Paradise Opened, Preface

Paradise Opened · Preface

Dear and Honoured Friends,

THe enſuing Treatiſe about the Signal Preſence of God with his people, in their greateſt troubles, deepeſt diſtreſſes and moſt deadly dangers, I preſent to the ſervice of all your ſouls. There has not been any Treatiſe on this Subject, that hath ever fallen under mine eye; which hath been one great reaſon to encourage me in this preſent undertaking. I know ſeveral holy and learned men have written ſingularly well upon the Gracious Preſence of God with his People, in Ordinances, and in the Worſhip of his Houſe; but I know none that have made it their buſineſs, their work, to handle this Subject that I have been diſcourſing on, though a more excellent, noble, ſpiritual▪ ſeaſonable and neceſſary S…bject, can …arely b… treated on.

There are ten things that I am very well ſatisfied in, and to me they are things of great Importance in this preſent day: And the fir…t is this, viz.

That there is no engagement from God upon any of his people, 1to run themſelves into ſufferings wilfully▪ cau…eſly, groundle…ly; Chri…ians muſt not be prodigal of their blood, for their blood is Chriſt's; their eſtates, their names, their liberties, their all, is his; they are not their own, they are bought with a price, and1 C…r. …. 2…. cap. 7. 23. therefore to him they muſt be accountable for their lives, liberties, &c. and therefore they had need be very wary how they part with them: We muſt not ſtep out of our way to take up a Croſs. The three Worthies were paſſive; they did not ruſh into the fieryD…. 2. 2…, 21. 28. W…at … …erings …o many blind Papiſt▪ run themſelves into, out of a ſupe…ſtitious opi… of Merit or Satiſfaction; but under all their Penances they cannot ſay we …ear in our bodies the marks of our Lord Jeſu▪ C…riſt. Gal. 6. 17.Gal 6:17 furnace, but yielded themſelves to be caſt into the fiery furnace; they did not ſtubbornly oppoſe nor ſtruggle againſt their enemies, but patiently and quietly yielded their bodies to the flames: neither did the Prophets or Apoſtles ſtep over God's hedge, to make way to their own Sufferings or Martyrdom. No men may, with the Donatiſts, deſtroy themſelves, rather than they would conform to this or that Religion. No man may have a hand in his own deſtruction, no man may cut his throat with his own hands to avoid a Priſon, a D…ngeon, a Den, a fiery Furnace. Cyprian tells the Chriſtians in his time, that were ambitious of Martyrdom; Non eſt in tua poteſtate, ſed in Dei dignatione Martyrium. We may not run our ſelves into priſon without a Mittimus from heaven. If righteouſneſs lead me into priſon, a righteous God will ſtand by me in priſon; and in the iſſue, give me a gracious, or a glorious deliverance out of priſon. But if I wilfully, cauſleſly run my ſelf into priſon, it will be a righteous thing with God, to leave me to ſhift for my ſelf in priſon. If God ſhould meet a man in priſon, and ſay to him as he did …nce to Elijah, What doſt thou here Elijah? 1 King. 19. 9. Here he is ſecretly taxed for leaving his ſtation out of too much fear of Jez…bel.1 Kgs 19:9What doſt thou here, O man? is this a fit place for Truth's Champion? If a man cannot readily anſwer, Lord, I have not run my ſelf into a priſon (but 'tis thy ſelf, 'tis thy truth, 'tis thy intereſt, 'tis thy honour, 'tis my conſcience, 'tis duty that has brought me hither) what confuſion would attend him. Thiluſ…rius and Theodoret ſpeak of ſome that would compel men to kill them out of an affectation of Martyrdom; but this was a mad ambition, but no true zeal. 'Twas an errour in Tertullian, to ſay that afflictions, that ſufferings, were to be ſought. No man is to make his own Croſs, nor Scourges to whip himſelf; nor to caſt himſelf into a ſuffering ſtate, ſo long as God hath left him a plain openAct. 9. 23, 24, 25. Joh. …0. 19, 20.Acts 9:23Acts 9:24Acts 9:25 way to eſcape ſuffering without ſinning; not but that moſt men are more apt and prone to ſin themſelves out of ſmart ſufferings, than unwarrantably to run themſelves into ſufferings; but it is good for every Chriſtian to be upon his Guard, and not run till God ſends him. As a Chriſtian muſt not ſh…n ſufferings, ſo he muſt not ſeek them.

Secondly, that Afflictions, Sufferings, Perſecutions, hath 2been the common lot and portion of the people of God, in all theMat. 1…. 22. cap. 16. 24. Luk. 21. 1…. Joh. 15. 20. Heb. 11. The common cry of Perſecutors hath been Chriſtian… a… L….Matt 1:22Luke 21:1John 15:20Heb 11 Ages of the world; witneſs the ſu…ferings of the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apoſtles, the Primitive Chriſtians, and the Martyrs of a later date: Abel was perſecuted by C…in, 1 Joh. 3. 12. and Iſaac by Iſhmael, Gal. 4. 29. and Jacob by …ſau. 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 wi…hes and cold deſires after Godlineſs, and yet eſcape Perſecution; yea, he may make ſome eſ…ays and attempts as if he would be Godly, and yet eſcape Perſecution: But when a man is th… roughly reſolved to be Godly, and ſets himſelf in good earneſt upon purſuing after holineſs, upon living a life of holineſs, upon growing up in holineſs, then he muſt expect to meet with afflictions and perſecutions. 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 Hiſtories that are extant, do abundantly evidence, that from Age to Age, and from one Generation to another, they that have been born after theGal. 4. 29.Gal 4:29 Fleſh, have perſecuted them that have been born after the Spirit; and that the Seed of the Serpent hath been ſtill a multiplying ofGen. 3. 1….Gen 3:1 troubles upon the Seed of the Woman▪ As there was no way to Paradiſe, but by a flaming ſword; nor no way to Canaan, but through a howling wilderneſs, 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, of Perſecution. The way toAct. 14. 21▪ 2….Acts 14:21Acts 14:2 Heaven is not ſtrewed with roſes, but f…ll of thorns and bria…s, as thoſe of whom this world is not worthy have always experienced.Heb. 11.Heb 11 The Serpentine Brood takes a very great pleaſure to be ſtill a repreſenting the people of God as fooliſh, hypocritical, preciſe, proud, ſchiſmatical, ſeditious, factious, and as perſons againſt Order and Government, againſt good Laws and Cuſtoms, as diſtarbers and troublers of the peace. Thus Ahab accounts Elijah, The troubler of Iſrael; and Haman laid it to the charge of the1 King. 18. 17. Eſ…h. 3. 8. Ez…a 4. 15.1 Kgs 18:17 Jews, that they were diſo…dient to the …ing's Laws; and the adverſaries of the Jews told Artaxerxes the King, that Jeruſalem was a rebel…ious City, hurtful unto Kings and Princes: And the unbelieving Jews at Theſſalonica did as much for the Apoſtles, they ſaid they were the men that turned the world up ſ…le down: So Luther Act. 17. 6.Acts 17:6was called the Trumpet of Rebellion: and Tertul…us calls Paul A peſtilent fellow, and a mover of ſedition; foreign, A Peſti…ence, A Batch; fooliſh Tertul…us miſ-took the Antidote for the Poyſon,cap. 24. 5. the remedy for the diſeaſe. Now if ſo precious a man as Paul (than whom, ſaith Chryſoſtom, the earth never bare a better, ſince it bore Chriſt) were accounted and called a Peſt, a Botch, let not us think much if the choiceſt Saints in our days are accounted and eſteemed as ſo many Peſts and Botches. This is the reward the ingrateful world gives the ſervants of Chriſt, for their zeal and faithfulneſs in the cauſe of Chriſt: inſtead of encouraging them, they load them with ignominious and hateful terms of Rebellion and Turbulency, &c. labouring thereby to make them odious, and to enrage the people againſt them; as the Perſecutors of old uſed to wrap the Chriſtians up in Bears skins and Lyons skins, &c. and then to bait them with Dogs. It is a very great vanity to think of paſſing to heaven without ſuffering; the Saints in all Ages have found the way thither paved with troubles, and it would be a fooliſh, childiſh thing for any of us to think of finding it otherwiſe now. Conſtantine the Great, as piouſly as wi…tily, told Ac…ſius the Novation, that if he would not take up withSecrat. H…ſt. Eccl. lib. 1. cap. 10. Perſecution, and ſuch like dealing, he muſt provide him a ladder, and climb alone to heaven; we muſt go to heaven ſome other way than the Saints have done of old, except we reſolve of going thither through much tribulation, Act. 14. 22.

