile which grows and ſpreads by being trod upon; the more perſecutors tread upon the people of God, the more they will ſpread and grow. Auſtin has long ſince obſerved, that though there were many thouſand Chriſtians put to death for profeſſing Chriſt, yet they were never the fewer for being ſlain. Julian the Apoſtate deviſed all manner of torments to terrifie the people of God, and to ſuppreſs them, and yet they increaſed and multiplyed ſo faſt, that at laſt he thought it his beſt courſe to give over perſecuting of them, and this he did not out of love to them, but becauſe the more they were perſecuted, the more they increaſed.

In Diocleſians time under whom the laſt and worſt of the ten perſecutions fell, for then Chriſtian Religion was more deſperately oppoſed and perſecuted then ever, and yet then Religion proſpered and prevailed more then ever;Ruffinus. ſo that Diocleſian himſelf obſerving that the more he ſought to blot out the name of Chriſt, the more legible it was, and the more he labored to block up the way of Chriſt, the more paſſible it was, and that whatever of Chriſt he though to root out, it rooted the deeper, and roſe the higher, thereupon he reſolved to engage no further, but retired to a private life.

And it is very obſervable, that the reformation in Germany, was much furthered by the very oppoſition that the Papiſts made againſt it; yea, and 'tis not to be forgotten, that when two Kings wrote againſt Luther, viz. Henry the eighth of England, and Ludovicus of Hungary, this Kingly Title being p. 401entred into the controverſie, made men more diligently and curiouſly to examine the matter, by which means there was ſtir'd up in men a general inclination to Luthers opinion.

I have read of one who obſerving the Chriſtian Religion to be ſo furiouſly perſecuted by bloody Nero, concluded that ſurely that muſt needs be good, yea very good which was ſo cruelly perſecuted by Nero who was ſo bad, ſo very bad: if men would ſit down and ſtudy which way to make moſt proſelytes to ſuch and ſuch opinions and practices that are different from their own, certainly they cannot pitch upon a better way then to perſecute thoſe that differ from them; 'tis the ſword of the Spirit, and not the ſword of perſecution that will reduce the erroneous; when the diſeaſe lies in the head, the remedy muſt be anſwerable to the diſeaſe: certainly a man ſhall as ſoon conquer a Caſtle by Spiritual arguments, as he ſhall conquer a conſcience by club-law; when our Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſent forth his Diſciples to make a conqueſt upon an ignorant, erroneous, and deluded world, he did not ſend them forth with ſwords, piſtols, or any ſuch military weapons; O no, but he ſent them forth under the choice anointings of his Spirit, and with his everlaſting Goſpel, and by theſe means he turned the world upſide down; theſe were the means by which he turned ſinners from darkneſs to light,Acts 26.18.Acts 26:18 and from the power of Satan to Jeſus Chriſt. The weapons that the Apoſtles uſed were not carnal, but Spiritual. 2 Corinth. 10.4, 5. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but Spiritual,Vide Calvin, Beza, and Eſtius. and mighty through God to the pulling down of ſtrong holds, caſting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth it ſelf againſt the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Chriſt. Satan had many ſtrong holds, and ſin had many ſtrong holds, and carnal reaſon had many ſtrong holds, and the world had many ſtrong holds in ſinners hearts; and yet all theſe ſtrong holds, Forts, Towers, Caſtles, &c. were not able to ſtand before the Apoſtles Spiritual weapons: they all come tumbling down p. 402before the Spirit and the word of the Lord in the mouths of his faithful Miniſters; by theſe Spiritual weapons Satan was diſarmed, and rebellious tranſgreſſors were conquered, captivated, and ſubdued to the obedience of the Lord Jeſus. But,

Thirdly, The troubles, afflictions, and perſecutions that befall you in the purſuit after holineſs, may iſſue in the converſion and ſalvation of others, as is evident in Acts 8. which Chapter I recommend to your moſt ſerious peruſal. So in that 2 Tim. 2.9, 10. Wherein I ſuffer trouble as an evil doer, even unto bonds, but the Word of God is not bound, (though Paul was fettered,foreign, For this cauſe. yet the word was free) Therefore I endure all things for the Elects ſakes, that they may alſo obtain the ſalvation which is in Chriſt Jeſus, with eternal glory. Paul for preaching of the Goſpel clearly and faithfully was impriſoned at Rome, and handled as if he had been a malefactor, all which he was contented to ſuffer upon theſe very grounds, that the Elect might be called, converted, ſaved and glorified. 'Tis very obſervable, that though Paul was a priſoner, yet he preacht; though he was in bonds,Several of Pauls Epiſtles were written when he was in bonds. yet he preacht; and though he was accounted as an evil doer, yet he preacht, that the Elect might be ſanctified and ſaved; Though his perſecutors did lay Irons upon his legs, yet they did not lay a law of ſilence upon his lips; and though they ſhut him up from going to others, yet they did not ſhut out others from coming to hear him; for even in bonds he exerciſed his miniſterial office: As cruel as his perſecutors were, they would not ſhut the priſon doors upon them that waited on his Miniſtry. So Philemon was converted by Paul when he was in bonds, Phil. v. 10. I beſeech thee for my ſon Oneſimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds. Paul had a bleſſing going along with his Miniſtry, when he was in bonds as well as when he was at liberty. Oneſimus was converted when Paul was a priſoner; God made Pauls priſon to be a Paradiſe to Oneſimus; Paul by his preaching, patience, and chearfulneſs in ſuffering, converts Oneſimus to the faith: priſons in theſe times were turn'd into Churches; And ſo they were in Queen Maries daies;Act. and Mon. fol. 1457. for as bloody as her Raign was, moſt of the priſons in England were turn'd into Chriſtian p. 403Schools and Churches (ſaith Mr. Fox) ſo that there was no greater comfort then for Chriſtians to reſort to priſons, and to hear the Martyrs to pray and preach, and to behold their holy, humble, heavenly, gratious converſation.Ibid. 1381. So the afflictions and perſecutions of the Saints in the primitive times iſſued in the converſion and ſalvation of many ſouls. We read that Cicilia a poort Virgin by her gracious behaviour in her martyrdom, was the means of converting 400. to Chriſt. Adrianus by ſeeing the Martyrs ſuffer ſo patiently and chearfully, was converted to the faith, and afterwards ſealed to the truth with his blood. Juſtin Martyr was alſo converted in the ſame way. In the third perſecution, Fauſtus and Jobita, Citizens of Brixia, ſuffered Martyrdom with ſuch invincible patience, courage, and chearfulneſs, that Caeloccrius cryed out (Vere magnus Deus Chriſtianorum) Verily great is the God of the Chriſtians; Upon which words he was preſently apprehended, and ſo ſuffered martyrdom with them. And that was a remarkable ſaying of Luther (Eccleſia totum mundum convert it ſanguine & oratione) the Church converteth the whole world by blood and prayer. Now if by your troubles, afflictions, and perſecutions, and the exerciſe of grace under them, you ſhall be inſtrumental to convert and ſave a ſoul or ſouls from wrath to come, it will turn wonderfully to your advantage, and you ſhall ſhine as the ſtars for ever and ever, Dan. 12.3. That ſame power, preſence, wiſdom, and grace, that converted others by the ſufferings of former Saints, is able to accompliſh the ſame glorious effects by the ſufferings of the Saints of this Generation; and therefore beare up bravely, and neither fear nor faint under your preſent ſufferings. But,

Fourthly, The troubles, afflictions, and perſecutions that 4Chriſtians meet with in their purſuit after holineſs, will further the increaſe and growth of their grace; grace never riſes to ſo great a height as it do's in times of perſecution; ſuffering times are a Chriſtians Harveſt times.Pſal. 69.7, 8, 9, 12.Ps 69:7Ps 69:8Ps 69:9Ps 69:12 Let me inſtance in that grace of zeal: I remember Moulin ſpeaking of the French Proteſtants, ſaith, When Papiſts hurt us for reading the Scriptures, we burn with zeal to be reading of them; but now perſecution is over, our Bibles are like old Almanacks, &c. All the p. 404reproaches, frowns, threatnings, oppoſitions, and perſecutions that a Chriſtian meets with in a way of holineſs, doth but raiſe his zeal and courage to a greater height. Micha's ſcoffing at David did but inflame and raiſe his zeal:2 Sam. 6.20.21, 22.2 Sam 6:202 Sam 6:212 Sam 6:22 If this be to be vile, I will be more vile. Look as fire in the winter burns the hotter (by an Antiperiſtaſis) becauſe of the coldneſs of the air; ſo in the winter of affliction and perſecution, that divine fire, the zeal of a Chriſtian, burns ſo much the hotter, and flames forth ſo much the more vehemently and ſtrongly. In times of greateſt affliction and perſecution for holineſs ſake, a Chriſtian hath, firſt, a good Captain to lead and encourage him; Secondly, a righteous cauſe to prompt and embolden him; Thirdly, a gracious God to relieve and ſuccour him; Fourthly, a glorious heaven to receive and reward him; and certainly theſe things cannot but mightily raiſe him and inflame him, under the greateſt oppoſition and perſecution; Theſe things will keep him from fearing, fawning, fainting, ſinking, or flying in a ſtormy day; yea theſe things will make his face like the face of an Adamant, as God promiſed to make Ezekiels: Ezek. 3.7, 8, 9. Job 41.24. Pliny.Ezek 3:7Ezek 3:8Ezek 3:9Job 41:24Now an Adamant is the hardeſt of ſtones, 'tis harder then a flint, yea 'tis harder then the nether-milſtone. The Naturaliſts obſerve, that the hardneſs of this ſtone is unſpeakable; the fire cannot burn it (nor ſo much as heat it thorow) nor the hammer cannot break it, nor the water cannot diſſolve it, and therefore the Greeks call it an Adamant from its untameableneſs; and in all ſtorms the Adamant ſhrinks not, it fears not, it changeth not its hue; let the times be what they will, the Adamant is ſtill the ſame; in times of perſecution, a good cauſe, a good God, and a good conſcience will make a Chriſtian like an Adamant, 'twill make him invincible, and unchangeabl…. When one deſired to know what kind of man Baſil was, there was preſented to him in a dream, ſaith the Hiſtory, a Pillar of fire with this motto (Talis eſt Baſilius) Baſil is ſuch a one, he is all on a light fire for God; perſecutions will but ſet a Chriſtian all on a light fire for God. Look as Well-water is warmeſt in the winter time, ſo real Chriſtians are warmeſt for God, his glory, truth, and ways, in the winter of affliction and perſecution: true grace riſes by oppoſition & p. 405perſecution; many a man had not been ſo good if the times had not been ſo bad; many a man had not been ſo gratious, if the times had not been ſo dangerous; many a man had not been ſo holy, if the times had not been ſo prophane; many a man had not been ſo zealous, if the times had not been ſo lukewarm; many a man had not been ſo ſtout and reſolute againſt bowing the knee to Baal, if multitudes had not been worſhppers of Baal. Rev. 14, 1.—6.Rev 14:1All the afflictions and perſecutions that befall the people of God, do but add to their ſpiritual life, light, and luſtre. As Stars ſhine brighteſt in the darkeſt nights, and as Spices ſmell ſweeteſt when pounded, and as Vines are the better for bleeding, and Gold the brighter for ſcowring, and Palm-trees the better for preſſing; ſo the graces of the Saints ſhine brighteſt, and ſmell ſweeteſt, and riſe higheſt in times of affliction and perſecution. The Naturaliſts have long ſince obſerved, that though the South wind be more pleaſant, yet the North wind is more healthfull; for the South wind with his warmth raiſeth vapours, which breed putrefaction, and cauſe diſeaſes; but the North wind with his cold drieth up thoſe vapours, purging the blood, and quickning the ſpirits: ſo the North wind of affliction and perſecution, contributes moſt to the drying up of ſinful vapours, and to the quickning up of a Chriſtians Graces. Though the wind may blow, and the rain in ſtormy weather may beat upon a painted Poſt or Sign, whoſe colour is laid in oyle, yet the wind and rain is ſo far from blowing or waſhing off the colour or beauty that is upon the Poſt or Sign, that it rather adds to their beauty, and makes them ſhine more beautifull then before; ſo the rain of affliction and the wind of perſecution, do rather add to the beauty and luſtre of a Chriſtians graces, then any way cloud them, or take off the ſpiritual beauty and glory of them. But,