Thirdly, That no perſon or perſons on earth may ſinfully ſhift 3off ſufferings, or avoid ſufferings; there being infinitely more evil in the leaſt ſin, than there can be in the greateſt ſufferings that can befall us in this world; 'tis beſt, 'tis ſafeſt to chuſe ſuffering rather than ſinning, as Moſes did; ſo Daniel choſe rather to beDan. 6.Dan 6 caſt among Lions, than that his Conſcience ſhould be a Lyon within him; and the three Children (or Champions rather) who werecap. 3. holily wilful, choſe rather to burn in the fiery furnace, than to bow to the Image that the King had ſet up. He that values peaceJu…as and Spira will rather ſin than ſuffer, but whoever ſuffered more on this …ide hell, than they ſuffered. with God, and peace with Conſcience, and the honour of God, and the credit of Religion, the ſilencing of ſinners, and the rejoycing of the Saints, muſt chuſe to ſuffer rather than to ſin, when ſtorms ariſe, and troubles and dangers approach, many begin to conſult, not how they may glorifie God by ſuffering, but how they may provide for their own ſafety by ſinning: Plato knew much of God, but (as Joſephus ſhews) durſt not ſet it down for fear of the people: And Lactantius charges the ſame upon Tully; Thou dareſt not (ſaith he) undertake the Patrenage of the truth, for fear of the priſon of Socrates: And Auguſtine De Ci…. lib. 6. cap. 10.doth as much for Seneca; he ſpends a whole Chapter in ſhewing how he held the truth in unrighteouſneſs; telling us how he reverenced that which he reproved, did that which he condemned, and worſhipped that which he found fault with. Though theſe wiſe men ſaw the vanity of the Heatheniſh Deities, and the worſhip that was given to them, and looked upon them as utterly unworthy of reſpect from wiſe and ſober men, nay, ſecretly ſcorned and derided them; yet would they not openly declare againſt them, and that for fear of the people who ſo much doted upon them: But Daniel's three young Worthies were men of that heavenly gallant…y, that they peremptorily reſolved upon this, that though they ſhould not be delivered by their God, yet they would not ſin againſt their God, nor ſo much as demur, deliberate, or take time to conſider whether they ſhould ſuffer or ſin; 'twas paſt diſpute with them, brave and noble ſouls that they were. It is obſervable that when Paul ſpeaks of his afflictions,2 Cor. 4. 17.2 Cor 4:17 his ſufferings; he calls them light; but when he ſpeaks of his ſin, he ſpeaks of it, as a burden that preſt him down, and made him cry out, O wretched man that I am; and to cry out again, we groan, being burthened. Moſes his choice is famous, and celebratedRom. 7. 23. 2 Cor. 5. 2, 4.Rom 7:232 Cor 5:22 Cor 5:4 all the world over; for 'twas not made when he was a child, but when he came to forty years of age; then he preferredHeb. 11. 25, 26, 27Heb 11:25Heb 11:26Heb 11:27 ſuffering, not only before ſinning, but before all the Honours, Riches and Pleaſures of Egypt; accounting the worſt of Chriſt (viz. Reproaches) better than the beſt of the world. When Eleazar was promiſed to be ſaved from torments and death if he would but make ſhew of yielding, he couragiouſly anſwered, It 2 Mac. 6. 24.2 Macc 6:24becometh not our age in any wiſe to diſſemble; whereby many young perſons might think that Eleazar, being four ſcore and ten years old, were now gone to a ſtrange Religion. Thus alſo, one of the ſeven Brethren, in the name of the reſt; We are ready to cap. 7. 2.die, rather than tranſgreſs the laws of our fathers; meaning ſuch Laws as God, of old, had given to their Fathers, to be obſerved by them, and by their Poſterity, Age after Age. Polycarpus, Eccl. l. 4. c. 15.Sir 50:4when the Governour promiſed to let him go free if he would deny Chriſt, anſwered, I have ſerved him four ſcore and ſix years, and he never hurt me in any thing; how ſhall I curſe him who hath ſaved me? And the Governour adding one while promiſes, another while threatnings Polycarpus thus cuts o…l all, why doſt thou make delays? inflict what thou liſts. So Galea…, Gentleman of great Eſtate, who ſuffered Martyrdom at S…t-ang… a Italy; being much preſſed by his friends to recant, and ſave his life, he replied, that death was much more tweet to him with the Teſtimony of Verity, than life with the leaſt deny… of truth. Hooper deſired rather to be diſcharged of his Biſhoprick, than yield to certain Ceremonies. A man were better diſp…aſe all his Friends, all his Relations, yea, all the world than to diſpleaſe his God, and diſpleaſe his own Conſcience So Cyprian, whenAuguſtine relates the ſtory. the Emperour, as he was going to execu…. told him, that he would give him ſpace to conſider whether …re not Letter caſt in a grain into the fire, than be ſo miſerably …in: to which he replyed. In re tam ſancta deliberation … There needs no deliberation in this caſe. The lik… …e Hiſtory of France, in the year 1572. preſently after … and perſidious ſlaughter and maſſacre of ſo man… of Proteſtants by treacherous bloody Papiſts, Charles th… of France, called the Prince of Conde, and prop… his c…ce, either to go to Maſs, or to die preſently, or to …r per…al impriſonment: To which he returned this not…e anſwer that by God's help he would never chuſe the firſt: and for eithe… of the two latter, he left it to the King's pleaſure and God's Providence. Thus you ſee that the people of God have, when put to it, choſe rather to ſuffer than to ſin. But