Fifthly, Perſecuting times are uniting times; oh the diſcord, 5the diviſion, the wrangling, biting & quarrelling that is to be found among profeſſors in times of peace & proſperity! but when affliction and perſecution comes upon them, this p. 406unites them together.In perſecuting times the Saints have been but as one man; which made their very perſecutors to ſay (Ecce ut invicem ſe diligunt!) ſee how theſe Chriſtians love one another, ſee how they knit and cloſe together! Euſebius in Hiſt. Pſalm 83.3. to verſe 9. 2 Chron. 20.1, 4, 12.Ps 83:32 Chr 20:12 Chr 20:42 Chr 20:12 Though the ſheep in Sun-ſhine dayes feed at a diſtance, and wander one from another; yet when a ſtorm comes, or the Wolf comes, then they run all together; and ſo it's with Chriſtians: Some Religious Biſhops that could by no means agree when they had their freedom and liberty, yet could well enough agree when they were in priſon together. Though children in a Family may fall out among themſelves, yet they quickly unite when a common enemy aſſaults them. Perſecuting times unite Chriſtians cloſer together in their affections, reſolutions and prayers: they who formerly could hardly be brought to eat together, or trade together, or live together, or walk together, in perſecuting times will be brought to hear together, and pray together, and faſt together, and communicate experiences together, and ſtand together, and fall together, and riſe together, &c. When Gebal & Ammon and Amaleck did combine, the people of God kept cloſe together: for they very well knew that broken forces were ſoon diſſipated. I have read of Ptolomeus Philadelphius King of Egypt, that he cauſed the Bible to be tranſlated by ſeventy Interpreters, which ſeventy were ſeverally diſpoſed of in ſeventy ſeveral Cels, & though they knew not the names of one another, nor never ſaw the faces of one another, yet they did ſo well agree in their ſeveral Tranſlations, that there was no conſiderable difference betwixt them in rendring the Text: ſo when the people of God ſhall be put into Cells and Priſons, and Goals, then they will ſo agree together,Acts 7.Acts 7 that there will be little or no difference betwixt them. As all the ſtones that came about Stephens ears, did but knock him cloſer to Chriſt the corner ſtone: ſo all the ſtones that come about the Saints ears, will but knock them the nearer to Chriſt, and the cloſer one to another. But,

6Sixthly, As perſecuting times are uniting times, ſo perſecuting times are truth-advancing times: truth thrives moſt when it is moſt oppoſed and peſecuted, Phil. 1.12, 13, 14. But I would ye ſhould underſtand, Brethren, that the things which hapned unto me, have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel; So that my Bonds in Chriſt are manifeſted in all the palace, Veritas vincit.and in all other places. And many of the Brethren in the p. 407Lord waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to ſpeak the word without fear. Both Court, City, and Countrey did ring of Pauls bonds, and the cauſe thereof; Pauls Iron chain made more noiſe, and was more glorious, and wrought more bleſſed effects then all the Golden chains in Nero's Court: for by his bonds and chains many of the Brethren were mightily imboldned and encouraged to preach the word without fear; the Brethren when they ſaw that Paul preacht, and kept up the exerciſe of his Miniſtry, though a priſoner, and though he was in bonds and chains, could not but reaſon thus with themſelves;Si veritas eſt cauſa diſcordiae, mori poſſum, tacere non poſſum: If truth be the cauſe of our diſcord, I may dye, but I may not be ſilent, ſaid Jerom to Helvidius. if Paul a priſoner holds up and holds on in preaching the word, though he be in bonds & chains; ah how much more ought we who are at liberty to hold up & hold on in preaching the truth, and advancing the truth, & in ſpreading of the truth! There were many that took an occaſion from Pauls impriſonment, bonds, and ſufferings, to diſgrace his Apoſtleſhip; the Apoſtle meets with theſe, and tells them, that though they deſigned and intended the diſgrace and hinderance of the Goſpel by his impriſonment and bonds; yet God had by his wonderfull providence and goodneſs ſo ordered the matter, that his bonds and impriſonment turned to his great honor and fame, and an occaſion of further ſpreading and advancing the Goſpel. Though Satan and his inſtruments may diſturb the truth, yet they cannot ſuppreſs it; for (magna eſt veritas & praevalebit) great is truth, & ſhall prevail. So upon the perſecution of Stephen many of the Brethren preached the word far and near, and the hand of the Lord was with them to the converſion of many, Act. 11.19.—25. Now they which were ſcattered abroad upon the perſecution that aroſe about Stephen, travelled as far as Phenice, & Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but the Jews only; and ſome of them were men of Cyprus, and Cyrene, which when they were come to Antioch, ſpake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jeſus; and the hand of the Lord was with them; and a great number believed, & turned unto the Lord. Then tidings of theſe things came unto the ears of the Church which was in Jeruſalem; and they ſent forth Barnabas, that he ſhould go as far as Antioch: who when he came, and had p. 408ſeen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpoſe of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghoſt, and of faith; and much people were added unto the Lord. The Brethren that were diſperſed and ſcattered by reaſon of perſecution, fall upon preaching of the Lord Jeſus; and though they were Lay-men, yet the hand of the Lord was mightily with them, ſo that a great number believed and turned to the Lord. God is a free agent, and can work the hearts of men over to himſelf by what hand he pleaſes, and many times he doth the greateſt works by the moſt deſpiſed hands,1 Cor. 1.21, 25, 27.1 Cor 1:211 Cor 1:251 Cor 1:27 as it is evident in this inſtance. The Apoſtles did not fret, and fume, and ſtorm, and take on, becauſe theſe Brethren preacht the Lord Jeſus without ordination to the work of the Miniſtry. O no; but they were glad and rejoyced in their bringing in of ſouls to Chriſt, and they made it their work to exhort, encourage and build up thoſe that were brought in; neither did they prohibit theſe Brethren from preaching, becauſe they had not Apoſtolical hands laid on them. By theſe Lay-mens preaching, Chriſt is revealed, and multitudes are converted, and truth is advanced▪ and the Apoſtles are gladded. Now by what hath been ſaid, it is moſt evident that perſecuting times are truth-advancing times. But,

7Seventhly, and laſtly, As perſecuting times are truth-advancing times: ſo perſecuting times are a Chriſtians rejoycing times: A Chriſtians heart is never ſo full of joy, as it is when he is under ſufferings, Acts. 5.41.Acts 7.55, 56. Chap. 16.25. Oh how my heart leapeth for joy (ſaid Mr. Philpot) that I am ſo near the apprehenſion of eternal life! Eph. 3.1. Chap. 4.1. 2 Tim. 1.8. Phil. 1.9.23.Acts 7:55Acts 7:56Eph 3:12 Tim 1:8Phil 1:9Phil 1:23 And they departed from the preſence of the Council, rejoycing that they were counted worthy to ſuffer ſhame for his name: They counted it an honour to be diſhonoured for Chriſt, they took it as a grace to be diſgraced for Jeſus. Stephen found the joyes of heaven in his heart as the ſtones came clattering about his ears. So Paul and Sylas when they were in priſon, their hearts were ſo full of joy that they could not hold, but at mid-night when others were a ſleeping, they muſt fall a ſinging out the praiſes of the moſt High; they found more pleaſure then pain, more joy then ſorrow more comfort then torment in their bonds; the Rods with which p. 409they were whipt,Col. 4.10. Rom. 16.7. Paul rattles his chaine which he bears for the Goſpels ſake, and was as proud of it, as a woman of her ornaments, ſaith Chryſoſtom.Col 4:10Rom 16:7 were as Rods made up all of Roſemary branches; divine conſolations riſe ſo high in their ſouls, that their priſon was turn'd into a Pallace, yea into a Paradiſe. Paul was a man that took a great deale of pleaſure in his ſufferings for Chriſt; 2 Cor. 12.10. Therefore I take pleaſure in infirmities, in reproaches, in neceſſities, in perſecutions, in diſtreſſes for Chriſts ſake: He did not only bare his ſufferings patiently, but chearfully alſo; he often ſings it our, I Paul a priſoner (as you may ſee by comparing the Scriptures in the margent together) of Jeſus Chriſt; not I Paul an Apoſtle, nor I Paul wrapt up in the third heaven, nor I Paul that have more gifts, parts, and learning then others, but I Paul a priſoner, to ſhew how much he rejoyced in his bonds and ſufferings for Chriſt. Chryſoſtom did not hold Paul ſo happy for his rapture into Paradiſe, as he did for his impriſonment for Chriſt. So Rom. 5.3, 4. And not only ſo, but we glory in tribulations alſo, knowing that tribulation works patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope. Old Souldiers could not glory and joy more in their marks and ſcars of honour, then theſe Saints did in their tribulations and perſecutions for Chriſts ſake. Rabbi Simeon Ben Jochai liv'd twelve years in a dark Dungeon for feare of the Roman perſecution in the Reigne of Trajane the Emperour; and he call'd his dark Dungeon Zohar, that is, ſplendor, becauſe God had turn'd his darkneſs into light, and made up the want of the light of the Sun, by the light of his countenance, and by the ſhinings of the Sun of righteouſneſs upon his ſoul. Euſebius tells us of Algerius the Italian martyr, how that writing to his friend from a ſtinking Dungeon, he dates his Letter from my delicate Orchard;Acts and Mon. fol. 857. And Maſter Glover the Martyr wept for joy of his impriſonment. William Hunters Mother (that ſuffered under Bonner) told him that ſhe was glad that ever ſhe was ſo happy, as to beare ſuch a childe as could finde in his heart to die for Chriſts ſake. ſuch were his divine conſolations that they turn'd his Dungeon into a pleaſant Orchard. I with my Fellowes, ſaith Mr. Philpot, were carried to the Cole-houſe, where we doe rouze together in the ſtraw, as chearfully (we thank God) as others doe in their beds of downe. Mr. Bradford put off his Cap, and thanked the Lord, when his Keepers wife brought him word that he was to be burnt the next day: And Mr. Taylor fetcht a frisk when he was come neare to the place where he was to ſuffer. Henry and John (two Auguſtin Monks) being the firſt that were burnt in Germany, and Mr. Rogers the firſt that was burnt in Queen p. 410Maries dayes, did all ſing in the flames. If men did but know by experience the ſweet that is in ſuffering for Chriſt, they would deſire with Chryſoſtom, if it were put to their choice, rather to be Paul a priſoner of Jeſus Chriſt, then Paul wrapt up in the third heaven. One of the holy Women that ſuffered Martyrdom in this Nation, rejoyced that ſhe might have her foot in the ſame hole of the Stocks, in which Mr. Philpots had been before. And Luther Luther. Fire, ſword, death, priſon, famine, are all pleaſures, they are all delightfull to me, ſaith Baſil. Modeſtus Lieutenant to Julian the Emperour, told him, that when the Chriſtians ſuffered they did but deride them, and the torments (ſaid he) with which Chriſtians are tormented, are more terrible to the tormentors, then they are to the tormented.r…ports of that famous Martyr Saint Agatha, that as ſhe went to priſons and tortures, ſhe ſaid ſhe went to Banquets and Nuptials. Vincentius laughing at his Tormentors, ſaid, that death and tortures were to Chriſtians (Jocularia & ludicra) matters of ſport and paſtime, and he joyed and gloried when he went upon hot burning Coales, as if he had trod upon Roſes. Philip Lanſgrave of Heſſe, being a long time priſoner under Charles the fifth, 'twas demanded, what upheld him all that time, and he anſwered, that he felt the divine conſolations of the Martyrs. Baſil in his Oration for Barlaam that famous Martyr, ſaith, that he delighted in the cloſe priſon as in a pleaſant green meddow, and he took pleaſure in the ſeverall inventions of tortures, as in ſeverall ſweet flowers. William Tims Martyr, in a Letter to a friend of his a little before his death, writeth thus, Now I take my leave of you till we meet in heaven, and hie you after; I have tarried a great while for you, and ſeeing you are ſo long in making ready, I will tarry no longer for you: you ſhall finde me merrily ſinging, Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabboth, at my journeys end, &c. And when they kindled the fire at the feete of James Bainkam, me-thinks, ſaid he, you ſtrew roſes before me. And Hawkes the Martyr lifted up his hands above his head, and clapt them together when he was in the fire, as if he had been riding in ſtate and triumph. And holy Mr. Saunders ſpeaking of his conſolations in his ſufferings, ſaith, that he found a wonderfull ſweet refreſhment flow from his heart unto all the members of his body, and from all the parts of his body to his heart againe. By all theſe inſtances 'tis moſt evident that perſecuting times are the Saints rejoycing times; God reſerves the beſt and ſtrongeſt wine of conſolation to a day of perſecution; ſutable to that 2 Cor. 1.3, 4, 5. Bleſſed be God, even the father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the father of mercy, and the God p. 411of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in trouble, by the comfort wherewith we our ſelves are comforted of God. For as the ſufferings of Chriſt abound in us, ſo our conſolation alſo aboundeth by Chriſt. Oh the ſweet looks, the ſweet words, the ſweet hints, the ſweet in-comes, the ſweet joggings, the ſweet imbraces, the ſweet influences, the ſweet diſcoveries, the ſweet love-letters, the ſweet love-tokens, and the ſweet comforts that Chriſtians experience in their ſufferings for Chriſt; in all their afflictions and perſecutions, they may truly ſay, we have ſweet-meats to eate, and waters of life to drinke, and heavenly honey-combes to ſuck, that the world knows not of; and indeed when ſhould the Torch be lighted, but in a dark night? and when ſhould the fire be made, but when the weather is cold? and when ſhould the cordiall be given, but when the patient is weak? and when ſhould the God of comfort, the God of all kinds of comfort, and the God of all degrees of comfort, comfort his people, but under their afflictions and perſecutions? for then comfort is moſt proper, neceſſary, ſeaſonable and ſutable, and then God will be ſure to poure in of the oyle of joy into their hearts. And thus you ſee the great and glorious advantages that will redowne to the people of God by all their afflictions and perſecutions. But,