Fourthly, That they ſhall be ſure to ſuffer with a witneſs, that 4refuſe to ſuffer, or are afraid to ſuffer, when Chriſt calls them to a ſuffering ſtate. No men can ſuffer ſo much for Chriſt, as they ſhall be ſure to ſuffer from Chriſt, if through weakneſs or wickedneſs they either diſdain or refuſe to ſuffer for Chriſt; Mark 8. 35. For whoſoever will ſave his life, ſhall loſe it; but whoſoever There is no loſs but gain, in loſing for Chriſt.ſhall loſe his life for my ſake and the Goſpels, the ſame ſhall ſave it. 'Tis a very dangerous thing for men to prefer the ſafety of their natural lives before the Glory of Chriſt, the cauſe of Chriſt, the Goſpel of Chriſt, and the Profeſſion of his name. 'Tis certain that the Glory of Chriſt ought to be more dear and precious to us than our very lives: Chriſt, for our Redemption and Salvation, freely and readily lays down his life, I lay down my life for Joh. 10. 15.John 10:15my ſheep; and ſhall we ſtand with him for ours, when our call is clear, to lay them down for his ſake and the Goſpel's ſake. He that ſhall attempt to ſave his life by croſſing his light, by ſhifting off the truth, or by forſaking of Chriſt, ſhall loſe it. 'Tis a gainful loſs to ſuffer for the truth; 'tis a loſsful gain, by timeſerving and baſe complying with the times, the luſts, the wills, the humours of the men of this Age (in whom the ſpirit of Cain and Fſau works ſo furiouſly) 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 Mat. 10. 39. He that findeth his life ſhall loſe it. This is a ſtrange expreſſion, a riddle to the world, a ſeeming contradiction, ſuch as natural reaſon can never reconcile. He that 1 Tim. 1. 19, 201 Tim 1:191 Tim 1:20findeth his life, that is, redeemeth it with the forfeiture of his Faith, with the ſhipwrack of his Conſcience, makes a loſer's bargain; he make… more haſte than good ſpeed, whilſt in running from death as far as he can, he runs to it as faſt as he can: See it in ſome great inſtances, when Henry the fourth of France French Hiſtory.had conquered his enemies, he turned Papiſt, and gave this reaſon of it, That he might ſettle himſelf in peace and ſafety; Ravillak, who ſlew him as he was riding abroad in his Coach to refreſh himſelf, confeſſed that the reaſon why he ſtabbed him was becauſe he was of two Religions; as thus, by his ſinful endeavours to ſave his life he loſt it. There was one Philbert Hamli… inNon p…teſt qui pati timet, ejus eſſe qui p…ſſuseſt. Tertul. 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 fear of death, renounced Chriſt, and was ſet at liberty: Whereupon Philbert ſaid unto him, O unhappy and more than miſerable man. is it poſſible, that to ſave your life for a few days, you ſhould ſo deny the truth? Know therefore, thoughA Prediction. 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 honour 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 alſo, he lo…t his life by endeavouring ſinfully to ſave it. The Angrognian; that yielded to the Papiſts,Acts and Monuments, Fol. 885. and complyed with them, that they might ſleep quietly in a whole skin, were more ſadly and cruelly l…ndled by the Papiſts, than thoſe that continued ſ…out couragious and reſolute for 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 i… 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 baſe Apoſtates, and as ſuch who were worthy to ſuffer as evil-doers. … that was Chaplain to Biſhop P…dl…y, refuſing to die in Chriſt's cauſe with his Maſter, ſaid Maſs againſt his Conſcience, and ſoon after pined away with ſorrow and grief. A Smith in King …dward's the Sixth's days, called Richard Denton, was a forwardActs and Monuments, third Volume, pag. 960. Profeſſor of Religion; and by his Chriſtian inſtruction, 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 in 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 he had received by him) ſent to know whether he was impriſoned alſo; and finding that he was not, deſired to ſpeak with him; and when he came, he asked his advice, whether he thought it beſt for him to remain in 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 God's juſt Judgment, was burned for his Apoſtacy; for his ſhop and houſe being ſet on fire, and he overbuſie 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. He that will not ſuffer for Chriſt, ſhall be ſure to ſuffer worſe things from Chriſt, than ever he could have ſuffered for Chriſt: And therefore Doctor Taylor the Martyr, hit the nailIbid. 1382. when he ſaid, If I ſhrink from God's truth (ſaid he) I am ſure of another manner of death than Judge Hales had; who being drawn for fear of death, to do things againſt his light and Conſcience, did afterwards drown himſelf. Cyprian, in his Sermon De Lapſis, makes mention of divers, who forſaking the Profeſſion of their Faith, were given over by God, to be poſſeſſed by evil ſpirits, and ſo died fearfully and miſerably; making good that word that is more worth than a world, Joh. 12. 25. He that foreign is here uſed of exceſſive and prepoſterous love: He that ſo loveth his life, that out of a deſire to ſave it, he denieth me and my Goſpel, ſo this Greek word is uſed, Mat. 10. 37.Matt 10:37loveth his life, ſhall loſe it; and he that hateth his life in this world, ſhall keep it unto life eternal. A man that is ſparing of his life when Chriſt calls for it, doth take the ready way to loſe it; and he that doth hazard it for him at his call, is ſure to live eternally. Chriſt approves of no followers, who are not reſolved on the loſs of what is deareſt to them; yea, even of life for his ſake; therefore doth he mention our life to be hated; which is not to be underſtood abſolutely, as if it were a ſin to love life, as it is the gift of God, or that they ſhould be weary of it; but comparatively, that they ſhould not love it more than Chriſt, his Word, his Worſhip, his Ways. He that reſolves to ſave his temporal life upon any terms, he takes the ſhorteſt cut to loſe both temporal and eternal life alſo: (He that loveth his life, ſhall loſe it:) He that prefers the honour and ſervice of Chriſt above his own life, he takes the ſureſt way to preſerve both body and ſoul unto eternal life; for he that hates his life in this world, ſhall keep it unto life eternal. Though life be ſweet, and every creature makes much of it, from the higheſt Angel to the loweſt Worm; yet wo, wo to him that is ſet upon ſaving of it when Chriſt calls upon him to lay it down for his ſake, or the Goſpels ſake. No fool to him that 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 ſave his life, ſhall loſe a better life than ever he can ſave. But

Fifthly, Conſider, That of old there hath been a very great willingneſs, readineſs, forwardneſs and reſoluteneſs in the people of God, chearfully to ſuffer for Chriſt, his Truth, his Goſpel, his Worſhip, his Ways, his Ordinances, his intereſt, his honour: Conſult the Scriptures in the margin, and many others of the like import, which all knowing Chriſtians can turn to atDan. 2. 16, 17. Rom. 8. 36. Pſal. 44. Phil. 2. 17. Act. 20. …2, 23, 24 cap. 21. 13, &c. Dan. 6. 1 Pet. …. 16. Act. 5 41. Act. 7. 55, 56. 2 Cor 1. 3, 4. 5. Acts and M…n. Fol. 857. Medeſtus Lie…tenant 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 than they are to the tormented.Dan 2:16Dan 2:17Rom 8:36Ps 44Phil 2:17Acts 20:2Acts 20:23Acts 20:24Dan 6Acts 5:41Acts 7:55Acts 7:562 Cor 1:32 Cor 1:42 Cor 1:5 pleaſure. To theſe I ſhall add a few examples amongſt a multitude of thoſe bleſſed ſouls, who willingly, readily, chearfully, reſolutely, hazarded all for Chriſt while they were on earth, and are now a receiving their reward with him in heaven: Oh, how my heart leapeth for joy (ſaid Mr. Philp…t the Martyr) that I am ſo near the apprehenſion of eternal life; I with my fellows were carried to the Cole-houſe, where we do rouſe together in the ſtraw as chearfully (we thank God) as others do in their beds of Downe. Mr. Glover the Martyr wept for joy of his impriſonment: And Mr. Bradford put off his cap, and thanked the Lord, when his Keeper's Wife brought him word that he was to be burnt the next day: and Mr. Taylor fetched a pleaſant delightful frisk when he was come near to the place where he was to ſuffer: Mr. Rogers. the firſt that was burnt in Queen Mary's days, did ſing in the flames: Vincentius laughing at …his tormentors, ſaid, that death and tortures were to Chriſtians (ſocularia & ludiera) matters of ſport and paſtime; and he joyed and gloried when he went upon hot burning Coals, as if he had trod upon Roſes. Fire, Sword, Death, Priſon, Famine, are all pleaſures, they are all delightful to me, ſaith Bazil; and in his Oration for Barlaam that famous Martyr, ſaith, that he delighted in the cloſe priſon as in a pleaſant green Meadow; and he took pleaſure in the ſeveral inventions of tortures, as in ſeveral ſweet flowers: William Tim. 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 hic 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 find me merrily ſinging Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabbath▪ at my journey's end, &c. And when they kindled the fire at the feet of James Bainham, me thinks, ſaid he, you ſtrew Roſes before me▪ when the Pre…ct urged Baſil to comply with the Emperour,Socrat. Eccleſ. Hiſt. l. 4. c. 26. Gr. and threatned him with death if he denied; he gave him th…s reſolute and ſ…out anſwer; Thou threatneſt me with death (ſaith he) and I would that it would fall out ſo well on my ſide, that I might lay down this carcaſe of mine in the Quarrel of Chriſt, and in de…ence of the truth, who is my Head and Captain: And when the Pre…ct preſ…ed him to remember himſelf, and obey the Emperour; he rejecting all, told him, what I am to day, the ſame thou ſhalt find me to morrow.

When Chryſoſtom was greatly threatned by the cruel Empreſs and others▪ he made this anſwer: If they keep me poor, I know Chriſt had not a houſe to put his head in: If they ſilence me, and put me out of the Synagogue; ſo was that poor man that confeſſedJoh. 9. 22, 24. Act. 5. 40. cap. 12. Eph. 6. 20. Rev. 1.John 9:22John 9:24Acts 5:40Eph 6:20Rev 1 Chriſt, and the Apoſtles enjoyned not to ſpeak in the name of Jeſus: If they caſt me into priſon, ſo was Jeremy, St. Peter and St Paul, and many more: If I am forced to flee my Countrey, I have that beloved J…hn, and that Atlas-like Athanaſius, for Precedents of the like nature: Or whatſoever elſe ſhould be done unto me, I have the holy Martyrs for my fellow-ſufferers; and I will never count my life dear unto me, ſo I may finiſh my courſe with joy; but I will, by God's help▪ be ever ready with all my heart, to ſuffer any thing for the name of Jeſus Chriſt, and for the leaſt jot of his truth.

Neither were they only a few choice perſons, who willingly, readily, cheerfully and reſolutely endured Martyrdom in Chriſt's Cauſe; but ſuch multitudes, year after year, month after month,Hier. id Helic. …. week after week, and day after day, as that one of the Ancients teſtifieth; That there was never a day in the year, except the firſt of January, whereunto the number of five hundred Martyrs at leaſt might not be aſcribed: So many, one after another, in oneEuſeb. Eccl. Hiſt. l. 8. c. 9. day ſuffered, as the Executioner blunted his ſword; and with the pains he took, fainted. That which many of them endured, though to fleſh and blood it ſeemed intolerable; yet with much patience, excellent chearfulneſs, and divine courage, they endured it. They were not like bears, halled to the ſtake; but while Perſecutors were ſitting on their Judgment-ſeats, and condemning ſome Chriſtians, others leaped in, and profeſſed themſelves Chriſtians, and ſuffered the uttermoſt that could be inflicted withEuſeb. l. c. citat. joyfulneſs and a kind of pleaſantneſs, ſinging Pſalms as long as their breath laſted.

Bucer, in an Epiſtle to Calvin, tells him, that there were ſome that would willingly redeem to the Commonwealth the ancient liberty of worſhipping Chriſt with their very lives. True Grace makes a Chriſtian of a very heroick nature; Holy Zeal will make a Chriſtian very ready to endure any thing, or to ſuffer any thing for Chriſt, his Worſhip, his Ways, his Truth.

It is a high vanity for any man to think of getting to heaven without ſuffering; in all the Ages of the world, the Saints have found the way to happineſs paved with troubles; and we muſt not think of finding it ſtrewed with Roſe-buds.

When Paul and Silas were in priſon, their hearts were ſo fullAct. 16. 25. Paul … his chain wh…h he did bear for the Goſpel ſake, and was as proud of it, as a woman of her Ornaments, ſaith Chryſoſtom.Acts 16:25 of joy, that they could not hold; but at midnight, when others were ſleeping, they muſt fall a ſinging out the Praiſes of the Moſt High, they found more pleaſure than pain, more joy than ſorrow, more comfort than torment in their Bonds; the conſolations of the ſpirit roſe ſo high in their ſouls, that their priſon was turned into a Palace, yea, into a Paradiſe. Paul was a man that took a great deal 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 Christ's ſake: He did not only bear his ſufferings patiently, but chearfully alſo; he often ſings it ſweetly out, I Paul, a priſoner of Jeſus Chriſt, Co…ſ. 4. 3, 10. Rom. 16. 7. Eph. 6. 20. 2 Tim. 1. 16. &c. not I Paul an Apoſtle, nor I Paul wrapped up into the third heaven, nor I Paul that have more Gifts, Parts and Learning than 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 rappture into Paradiſe, as he did for his impriſonment for Chriſt.

Oh the ſweet looks, the ſweet words, the ſweet hints, the ſweet in-comes, the ſweet joggings, the ſweet embraces, 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 troubles and perſecutions they may truly ſay, we have ſweet meats to eat,▪ and waters of life to drink, and heavenly honey-combs 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 Cordial be given, but when the Patient is weak; and when ſhould the God2 Cor. 1. 3, 4, 5.2 Cor 1:32 Cor 1:42 Cor 1:5 of comfort, the God of all kinds of comfort, and the God of all degrees of comfort, comfort his people, but under their trouble… and perſecutions; for then comfort is moſt proper, neceſſary, ſeaſonable and ſutable; and then God will be ſure to pour in the oyl of joy into their hearts. ButIt is not Paena, but Cauſa, that commends the ſufferer.

Sixthly, conſider that there is a great truth in that old Maxim, Non poena, ſed cauſa facit Martyrem:▪ 'Tis not the puniſhment, but the cauſe, that makes a Martyr. Let every man look that his cauſe be good, its not the blood, but the cauſe, that makes a Martyr. It's no ways meet that I ſhould engage to ſuffer in every cauſe; every cauſe will no more bear a man out in ſuffering, than every ſhoulder will bear every burthen, or than every little River will bear every Ship that is of the greateſt burthen; one man ſuffers as a Murtherer, another ſuffers as a Thief, another ſuffers as an Evil-doer, and another ſuffers as a buſie body in other men's matters; but all ſuch Sufferers are rather Malefactors▪ than Chriſt's Martyrs: Let none of you ſuffer 1 Pet. 4. 15.1 Pet 4:15as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil doer, or as a buſi… body in other men's matters: It is but one word in the original, foreign, as Biſhops in another's Dioceſs, as priers into other men's matters, as pragmatical perſons that meddle with other men's concernments, without cauſe or call. It is not ſuffering for evil doing, but ſuffering2 Tim. 2. 12.2 Tim 2:12 for well doing that carries the Crown: It is not juſt, but unjuſt ſuffering that hath the recompence of reward annexed to it: It is not1 Pet. 3. 14. cap. 4. 14.1 Pet 3:14 ſufferers for the evil of ſin, nor ſufferers of the evil of ſin; but ſufferers of the evil of puniſhment, for the avoiding of the evil of ſin, whoſeMr. Bradford to all that profeſs the Goſpel in Lancaſhire. cauſe is good. When I conſider the cauſe of my condemnation (ſaid Mr. Bradford) I cannot but lament, that I do no more rejoyce than I do; for it is for God's verity and truth. So that the Condemnation is not a Condemnation of Bradford ſimply, but rather a condemnation of Chriſt, & of his Truth: Bradford is nothing but an inſtrument, in which Chriſt and his Doctrine is condemned Chriſt & the Thieves were in the ſame Condemnation: Sampſon and the Philiſtines in the ſame deſtruction, by the downfall of the houſe: Similis p…na, diſſimilis cauſa, ſaith Auguſtine▪ Martyrdom is a Crown, as old Age, if it be found in a way of righteouſneſs: Though life be a poor little thing to lay down for that Chriſt that has done ſuch great things for us, andIſa. 53. Joh. 14.Isa 53John 14 that has ſuffered ſuch grievous things, & that has prepared ſuch glorious things for us; yet, it is too precious to lay down in any cauſe, but what is honourable, juſt & good Luther profeſſed to Spalatine, that he rejoyced with all his heart, that God called him to ſuffer for ſoEp. ad Spalat. Fol 287. good a cauſe, acknowledging himſelf unworthy of ſuch a favour. It is the goodneſs of a man's cauſe that makes him divinely merry with the Martyrs, & to ſing in a priſon with Paul & Silas: When a man's cauſe is good, he may call his ſufferings the ſufferings of Chriſt, andColoſ. 2. 24. Gal. 6. 17.Col 2:24Gal 6:17 his skars and marks; foreign, brands and marks of the Lord Jeſus. The Jews have been hated & perſecuted for many Ages; firſt by the Romans, and ſince by all other nations, but not for any juſt or righteous cauſe, but for their impiety, obſtinacy and contempt of Chriſt & hisMat 22. 2, to 8. cap. 23. 30, 34, 37, 38.Matt 22:2–8 Goſpel, & for killing the Prophets, & ſtoning them that were ſent amongſt them. But gracious perſons are endued, not only with reaſon, but alſo with ſpiritual underſtanding, & divine wiſdom, which makes them well weigh what they do, & what they ſuffer: Sincere Chriſtians adviſedly endure what they endure for the faith's ſake (ſo fight I 1 Cor. 9. …6.1 Cor 9:6not as one that beateth the air) that is, not as a mad man that fighteth with a ſhadow, not weighing what he doth; but as a man of underſtanding, that doth very well know that I have good cauſe to do what I do. Perſecutors commonly judge ſuffering Saints to be no better than Sots, Idiots, Franticks, mad, &c. not knowing the goodneſs of the cauſe for which they ſuffer, nor the noble ends which they aim at in ſuffering, nor the bleſſed fruits that attend their ſufferings.

But when may a man ſafely and groundedly conclude that his cauſe is good, or that he ſuffers for well doing, or for a good cauſe, & as a Chriſtian? Now, to this queſtion I ſhall give theſe following anſwers.