Eighthly, I anſwer, That to ſuffer affliction and perſecution 8for holineſs ſake, is the greateſt and the higheſt honour that you are capable of in this world;To die for Chriſt, is the greateſt promotion that God can bring any in this vale of miſery unto, ſaid Mr. Philpot the Martyr. the crowne of a Mrtyrdom is a crowne that the Angels thoſe Princes of glory are not capable of winning or wearing; and O who art thou! what art thou, O man! that God ſhould ſet this crowne upon thy head. 1 Pet. 4.14. If ye be reproached for the name of Chriſt, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory, and of God reſteth upon you; on their part he is evill ſpoken of, but on your part he is glorified. The very ſuffering condition of the people of God, is at the preſent a glorious condition, for the Spirit of glory reſts upon them, and they muſt needs be glorious, yea very glorious, upon whom the Spirit of glo…y dwells.Dan. 3.Dan 3 The ſufferings of the three Children tended very much to their honour and advancement, even in this world; and had thoſe veſſels of honour ſlipt their opportunity of ſuffering, they p. 412had loſt their glory.In the primitive times, when ſome good people came to comfort ſome of the Martyrs that were in priſon, and ready to ſuffer, they called them bleſſed Martyrs; O no, ſaid they, we are not worthy of the name of Martyrs. Theſe holy humble hearts thought Martyrdom too high an honour for them. The Apoſtles all along counted their ſufferings for Chriſt their higheſt honour. And that is a remarkable Scripture that you have in that 11 Heb. 36, 37, 38. And others had tryall of cruell mockings, and ſcourgings, yea moreover of bonds and impriſonment. They were ſtoned, they were ſawn aſunder, they were tempted, they were ſlaine with the ſword; they wandred about in ſheep-skins, and goat-skins, being deſtitute, afflicted, and tormented: O but theſe were ſurely the moſt ſad, miſerable, wretched, and forlorne creatures in all the world; O no; and that is moſt evident if the teſtimony and judgement of the holy Ghoſt may be received; for ver. 38. They were ſuch of whom the world was not worthy; the perſecuting world was not worthy of their love, nor worthy of their prayers, nor worthy of their preſence, nor worthy of their fellowſhip, and therefore God call'd them home, and ſet them downe upon thrones by himſelf. And to me 'tis very obſervable, that when that great Apoſtle Paul would glory in that which he accounted his honour, glory, and excellency, he do's not glory in his high Office, nor in his being wrapt up in the third heaven, nor in the intereſt that he had in the hearts of the Saints, nor in his arts or parts, &c. but he glories in his ſufferings, in that 2 Cor. 11.23.—28. In ſtripes above meaſure; in priſons more frequent; in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty ſtripes ſave one. Thrice was I beaten with Rods, once was I ſtoned, thrice I ſuffered ſhipwrack: a night and a day have I been in the deep. In journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own Countrey men, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the City, in perils in the wilderneſs, in perils in the Sea, in perils among falſe brethren. In wearineſs and painfulneſs, in watchings often, in hunger and thirſt, in faſtings often, in cold and nakedneſs. Thus you ſee that this bleſſed Apoſtle looks upon his ſufferings as his greateſt glory. To ſuffer for Chriſt is the greateſt honour and promotion that God gives in this world, ſaid old Father Latimer. John Noyes Latimer. John Noyes.took up a Fagot at the fire and kiſſed it, ſaying, Bleſſed be the time that ever I was borne to come to this preferment. When they had faſtned Alice Driver Alice Driver.with a chaine to the ſtake to be burnt, Never (ſaid ſhe) did Neckarchief become me ſo well as this chaine. Balilus Balilus.the Martyr, when he was p. 413to die, requeſted this favour of his perſecutors, viz. that he might have his chaines buried with him, as the Enſignes of his honour. When Ignatius Ignatius.was to ſuffer it, 'tis better for me (ſaith he) to be a Martyr, then to be a Monarch. What are we poore wormes full of vanities and lyes, that we ſhould be called to be maintainers of the truth; for ſufferings for Chriſt are the Enſignes of heavenly Nobility, ſaid Calvin. Calvin.'Twas a notable ſaying of a French Martyr, when the rope was about his fellow, Give me (ſaid he) that Golden chaine, and dub me Knight of that noble Order. I am the uninceteſt man for this high office of ſuffering for Chriſt that ever was appointed to it, ſaid bleſſed Sanders. I ſhall conclude this head with that excellent ſaying of Prudentius; Their names (ſaith he) that are written in red letters of blood in the Churches Calender, are written in Golden letters in Chriſts Regiſter, the book of life. And thus you ſee on all hands that ſuffering for Chriſt is the higheſt honour that you are capable of in this world: And therefore there is little reaſon why a Chriſtian ſhould ſhrink or ſhrug at ſufferings. But,