Firſt, When a man ſuffers for doing that which Chriſt commands, 1then he ſuffers for well doing, then he ſuffers as a Chriſtian, & then1 Pet. 4. 15, 16.1 Pet 4:151 Pet 4:16 his cauſe is good. You know there is nothing in all the Scripture that God ſtands more upon than purity of religion, than purity of worſhip,James 1. 27. Phil. 3. 3. Joh. 4. 23, 24.Jas 1:27Phil 3 than purity of ordinances, in oppoſition to all mixtures and corruptions whatſoever. O ſirs, the great God ſtands upon nothing more in all the world, than upon purity in his worſhip. There is nothing that doesMat. 21. 12, 13. Joh. 2. 15, 16, 17.Matt 21:12Matt 21:13John 2:15John 2:16John 2:17 ſo provoke and exaſperate God againſt a people, as mixtures in his worſhip and ſervice; and no wonder, for mixtures in his worſhip are expreſly-croſs to his commands, and pollutions in worſhip do ſadly reflect upon the name of God, the honour of God, the truth of God; and therefore his heart riſes againſt them; defilements in worſhip do ſorely reflect upon the wiſdom of Chriſt & the faithfulneſs of Chriſt, as if he were not faithful enough nor wiſe enough, nor prudent norHeb. 3. 4, 5, 6.Heb 3:4Heb 3:5Heb 3:6 underſtanding enough, to order, direct and guide his people in the matters of his worſhip; but muſt be beholding to the wiſdom, prudence and care of man, of vain man, of ſinful man, of vile and unworthy man, to compleat, perfect and make up ſomething that was wanting in his worſhip and ſervice, &c. Now if a man ſuffers for owning pure worſhip and ordinances, for ſtanding for pure worſhip and ordinances, and for being found in the practice of pure worſhip and ordinances, his cauſe is good, and he ſuffers as a Chriſtian. But Secondly, When a man ſuffers for refuſing, or for not doing that which Chriſt condemns in his word, then his cauſe is good, and he ſuffers as a Chriſtian, for well doing. Now, in matters of Divine Worſhip, God condemns all mixtures, all inventions and devices of men. The very ſpirit, life and ſoul of the Second Commandment lies in theſe words; Thou ſhalt not make to thy ſelf any Graven Image. God abhors that men ſhould mix their Water with his Wine,Levit. 10. 1, 2. Ezek. 5. 11, 12. cap. 23. 38, 39. Jer 7. 29, 30. Ezek. 8. 17, 18. Rev. 2. 22, 23. Deut. 4. 2. cap. 12 32. &c.Lev 10:1Lev 10:2Ezek 5:11Ezek 5:12Jer 7:29Jer 7:30Ezek 8:17Ezek 8:18Rev 2:22Rev 2:23Deut 4:2 their Droſs with his Gold, their Chaff with his Wheat, &c. When men will venture to be ſo hardy and bold with God, as to defile his Worſhip with their mixtures, then God is fully reſolved to be a ſwift and terrible witneſs againſt them, as you may clearly ſee by comparing thoſe notable places of Scripture together in the Margin; there is no ſin that does ſo greatly incenſe and provoke God to Jealouſie and Wrath againſt a People, as mixtures in his Worſhip. God can bear with defilements any where, rather than in Worſhip and Service. God did bear much, and bear long with the Jews b… when they had defiled and corrupted his worſhip, then God gave them a Bill of Divorce, and ſcattered them as Dung among the Nations. Now, when a man ſuffers for refuſing to worſhip God with a mixt worſhip, or with an invented or deviſed worſhip, which Chriſt in his word doth every where condemn; then his cauſe is good, and he ſuffers as a Chriſtian. But

Thirdly, they that ſtoutly and reſolutely aſſert that the bleſſed 3Luk. 10. 25, 26.Luke 10:25Luke 10:26Scriptures are a ſufficient rule to order, guide and direct them in all matters of worſhip, they have a good cauſe; and they that ſuffer upon this account, ſuffer as Chriſtians, for well doing: Such vain men greatly detract from the ſufficiency of the Scripture, who mingle their own or other men's inventions, withEzek 43 8.Ezek 43:8 Divine Inſtitutions; and who ſet their Poſts by God's Poſts, and their Threſholds by God's Threſholds. The Precepts and TraditionsIt is very remarkable that of old they were to be cut off, that made any thing like the Inſtitutions and Appointments of God. Exod. 30. 32, 33, 37, 38. And if ſome were ſo ſerved would not the world be in more love, peace, and quietneſs than now it is.Exod 30:32Exod 30:33Exod 30:37Exod 30:38 of men, with their Inventions and Additions to the worſhip of God, are ſtiled Poſts and Threſholds, becauſe the Authors of them do lean and ſtand ſo much upon them, and ſet them in the way to hinder others from the enjoyment of Temple-privileges unleſs they will own and comply with them in their way and mode of worſhip; but upon all ſuch poſts and threſholds that are of men's ſetting up in the worſhip of God, you may run and read folly, weakneſs, rottenneſs and madneſs; 'tis only God's Poſts, God's Threſholds, God's Inſtitutions, God's Appointments, that have Wiſdom and Holineſs, Beauty and Glory, written upon them: For men to ſet up their Poſts by God's Poſts, and to give their Poſts equal Honour and Authority with God's Poſts; this is a defiling of the Worſhip of God, and a prophaning of the name of God, which he will certainly avenge, for he will admit no rival or Proprietary in the things of his Worſhip. O ſirs, the bleſſedAdero plenitudin… S…rip…u…arum, Tertul. La… … fulneſs of the Scriptures. Scriptures are ſufficient to direct us fully in every thing that belongs to the Worſhip and Service of God, ſo as that we need not depend upon the wiſdom, prudence, care and authority of any men under heaven to direct us in matters of Worſhip, 2 Tim. 3. 16, 17. All Scripture is given by inſpiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inſtruction in righteouſneſs: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furniſhed unto all good works. The Scriptures are ſufficient to inform the ignorant, to confute the erronious, to reform the vitious, and to guide and direct, ſupport and comfort, thoſe that are gracious: Here a Lamb may wade, and an Elephant may ſwim; here is milk for babes, and meat for ſtrong men; here is comfort for the afflicted, and ſuccour for the tempted, and eaſe for the troubled, and light for the clouded, and enlargement for the ſtraitned, &c. Oh, how full of light, how full of life, how full of love, how full of ſweetneſs, how full of goodneſs, how full of righteouſneſs and holineſs, &c. is every Chapter, and every Verſe in every Chapter; yea, and every Line in every Verſe. The Rabbins ſay, that a mountain of matter hangs upon every word of Scripture, yea, upon every tittle of Scripture. When the people of God have been in any outward or inward diſtreſſes or troubles, God never ſends them to the ſh…p of men's Traditions andNo Hiſtories are comp…rable to the Hiſtories o… the Scripture, 1. For Antiquity, 2. Rarity, 3. Variety, 4. Brevity, 5. Perſpicuity▪ 6. Harmony, 7. Verity; all which ſhould greatly encourage Chriſtians to a ſerious peruſal of them. inventions, but he ſtill ſends them to the bleſſed Scriptures, Iſa. 8. 20. To the Law, and to the Teſtimony; if they ſpeak not according to this word, it is becauſe there is no light (foreign, no morning) in them: cap. 34. 1…. Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read; … one of th…ſe ſhall …, none ſhall want her ma…e; for my mouth, it hath commanded, and my ſpirit, it hath gathered them: And in the New Teſtament, Chriſt ſends his hearers to the Scriptures; Joh. 5. 39. Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which teſtifie of me: The Greek word foreign, that is here rendred ſearch, ſignifies a ſtrict, narrow, curious, diligent ſearch; we muſt ſearch the Scripture, as we would ſearch for Gold, or for ſome Precious Stones, which we would f…in find; we muſt ſearch the Scriptures, as Hunters ſeek and ſearch out their Game. The Scripture is ſo perfect a Rule, that the moſt ſpecious obſervances, the moſt glorious performances, the moſt exact worſhip, is no way acceptable unto God, if not directed in his word. They may have, foreign,Coloſ. 2. 23.Col 2:23 A ſhew of Wiſdom in Will-worſhip, to the pleaſing of men, not to the honour of God. God gave Moſes a pattern forExod. 25. 9.Exod 25:9 the making of the Tabernacle, and David for the Temple and allHeb. 8 5.Heb 8:5 things were to be ordered and regulated according to this pattern God hath ſet us a perfect Rule of Worſhip in his Word; and no Service pleaſeth him, but what is according to this Rule: As ourJoh. 4. 20, 21. 22.John 4:20John 4:21John 4:22 Saviour told the woman of Samaria, concerning the Samaritan Worſhip at Mount Gerazim, and the Jewiſh Worſhip at Jeruſalem; That the Samaritans worſhipped they know not what; the Jews knew what they worſhipped, for Salvation was of the Jews: Why ſo? becauſe the Jews had God's ſpecial direction, and appointment of God's Word for their Worſhip and Service, which the Samaritans had not. All our Worſhip muſt be regulated by God's Will, not our own: Non ex arbitrio Deo ſervi…ndum, ſed ex imperio: Not according to our own fancy, but God's Command and Preſcription. I ſay, of all humane invented Will-worſhip of God, as Tertullian of the Heathen Worſhip; Ex religione ſuper ſ…itio compingitur, & eo irreligioſior, quanto Ethnicus paratior: Men in this are no better than laboriouſly ſuperſtitious, taking pains to be irreligious. And ſo the Apoſtle ſends his hearers to the Scriptures,2 Pet. 1. 19, 20, …2 Pet 1:192 Pet 1:20 as to a ſurer word than that of the Revelation, all which ſpeaks out the ſufficiency of the Scripture, to direct us in all matters of Divine Worſhip, and in what ever elſe may help on the internal and eternal welfare of our precious and immortal ſouls.

That which bred the Popiſh Religion, Superſtition, Idolatry, and Pompous Worſhip, was men's departing from the word, and not cleaving to the word, as a ſufficient rule to direct them in all matters of worſhip; and what woful miſchiefs and miſeries have been brought upon the people of the Lord in this Land, and elſe where, by men that make not the word the rule of their worſhip, but cry up an outward pompous worſhip, I have no mind to enumerate at this time: But how will theſe vain men that accuſe the holy Scriptures of inſufficiency, bluſh, be aſhamed, and confounded, when in the great day, the Lord ſhall plead the excellency, and vindicate the Sufficiency and Authority of his bleſſed Book, in oppoſition to all the mixtures of men's Traditions with Divine Inſtitutions? Now, they that ſuffer for aſſerting the holy Scriptures to be a ſufficient rule to order, guide and direct them in all matters of worſhip, they have a good Cauſe, and they ſuffer as Chriſtians, for well doing. But

They that are Aſſertors of the true God, in oppoſition to the Idols 4of the Nations, have a good Cauſe; and they that ſuffer upon this account, ſuffer as Chriſtians, for well doing. Upon this foot, the Chriſtians under the Heathen Emperours in the primitive times, ſuffered great things; and are there none that ſuffer this day upon this account by the Romiſh Powers. But

Fifthly, They who aſſert that God will not bear with mixtures 5in his worſhip and ſervice, but revenge himſelf upon the corrupters of his worſhip, they have a good cauſe; and they that ſuffer upon that account, ſuffer as Chriſtians for well doing. All mixturesIſa. 29. 13, 14. Mat. 15. 3, 6, 8, 9.Isa 29:13Isa 29:14Matt 15:3Matt 15:6Matt 15:8Matt 15:9 debaſe the worſhip and ſervice of God, and makes the worſhip a vain worſhip, as the mixing of water with wine is the debaſing of the wine; and the mixing of Tin with Silver, or Braſs with Gold, is debaſing of the Silver and Gold; ſo for men to mix and mingle their Traditions and Inventions with God's Inſtitutions, is to debaſe the worſhip and ſervice of God, and to detract from the excellency and glory of it. You know that the Kings and Princes of the world have moſt ſeverely puniſhed ſuch, who by their baſe mixtures, have imbaſed their Coyn. And aſſuredly there is a day a coming, when the King of Kings will moſt ſeverely puniſh all ſuch who have imbaſed his worſhip and ſervice, by mixing Humane Inventions and Romiſh Traditions with his holy Inſtitutions, Rev. 22. 18. For I teſtifie unto every man that heareth the words of the Prophecie of this book; if any man ſhall add unto theſe things, God ſhall add unto him the Plagues that are written in There will come a day, when Jews, Turks & Papiſts ſhall pay dear for adding to the Scriptures.this book. And no wonder; for what horrible pride, preſumption, ſtoutneſs and baſeneſs is it in fooliſh man, to be ſo bold with the great God, as to dare to mix any thing of his own with his worſhip and ſervice, which, according to Divine Inſtitution, is ſo perfect and compleat. God will never bear it, to ſee men lay their Dirt upon his Gold, and to put their Rags upon his Royal Robes. Ah Chriſtians, 'tis beſt to ſtand up for holy Ordinances and pure worſhip, in oppoſition to all mixtures whatſoever. Oh, do not touch a polluted worſhip, do not plead and contend for a polluted worſhip, but let Baal plead for Baal; and though all1 King. 18. 21. Rev. 13. 3, 4. 6, 17. cap. 14 9, 11.1 Kgs 18:21Rev 13:3Rev 13:4Rev 13:6Rev 13:17 the world ſhould wander after the Beaſt, yet do not you wander after the Beaſt; and though every forehead ſhould have the mark of the Beaſt upon it, yet do you abhor his mark, and whatever elſe it be that does but ſmell and ſavour of the Beaſt. 'Tis a very dangerous thing for any Mortals to be adding to God's worſhip and word; there is a horrible curſe that hangs over the heads of all ſuch that add or detract from the bleſſed Scriptures. If falſifiers of Coin are liable unto the Civil Curſe of the Law, how much more ſhall the Anathema of Eternal Damnation be inflicted upon the corrupters of God's word and worſhip. To them that add thereto, God will add all the Plagues of this book, (to wit, the ſeven laſt Plagues) and caſt them into the lake of ſire and brimsion…, Rev. 19.Rev 19with the Dragon, the Beaſt, and the falſe Prophet. Now they that ſuffer for aſſerting that God will not bear with mixtures in his Worſhip and Service, but revenge himſelf upon the corrupters of his Worſhip and Service; they have a good cauſe, and they ſuffer as Chriſtians, for well doing. But

Sixthly, They who are hated, ſcorned, deſpiſed, reproached, 6oppoſed, perſecuted, impriſoned, ruined, for their non-compliance1 Pet. 4. 4, 5. J…de 15. Rev. 3. 4. 1 Cor. 7 23. Gal. 1. 10.1 Pet 4:41 Pet 4:5Rev 3:41 Cor 7:23Gal 1:10 with the times, and with the wills and laſts of men, and with the worſhip of the world, and the ways of the world; they have a good cauſe, and they ſuffer as Chriſtians, for well doing: And is not this the very caſe of the people of God this day; for would they (or durſt they) comply with the times, and with the wills and luſts of men, and with the worſhip of the world, and the ways of the world, they ſhould be white boys; and in lead of priſons, might ſtand in Princes Palaces as well as others; and might eat the fat, and drink the ſweet, and live at eaſe, and grow rich as well as others. But ſome do not love▪ that we ſhould either harp hard or long upon this ſtring; and therefore,

Seventhly, They that are aſſertors of Chriſt, of the true Meſſia, 7and his glorious Goſpel, and Goſpel-ordinances, in oppoſition to all ſuch as either deny him or his Goſpel, or that make head againſt him or Goſpel-ordinances, Goſpel-adminiſtrations, they have a good cauſe; and if they ſuffer upon that account, they ſuffer as Chriſtians, for well doing. The ſufferings of the people of God for the firſt three hundred years, were clearly ſtated for Chriſt and the Goſpel in common. 'Twas the adminiſtration of the Goſpel in the whole, and in every part of it, and Gentiliſm advanced inſtead thereof, that brought on a warm Perſecution. Seeing ſerious Chriſtians are for pure Ordinances, and pure Adminiſtrations; and what they have ſuffered, and do daily ſuffer upon that account, all that do not wilfully ſhut their eyes, may eaſily diſcern. 'Tis ſad when ſuch men's mouths muſt be ſtopped, who are qualified, gifted, graced and called, both by God and2 Cor. 4 4. Rev. 14. 6.2 Cor 4:4Rev 14:6 men, to preach the glorious, the everlaſting Goſpel: But when the Devil and his Factors have done their worſt, the Goſpel will get ground by all the oppoſition that is made againſt it. Among many other Viſions that John had, He ſaw an Angel fly in the Rev. 14. 7, 8, &c.Rev 14:7Rev 14:8midst of heaven, having the everlaſting Goſpel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth; and to every Nation, and Rindred, and Tongue, and People; ſaying with a loud voice, fear God, and give glory to him, &c. Now mark what next follows; Another Angel, ſaying, Babylan is fallen, is fallen; Babylon the Great is fallen. Now, behold the efficacy and power of Goſpel-preaching; let but the Goſpel be ſincerely preached, and Babylon muſt down. The Devil and Dagon muſt fall before the Ark of God's Preſence;The more wicked men rage, the more the Goſpel ſpreads, as you may ſee, Act. 5. 40, 41, 42. cap. 8. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12. Act. 11. 19, 20, 21, 26. cap. 12. 1, 2, 3, 4, 23, 24. Heb. 11. 34, 35, 36 Rev. 2. 10. Act. 16. 23, 24, 25Acts 5:40Acts 5:41Acts 5:42Acts 11:19Acts 11:20Acts 11:21Acts 11:26Heb 11:34Heb 11:35Heb 11:36Rev 2:10Acts 16:23Acts 16:24Acts 16:25 whatſoever the purpoſes, projects, pretences, policies, conſpiracies, combinations, and confederacies, of lewd, ſuperſtitious, Atheiſtical, wicked wretches be, yet they ſhall never be able to ſtop the ſtream of God's Word, dam up the Wells of Salvation, or hinder the free paſſage of the Goſpel, no more than they are able to bind up the Wind in their ſiſts, or ſtop the Sun from running its race, or hinder the Clouds from watering the earth. It is true that the faithful Miniſters of the Goſpel may, by the inſtruments of Satan, be ſtocked, ſtoned, ſawn aſunder, burned with fire▪ ſlain with the ſword, clap'd up in priſon, fettered in chains, plundered, &c yet the Goſpel may be, nay is, in lively operation; a light that cannot be put out, a heat that cannot be ſmothered, a power that cannot be broken; for even then, the couragious and conſtant ſufferings of God's faithful Miniſters, and their chearful and patient bearing of the Croſs, doth, as by a livelyP…il. 1. 7, 12, 13, 14, 17. voice, publiſh and proclaim the truth of the Goſpel for which they ſuffer; and ſerves to win many to the Faith of Chriſt. Paul's bonds fell out to the furtherance of the Goſpel. Paul's Iron chain was more famous and glorious all the world over, than all the Golden chains in N…ro's Palace. Whatſoever perſecuting Popes, and perſecuting Emperours, have attempted againſt the Goſpel.Sculiet. Annal. Chriſt has turned it all to the furtherance of the Goſpel. The Popes Bulls, and the Emperour's Thunderbolts did not amaze and diſcourage men, but did exceedingly animate and encourage them to own the Goſpel, to embrace the Goſpel, and to ſtand up in the defence of the Goſpel. Caeſar ſending the Proteſtants ConfeſſionScul…e…. Annal. 274. abroad, to other Chriſtian Princes, as deſiring their advice about it, diſperſed and ſpread it more in all parts than all the Lutheran Preachers could have done; for which cauſe L…ther laughs not a little, at the fooliſh wiſdom of the Papiſts, in a certain Epiſtle of his to the Elector of Saxony. Julian obſerving, that the more Miniſters and Chriſtians were perſecuted, the more they encreaſed, he gave over Perſecution, and ſpared thoſe whom he could have wiſhed out of the world: And would it not be the wiſdom and the intereſt of the Perſecutors in our days, to write after Julian's Copy? and if they will not, then let them remember, that it is the moſt effectual way under heaven, to propagate thoſe truths, opinions, ways, principles, and practices, which their hearts riſe and ſwell againſt, by laying them in bonds which ſtand up moſt eminently in the defence of thoſe truths, opinions, ways, principles and practices. The nature of Man is very curious and inquiſitive. Men, as men, are led by common compaſſion to deſire to underſtand the grounds of men's ſufferings. By this means the ſufferings, eſpecially the impriſonment, of the Apoſtles, carried the Doctrine of the Goſpel to many places where the Apoſtles themſelves never came, nor perhaps could come; no doubt but the fame of their ſuffering went faſter and farther too, than they could go. But