Ninthly, I anſwer, That the afflictions, perſecutions, and 9ſufferings that attend Chriſtians in theſe dayes, are nothing to the fiery trialls that the Saints and Martyrs of old have met with; For ſeven-fold harder meaſure has been meaſured forth to them, then is this day meaſured forth to us; our ſufferings are hardly to be nam'd in the day wherein thoſe ſore and heavy things are mentioned, that thoſe precious and famous Worthyes of old have ſuffered. I may ſay to moſt Chriſtians as the Apoſtle did to the Hebrewes, Heb. 12.4. Ye have not yet reſiſted unto blood, ſtriving againſt ſin; many have, but you have not, you have only met with hard words, when others have met with blowes and wounds; you have been only a contending with men, when others have been a contending with beaſts; you have been only whipt with Roſemary branches, when others have been whipt with Scorpions; you have been only bound with ſilken bands, when others have been bound with Iron chaines. Will you be ſo favourable to your ſelves as to compare your ſufferings with the ſufferings of former Saints, and that you may, let me give you a little Breviate of their ſufferings of whom the world was not worthy. Hiſtory tells us that in the Ten primitive p. 414perſecutions, they exerciſed all manner of cruelty and torments that could be deviſed againſt the Chriſtians: 1. in the Reigne of Adrian the Emperour, there were ten thouſand Chriſtians crucified in the Mount Ararat, crowned with crownes of Thornes, and thruſt into the ſides with ſharp darts. 2. Others were ſo whipt, that their very inward arteries and veines appeared, and their intrailes and bowells were ſeen, and afterwards they were ſet upon ſharp ſhells, (taken out of the Sea edged and ſharp) and certaine nailes and thornes were ſharpned and pointed (called Obeliſci) for them to goe upon, and after all this cruelty they were throwne to wild beaſts to be devoured. 3. Multitudes were baniſhed. 4. Others were drawn aſunder with wild Horſes. 5. Some were Rackt with bars of Iron. 6. Others were caſt into loathſome Dungeons. 7. Some were burnt in the fire. 8. Others were knockt downe, and had their braines beate out with Staves and Clubs. 9. Some were prickt in their faces and eyes with ſharp Reeds. 10. Others were ſtoned to death with ſtones, as Stephen was. 11. Some were daſhed in pieces againſt Mill-ſtones. 12. Others had their teeth daſht out of their Jawes, and their joynts broken. 13. Some were caſt downe from very high places. 14. Others were beheaded. 15. Some were tormented with Razors. 16. Others were ſlaine with the ſword. 17. Some were run thorow with Pikes. 18. Others were driven into the wilderneſs, where they wandered up and downe, ſuffering hunger and cold, and where they were expoſed to the fury both of wild beaſts, and alſo to the rage of the barbarous Arabians. 19. Some fled into Caves, which by their perſecutors were rammed up with ſtones, and there they dyed. 20. Others were troden to death by the people. 21. Some were hanged on Gibbets, with fire under their ſides. 22. Others were caſt into the Sea and drown'd. 23. Some were ſlaine in mettal Mines. 24. Others were hanged by the feet, and choaked with the ſmoak of a ſmall fire, their leggs being firſt broken. 25. Some were poudered with ſalt and vineger, and then roaſted with a ſoft fire. 26. Others were hanged by one hand, that they might feele the weight of their whole bodies, ſcorching & broyling over burning Coales. 27. Some were ſhot through with Arrowes, and p. 415afterwards thrown into ſtinking Jakes. 28. Others were ſtript ſtark-naked as ever they were borne, and turned out of doores in cold froſty nights, and burnt the next day. 29. In Syria, a company of Chriſtian virgins were ſtript ſtark-naked to be ſcorned by the multitude, then ſhaved, then covered with ſwill and draffe, and then torne in pieces and devoured by ſwine. 30. Laſtly, many women had one joynt of their bodies pulled from another,And another cruelty that they practiſed in the primitive times was this, They would make Fathers to kindle the Faggots to burne their own children, &c. and their fleſh and ſides ſcratched with Tallons of wild Beaſts to the bones, and their breaſts ſeared with Torches till they dyed. And thus you have an account of thirty ſeverall wayes, by which the precious ſons and daughters of Zion have formerly been afflicted, tormented, and deſtroyed; and what heart of ſtone can reade over this bill of particulars with dry eyes? And now tell me, Sirs, whether your fufferings are worth a naming in that day, wherein the ſufferings of the precious ſervants of God in the primitive times are ſpoken of? O no; well then, take heed of making Mole-hills mountaines, and of crying out, is there any ſorrow to our ſorrow, or any ſufferings to our ſufferings? But,

Tenthly, I anſwer, That unholy perſons have ſuffered as 10great and grievous things for the ſatisfying of their luſts and humors, and for the compaſſing of ſome worldly good, as you have ſuffered,Witneſs Jehu, Ahab, Jezebel, Balaam, Judas, &c. or are like to ſuffer for your purſuing after holineſs. O the hazards, the dangers, the deaths that many have run through to gratifie their luſts. Petrus Bleſenſis has long ſince obſerved, that the Courtiers of his time ſuffered as many vexations, with wearineſs and painfulneſs, with hunger and thirſt, and with all the Catalogue of Pauls afflictions that is reckon'd up in that 2 Cor. 11. as good Chriſtians did for the truth. I have read of a Roman ſervant, who knowing his Maſter was ſought for by Officers to be put to death, he to ſave his Maſters life, put himſelfe into his Maſters Cloathes that he might be taken for him, and accordingly he was taken and put to death for him, and all this out of a humor of vaine glory. The Romans deſire of the praiſes of men (ſaith Auguſtin) made them bountifull of their purfes, and prodigall of their lives.This was in Anno 1555. &c. Servetus at Geneva gave all his goods to the poore, and his body to be burnt, and all for a name, for a little glory among men, ſaith p. 416Calvin. Ah what cutting, what lancing, what bleeding, what vomitting, and what ſearching will many men endure upon the advice of their Phyſitians, and all for a little health, a little …trength, or to preſerve a wretched life for a few dayes, yea for a few houres ſometimes? O the tortures and torments that many Romans and others have undergon, ſometimes out of love to their Countrey, and ſometimes to maintaine their credit and reputation among men, and ſometimes out of an affectation of future fame and renowne, and to eternalize their names! and why then ſhould Chriſtians thinke ſo much of ſuffering afflictions and perſecutions for holineſs ſake, the leaſt dram of which being more worth then a thouſand thouſand of thoſe things, for which they have ſuffered ſuch exquiſite paines and torments? Ah what great things, what hard things doe many men daily ſuffer to gratifie their own luſts, and to ſatisfie the luſts of others? Ah how frequently doe many venture their lives, their eſtates, their names, their conſciences, yea their very ſouls to court a Dalilah? Oh the hell of horrors and terrors (which are worſe then a thouſand deaths) that many a ſinner daily wades thorough to enjoy his ſin! and why then ſhouldſt thou be ſtartled in thy purſuit after holineſs, becauſe of afflictions and perſecutions that may attend thee? when they are nothing to what many ſuffer from within and without, to enjoy that which will undoe them to all eternity, &c. But,

11Eleventhly, I anſwer, Though perſecutions may attend the purſuit of holineſs, yet God has a thouſand thouſand wayes to preſerve his people from being ruined and deſtroyed by perſeting hands.2 Tim. 3.11. Compared with that 13 and 14. of the Acts.2 Tim 3:11 Severall afflictions and perſecutions befell Paul, at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lyſtra, but out of them all the Lord delivered him: As a righteous cauſe led him into ſufferings, ſo a righteous God led him out of ſufferings; both Jews and Gentiles, Barbarians and Grecians, Princes and people, were as madly ſet upon perſecuting of him, as he was once madly ſet upon perſecuting of the Saints, but God delivered him from every hand of violence; divine power and wiſdom wrought gloriouſly for him, both in ſix troubles and in ſeven it brought him clearly off, and bravely out, not of ſome, but out of all his dangers and diſtreſſes, afflictions and perſecutions, &c.

p. 417Firſt, Now God ſometimes preſerves his people from being 1ruined and deſtroyed,Gen. 41.32. Chap. 11.33. Chap. 4. & ch. 31.29 compared.Gen 41:32 by laying a law of reſtraint upon the ſpirits of their perſecutors, as he did upon Labans and Eſaus, that they could not hurt him, yea in ſtead of kicking and killing, behold kiſſing and embracing: God tyed up thoſe curſt Doggs, and laid ſuch a reſtraint upon their wrath, rage, and malice, that they could not ſo much as touch a hair of Jacobs head; God ſtop't their mouthes, and bound their hands that they were not able to act any thing to the prejudice of Jacob. That God that laid a reſtraint upon the fierce wild creatures in Noahs Ark, that they might not prey upon the tamer, and that chain'd up the Lyons from preying upon Daniel, that God chained up theſe two Lyons, that they could not make a prey of innocent Jacob. But,

Secondly, God does this ſometimes by ſetting perſecutors 2one againſt another. When the Moabites were confederated with the Ammonites and thoſe of Mount-Seir againſt Judah, 2 Chron. 20.22,23,24. Judg. 1.22. Chap. 9.55. 56, 57. compared.2 Chr 20:222 Chr 20:232 Chr 20:24Judg 1:22God made them turn their ſwords into one anothers bowels, and ſo they mutually became their own executioners, and by this means poor Judah eſcaped. God ſometimes ſaves his Lambs by ſetting the Wolf and the Dogg together by the ears. When that Wolf Saul was even ready to devour David the Lamb, God lets looſe thoſe Doggs the Philiſtines upon Saul, 1 Sam. 23.27.1 Sam 23:27and ſo by this means David was p…eſerved and ſecured.Acts 23.6, 7, 8.Acts 23:6Acts 23:7Acts 23:8 And ſo Paul by ſetting the perſecuting Phariſees againſt the perſecuting Scribes, he eſcaped perſecution. And ſo the Lord by ſtiring up the Perſians againſt the Babylonians, he brought about the deliverance of the Jews out of their captivity; and afterwards by ſtirring up the Grecians againſt the Perſians, and the Romans againſt the Grecians, and the Gothes and Vandals, and other barbarous Nations againſt the Romans, he brought about the deliverance of his people: In all Ages God by engaging one furious Lyon againſt another, has preſerved his ſheep in quiet. When the Emperor of Germany threatned utter ruine to all the Proteſtants within his Empire, God let looſe the Turk to fall with great fury upon his Empire, and by that means diverted the Emperors rage, and preſerved his poor people, which were as ſheep appointed to the ſlaughter. Ah England, p. 418England, if God had not ſet thine enemies together by the ears, year after year, how had they combined and conſpired together to have ſwallowed thee up long before this day. But,

3Thirdly, God does ſometimes ſave his people from perſecutions, by paſſing a ſentence of death upon their perſecutors: And thus by his ſudden and fearful judgement upon Herod, he gave reſt, liberty and quiet to his people, Acts 12.23, 24. And ſo by his vengeance on perſecuting Emperors, he gave reſt to his people. When Julian the Apoſtate had vowed to to make an oblation of all the lives of the ſurviving Chriſtians (as Gregory Nazianzen reports) God ſtruck him with an Arrow from heaven,Orat. 4. in Iul. ſo that he died reviling of Chriſt, and caſting up his blood to heaven, as if he would have caſt it into the very face of Chriſt. And when Eugenius the Tyrant endeavored to deſtroy the Armies of the Chriſtians, under the Emperor Theodoſius, God gave the very winds a command to wreſt the weapons out of their enemies hands, and ſo preſerved his people. And in 88. how did God make the very winds to fight for his people, and ſo ſaved them from that bloody invaſion, by cauſing his winds to blow, and their enemies to ſink as Lead in the mighty waters. And by giving Achitophel Rope enough, he preſerved David from periſhing. But,

4Fourthly, God does this ſometimes by altering and changing the very hearts and natures of their perſecutors. And thus by changing Pauls nature,Acts 9.31.Acts 9:31 by turning that Wolf into a Lamb, that devil into a Saint, he gave the Churches reſt throughout all Judea, Galilee and Samaria; and this is one of the moſt deſirable things in the world, that God would ſave his people from outward ruine, by ruining their perſecutors ſins, and by changing their hearts and ſaving their ſouls. This way God has taken, and this way God may take (being a free Agent to work, when and where, and how, and on whom he pleaſes) but I can't turn to a promiſe, wherein he has engaged himſelf to make converts of perſecutors; his common way of dealing with ſuch, is to give them up to blindneſs of mind, and hardneſs of heart, and ſearedneſs of conſcience, and perverſneſs p. 419of ſpirit, that ſo their hell may be the hotter at laſt. But,

Fifthly, God does this ſometimes, by taking perſecutors feet 5in the ſame ſnares that they have laid for others; Pſal. 9.16.Pſal. 57.6.Ps 57:6 The wicked is ſnared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion Selah. Higgaion Selah ſignifies matter of great admiration, and of deep meditation; that the wicked ſhould be ſnared in the work of his own hands is matter of perpetual admiration, and of moſt ſerious meditation. Who won't admire that Goliah ſhould be ſlain with his own ſword, and that proud Haman ſhould hold Mordecaies ſtirrup, and be the Herald of his honor, Pſal. 7.15, 16. He made a pit and digged it, Hiſtories would furniſh us with many hundred inſtances of this nature.and is fallen into the ditch which he hath made. His miſchief ſhall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing ſhall come down upon his own pate. The wicked ſhall be undone by their own doings, all the Arrows that they ſhoot at the righteous, ſhall fall upon their own pates. Maxentius built a falſe bridge to drown Conſtantine, but was drowned himſelf. Henry the third of France was ſtabbed in the very ſame Chambe, where he had help't to contrive the cruel Maſſacre of the French Proteſtants. And his brother Charles the ninth, who delighted in the blood of the Saints, had blood given him to drink, for he was worthy.Afterwards he was made Lord Cobham. Soon after Thomas Arundel Arch-biſhop of Canterbury had condemned Sir John Oldcaſtle, a godly Knight, it pleaſed the Lord to ſtrike the Arch-biſhop ſo in his tongue, that he could neither ſwallow down any food, nor ſpeak a word before his death, and ſo he was ſtarved to death. The Duke of Somerſet (in King Edward the ſixth's days) by conſenting to his brothers death, made way for his own, by the ſame Ax and hand that beheaded his brother. 'Tis uſuall with God to take perſecutors in the ſnares and pits that they have laid for his people, as many thouſands in this Nation have experienced; and though Rome & her confederates are this day a laying of ſnares and traps, and a digging of pits for the righteous, who will rather burn then bow to their Baal, yet do but wait and weep, and weep and wait a little, and you ſhall ſee that the Lord will take them in the very ſnares and pits that they have laid and digged for his people. But,