Eighthly, They that are Aſſertors of any one fundamentalAct. 24. 14. 1 Cor. 11. 9. 2 Pet. 2. 1. Gal. 5. 20.Acts 24:141 Cor 11:92 Pet 2:1Gal 5:20 truth, in oppoſition to error and hereſie truly ſo called, have a good cauſe; and if they ſuffer upon that account, they ſuffer as Chriſtians for well doing. Such were thoſe Chriſtians that ſuffered under the Arian Emperours, Conſtantius, Valens and others; who ſuffered for maintaining that Chriſt was coeſſential, coequal and coeternal with the Father: And ſuch were Wickliff, John Hus, and Jerome of Prague, &c. Are there none this day among us that ſuffer in their names, in their eſtates, in their perſons, in their liberties, for aſſerting and maintaining the great truths of the Goſpel, in oppoſition to Socinianiſm, Arianiſm, Popery, Will-worſhip; &c. Are there no Socinian Atheiſts among us, who deny with open face the God-head of Chriſt, and of the Holy Ghoſt; as if Chriſt were a conſtituted God, and not of the ſame ſubſtance with the Father from all. Eternity; not a God by Nature, but by Donation in time? And though God hath raiſed up ſeveral Champions in this his Iſrael, to diſarm them of all their Subtilties, and to beat them out of all their Trenches; though they were dug as low as hell, yet, how have they put onProv. 27. 22.Prov 27:22 a brow of braſs, and do all they can to bring on a warm Perſecution upon their oppoſers? But

Ninthly, They that plead for the reduction of all Ordinances, 9Worſhip, Church Government, and Diſcipline, to the primitive pattern and inſtitution, in oppoſition to all Humane and Antichriſtian Inventions, Traditions and Innovations in the Worſhip of God, they have a good Cauſe; and they that ſuffer upon that account, ſuffer as Chriſtians, for well doing: Surely this is a truth we muſt live and die by; viz. That no Ordinance, Worſhip, Government or Diſcipline is to be held up or maintained in the Church, but what has the ſtamp of a Divine Inſtitution upon it. The worſhipping of God in Spirit and in Truth, is that WorſhipJoh. 4. 23, 24. Rom, 1. 9. Phil. 3. 3.John 4:23John 4:24Phil 3:3 which God commands, commends, accepts and rewards: And therefore let us make it our buſineſs, our work, our heaven, to keep cloſe to this kind of Worſhip; Chriſt will ſhortly come in2 Theſ. 1. 7, 8, 9, 10.2 Thess 1:72 Thess 1:82 Thess 1:92 Thess 1:10 flames of fire, and vindicate this kind of Worſhip againſt all oppoſers. Hold out Faith and Patience a little, and Chriſt will call all the troublers of his Church and People into the Valley of Deciſion;Joel. 3. 14. Iſa. 40. 10. Jer. 21. 5. Ezek. 32. 2.Joel 3:14Isa 40:10Jer 21:5Ezek 32:2 and there, with a ſtrong hand, and with an out-ſtretched arm, he will plead with them, and with all ſuch as have muddied the Waters of his Sanctuary, and polluted thoſe Silver Streams; and then it will appear whether the outward ceremonious worſhiping of God, or the worſhiping him in Spirit and in Truth, be the true Worſhip. Judicious Hooker determines, that in God's Service to do that which we are not to do, is a greater fault, than not to do that which we are commanded. Amongſt other reaſons, he gives this to our purpoſe; becauſe in the one we ſeem to charge the Law of God with hardneſs only, and in the other, with fooliſhneſs and inſufficiency; which God gave us as a perfect Rule of his Worſhip and Service. But

Tenthly and laſtly, They that are Aſſertors of thoſe precious10. Privileges, that are the purchaſe of the blood of Chriſt, they haveEph. 1. 22, 23. Coloſ. 1. 18. Phil. 2. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.Eph 1:22Eph 1:23Col 1:18Phil 2:6Phil 2:7Phil 2:8Phil 2:9Phil 2:10 a good cauſe; and if they ſuffer upon that account, they ſuffer as Chriſtians, for well doing. As for inſtance,

Firſt, Chriſt as Mediator, hath purchaſed for himſelf a Headſhip 1and Supremacy over his Church. Now ſuch as ſtand up for the Headſhip of the Lamb, againſt all thoſe that would rob him of his Headſhip, either at Rome or elſewhere, they have a righteous Cauſe; and if they ſuffer upon that account, they ſuffer as Chriſtians, for well doing.