p. 4206Sixthly and Laſtly, God ſometimes preſerves his people from perſecuting hands, by providing Cities of refuge to ſhelter them, and by providing hiding places to hide them in: Mat. 10.23. If they perſecute you in one city, flye to another: God has always found one City of refuge or another, to ſhelter his perſecuted people in. And ſo when bloody perſecuting Jezebel had cut off many of the Lords Prophets, God provided an Obadiah to hide an hundred of them by Fifty in a Cave.1 Kin. 18.4.13. The Learned judge that there were ſeveral others in Iſrael that kept other Prophets of the Lord from Jezabels fury beſides thoſe that Obadiah hid. Three years before Titus Veſpaſian beſieged Jeruſalem, there was a voice frequently heard, go up to Pella, go up to Pella, which very many of the Jews did and were ſaved.1 Kgs 18:41 Kgs 18:13 God never wants a Chamber of preſence, a chamber of providence, a chamber of protection, a chamber of ſalvation to hide his people in, Iſa. 26.20. I have read of one that in the time of the Maſſacre at Paris, crept into a hole to hide himſelf, and as ſoon as he was in, there came a ſpider and weaved a Web before the hole, the next morning the murderers came to ſearch for him, ſearch in that hole, ſaid one, and ſee if he be not there, O no ſaid another, he can't be there, for there is a Cob-web at the holes mouth, upon which they did not ſuſpect his being there, by which means he was preſerved from the rage and fury of thoſe men of blood. Conſtantius the Emperor promiſed a reward to thoſe Captains or Souldiers that ſhould bring Atharaſius head to him, but God hid him in a pit, and fed him there a long time by the hand of a friend; but being at laſt diſcovered by a Maid-ſervant, the very night before his adverſaries ſearch't for him, the providence of God opened away for his eſcape, and ſent him into the Weſt, by which means he was preſerved from the rage and fury of his adverſaries. I think no men under heaven have had larger experience of this truth then Engliſh men. Ah what Cities of refuge, what hiding places has God provided for them to hide them from the wrath and rage of their perſecutors for many years? And thus I have given you a brief account of ſome of thoſe ways which God takes to deliver his people out of perſecuting hands. But,

12Quisquis volens detrahit famae meae, nolens addit mercidi meae; ſaith Auguſtin.Twelfthly and laſtly, I anſwer, That all the perſecutions that you meet with on earth, ſhall advance your glory in heaven; the more Saints are perſecuted on earth, the greater ſhall be their reward in heaven; as perſecutions do increaſe a Chriſtians grace, ſo they do advance a Chriſtians glory. Mat. 5.10, p. 42111, 12. Bleſſed are they which are perſecuted for righteouſneſs ſake: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Bleſſed are ye when men ſhall revile you, and perſecute you, and ſhall ſay all manner of evil againſt you falſly for my ſake. Rejoyce, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for ſo perſecuted they the Prophets which were before you. Luk. 6.22, 23. Bleſſed are ye when men ſhall hate you, and when they ſhall ſeparate you from their company, and ſhall reproach you, and **Excommunicate and Anathematize you as notorious, ſhameful, and abominable offenders.caſt out your name as evil, for the ſon of mans ſake. Rejoyce ye in that day, and leap for joy: for behold your reward is in heaven, for in the like manner did their fathers unto the Prophets. They that are now oppoſed and perſecuted by men, ſhall at laſt be owned and crowned by God; yea and the more afflictions and perſecutions are multiplyed upon them in this world, the greater ſhall be their recompence in another wo…ld. The Original words (foreign) in Matthew, and (foreign.) in Luke ſignifies exceeding great joy, ſuch as men uſually expreſs by skipping and dancing; let your hearts leap, and let your bodies leap for joy, for great is your reward in heaven. Look as wanton young cattle in the Spring, when every thing is in its prime and pride do uſe to leap and skip for joy, ſo ſays Chriſt, do you leap and skip under all the afflictions and perſecutions that befalls you for righteouſneſs ſake, for great is your reward in heaven. Bernard ſpeaking of perſecutors, ſaith, That they are but his Fathers Goldſmiths, who are working to add Pearls to the Saints Crowns. It is to my loſs ſaid Gordius the Martyr if you abate me any thing of my preſent ſufferings; ſufferings for Chriſt, are the Saints greateſt glory; they are thoſe things wherein they have divinely glorified (Crudelitas veſtra gloria noſtra) your cruelty is our glory, ſay they in Tertullian, and the harder we are put to it, the greater ſhall be our reward in heaven. Chryſoſtom hit the nail, when he ſaid, if one man ſhould ſuffer all the ſorrows of all the Saints in the world, yet they are not worth one hours glory in heaven. By the conſent of the Schoolmen, all the Martyrs ſhall appear in the Church Triumphant, bearing the ſigns of their Chriſtian wounds about them, as ſo many ſpeaking teſtimonies of their godly courage, that what here they endured in the behalf of their Saviour, may be p. 422there an addition to their glory. O Chriſtians, all your ſufferings will certainly increaſe your future glory; every affliction, every perſecution will be a grain put into the ſcale of your heavenly glory, to make it more weighty in that day wherein he will richly reward you for every tear, for every ſigh, for every groan, for every hazard, and for every hardſhip that you have met with in the purſuit of holineſs, &c. for light afflictions, you ſhall have a weight of glory; and for a few afflictions you ſhall have as many joys,2 Cor. 4.16, 17, 18.2 Cor 4:162 Cor 4:172 Cor 4:18 pleaſures, delights, and contents, as there be Stars in heaven, or ſands on the Sea-ſhore; and for momentary afflictions you ſhall have an eternal crown of glory. If you have ſuffering for ſuffering with Chriſt on earth, you ſhall have glory for glory with Chriſt in heaven. Ah Chriſtians, your preſent ſufferings are but the ſeeds of your future glory, and the more plentifully you ſowe in tears, the more abundant will be your harveſt of glory. Cyrus in a great expedition againſt his enemies, the better to encourage his ſouldiers to fight, in an Oration that he made at the head of his Army, promiſed upon the victory to make every foot ſouldier an horſeman, and every horſeman a Commander, and that every Officer that did valiantly ſhould be highly rewarded; but Chriſt our General promiſes more, for he promiſes a Crown (Rev. 2.10. And a throne, Chap. 3.21.) to all his afflicted and perſecuted ones, which are the greateſt rewards that a God can give, or that man can crave. It troubled one of the Martyrs when he was at the ſtake, that he was going to a place where he ſhould be for ever a receiving of wages for a little work. Ariſtippus being demanded in a ſtorm, Why he was not as fearful as others were? anſwered, That there was great reaſon for it, For (ſaith he) they fear the torments due to a bad life, but I expect the reward due to a good life. Ah Chriſtians! ſhall not the hopes of that great reward that attends ſuffering Saints bare you up bravely, and carry you out ſweetly under all the ſtorms that may beat upon you whilſt you are ſailing heaven-wards, and holineſs-wards? Surely yes. I have read that Lycurgus could draw the Lacedemonians to any thing by temporal rewards: And, O then how much more ſhould I draw all your hearts to a readineſs and willingneſs to do any thing, to p. 423be any thing, and to ſuffer any thing for Chriſts ſake, and holineſs ſake, upon the account of that great reward, that ſure reward, and that eternal reward that attends ſuffering Saints. And let thus much ſuffice for anſwer to this fourth objection. I hope none of you will think that I have been too long in anſwering this Objection, conſidering the preſent times. But,