Secondly, He has purchaſed for his People a… Liberty to ſerve 2and worſhip him without fear, in holineſs and righteouſneſs allLuk. 1. 69, 70, 74, 75. Gal. 5. 1.Luke 1:69Luke 1:70Luke 1:74Luke 1:75Gal 5:1 the days of their life. He has purchaſed for his People a Liberty from the Ceremonies of Moſes's Law, which were originally the Commands of God himſelf; how much more then from all Paganiſh and Antichriſtian Ceremonies. The impoſition of traditional Obſervances and Ceremonies, is to reduce us under the Jewiſh Yoke, which neither we nor our Fathers were able to bear;Act. 15. 10.Acts 15:10 or to impoſe them as equally obligatory to Conſcience, as Divine Commands; or to impoſe them as the immediate Worſhip of God, or as Duties eſſentially neceſſary in order to Salvation, Chriſtians juſtly abhor, as the Tyranny of Rome, as the infringment of Chriſtian Liberty, and as a Violation and making void… the Commandment of God; as our Saviour told the Phariſees ofMat. 15. 6.Matt 15:6 old, That they made the Commandment of God of none effect. The Greek word foreign, ſignifies to deprive of all Rule and Authority. They had ſuch a ſuperſtitious eſteem of their Traditions Ceremonies, &c. that they ſought to ſhoulder God out of his Throne, to deveſt and ſpoil him of his Rule and Authority, to ungod him, as it were, by making his Commandment void and invalid. Chriſt reprehends three things in the Jewiſh Traditions;Ch…mn…t. 1. That they obtruded outward Cleanneſs on God, inſtead of the Purity of the heart: 2. That by their Humane Traditions, they made void the Worſhip of God: 3. That they preferred Humane Traditions▪ before the Divine Precepts; and were ſo taken with their Traditions, that they neglected the Divine Precepts; yea, made them altogether vain, as the Papiſts, and others that are Popiſhly affected, do this day. They that are the moſt zealousDr. Fuller S…m. for the introducing of uſeleſs Ceremonies in the Church, are uſually the moſt negligent to preach the Cautions in uſing them; and ſimple people, like Children in eating of Fiſh, ſwallow bones and all to the danger of choaking: Beſides, what is obſerved of horſe-hairs, that lying nine days in water, they turn to Snakes; So ſome Ceremonies, though dead at firſt, in continuance of time quicken, get ſtings, and may do much miſchief; eſpecially in ſuch an Age, wherein the meddling of ſome, have juſtly awakened the Jealouſie of all. Now, whoever ſhall ſuffer for aſſerting of any of the precious Privileges, that are the Purchaſe of Chriſt's Blood; they ſuffer in a Righteous Cauſe, they ſuffer as Chriſtians, for well doing. And thus you ſee how a man may know when his Cauſe is good, juſt and righteous; and when he ſuffers as a Chriſtian, for well doing. But

Seventhly, Conſider, That it is not enough for a man to have a 7good cauſe, but he muſt have a clear call; elſe he may be a ſufferer, but no Martyr. Some may have a good Cauſe, and yet want a clear Call: Some may ſuffer for the cauſe of God, and yet ſin in ſuffering, for want of a Call. Chriſt calls not all to ſuffer;Phil. 1. 29. A Prieſt might enter into a Leper's houſe without danger, becauſe he had a calling from God ſo to do: And we may follow God dry-ſhod through the Red Sea when God gives a Call.Phil 1:29 to ſome it is given, to others it is not given. When a man's Call is clear, his Peace will be ſweet, his courage will be high, and his comforts will be ſtrong, though his ſufferings be never ſo great, nor never ſo long. Though it be a high honour to ſuffer for the Goſpel, yet no man ought to take this honour upon himſelf but he that is called of God. Chriſtians muſt take as much heed how they eſpouſe a ſuffering ſtate, as how they ſhun a ſuffering ſtate: I am not to go to priſon upon choice, but upon a Call, but upon a Warrant under God's own hand; though it be an argument of a gracious Spirit, to be always of a ready and forward mind to ſuffer for Chriſt: And when he demands who will go…. with me? who will bear my Croſs? chearfully to anſwer, I will go Lord, let me bear it: yet ſhould we take heed, that as we hang not back when he ſays go; ſo that we run not before he ſends us, before he calls us.

Queſt. But how ſhall I know when I am called to ſuffer, when I am called to lay down Life, Liberty and All, for the Profeſſion of Chriſt and the Goſpel? To this I anſwer;

Firſt, When the Truth will ſufer, and the Name of God ſuffer, 1and the Goſpel will ſuffer ſhould we decline ſuffering, then we are called to ſu…er; 'tis our duty to ſuffer any thing, to ſuffer the worſt of things that the worſt of men can inflict, rather than that the Truth ſhould ſuffer, or the name of God ſuffer, or the Goſpel ſuffer.

Secondly, When the caſe ſtands ſo with us, that we cannot 2keep Life, Eſtate, Liberty, &c. without denying of Chriſt or the Goſpel, or without concealing this precious Truth or that, or without turning our backs upon this Ordinance or that, &c. then we are called to ſuffer when we cannot preſerve our Lives, our Liberties, our Eſtates, without denying of Chriſt, or the Concerns of Chriſt, in one degree or another, in one kind or another; then we are called to lay down our Lives, our Liberties, our Eſtates, &c. at the feet of Chriſt, as the Saints and Martyrs of old have done before us.

Thirdly, when our way is ſo hedged up with thorns, that we 3muſt either ſin or ſuffer, when ſin and ſufferings ſurround us, ſoHoſ. 2. 6.Hos 2:6 that we cannot get out or come off, but we muſt either ſin or ſuffer;Dan. 3. 17.Dan 3:17 then I muſt, with the three Champions, chuſe rather to burn than to bow; and with Daniel to the Lyon's Den, than to omit my duty; and with Moſes, chuſe to ſuffer afflictions withHeb. 11. 24, 25, 26Heb 11:24Heb 11:25Heb 11:26 the people of God, than to enjoy the pleaſures of ſin, which are but for a ſeaſon. I may ſafely and groundedly conclude, that Chriſt calls me to ſuffer, when I muſt either ſin or ſuffer: When the caſe ſtands thus, then I may be confident of the ſingular Preſence of God with me, the ſpecial bleſſing of God upon me, and a gracious or a glorious deliverance out of all my ſufferings. But

Fourthly and laſtly, When a Chriſtian, to the beſt of his underſtanding, 4has ſeriouſly weighed all things and circumſtances, and is well ſatisfied in his mind and conſcience, that his ſufferings will be the exaltation of Chriſt, the furtherance of the Goſpel, the ſtopping of the mouths of the wicked, the confirmation of thoſe that are ſtrong, and the ſtrengthening and encouraging of thoſe that are weak; then he may ſafely conclude that Chriſt calls him to ſuffer But

Eightly, Conſider that the Sufferings of the Saints in theſe days 8are light and eaſie to the ſufferings that were inflicted upon theMaccab. 6. 9, 10. cap. 7. 1, 2, 3▪ 4. Euſe…. …. Hiſt. …. 6. Jews in the days of Antiochus; and on Chriſtians, in the times of the ten notorious Perſecutions under the Roman Emperours; and to thoſe that have been inflicted upon the Martyrs ſince: So cruel was the ſight of thoſe Tortures which Perſecutors inflicted, as exceeds all expreſſion: Conſtant Chriſtians had their fleſh …orn from their backs with Rods, Scourges, Whips and Cords, to as their bones lay bare; and the raw parts of their bodies were waſhed with Vinegar and Salt: They were ſtretched on Racks, their legs were broken, and ſo left miſerably to periſh: They were goared with ſharp pricks unde… the loweſt parts of theirHym. 10. de Rom. Anno. Mart. Laddelacerda computeth forty four ſeveral kinds of Torments wherewith the Primitive Chriſtians were tried. Adv. Sa…r. cap. 128. nails: their bodies were ſcraped with thels to death, their backs were fleaed; their skins were pulled over their heads, from the brow to the chin: Their noſes, lips, ears, hands and feet were cut off; and they, as Sacrifices, cut in gobbe…s: Their tongues were cut out by the roots, and pulled out of their jaws: Their eyes were boared, and digged out: Their bodies were rent and pulled in peices by ſtrong boughs forced together by inſtruments, and let looſe when the limbs of the bodies of Martyrs were tied faſt unto them: Their limbs were alſo pulled to pieces with wild horſes: Their brains were knocked out with Fullers clubs: Their legs were broken in pieces: They were burnt with fire: They were a long while together parched with hot burning coals: Being hanged by the heels, and their heads downward, over a ſoft fire, they were choaked with ſmoak: They were roſted at the fire, as fleſh to be eaten uſed to be roſted: They were le…urely broiled on Grid-irons ſet over the fire: They were fryed in read hot iron chairs, as in a frying-pan, which annoyed the ſtanders by with a ſtench: Hot boiling lead was poured down their throats: They clapped fiery plates of Braſs upon the moſt tender parts of their bodies. A perſecuting Tyrant conſidering the nature of theBaſil in 40. Mar. Co…c. … Greg. Nyſſen de iijd. m, Ora…. …. Countrey, that it was terrible cold; and the time of the year, that it was Winter, and a night wherein the cold extreamly encreaſed; and that the North Wind then blew there; commanded forty Chriſtians to be ſet ſlark naked under the open Air in the midſt of the City, to freeze to death: Then when they heard that charge; with joy, caſting away, even their innermoſt Veſtment, they went on to their death by Cold. They end…ed theEccl…. Hi…i. …. 5. cap. …. violence of Libba…ds, Bears, Wild Boars, and Bulls. Attalus and Alexander were twice baited with Wild Beaſts, to be torn in pieces by them (as Euſebius rep…rts) Attalus eſcaping the Bea…ts, was reſerved to other torments; to be burnt to death in an Iron Chair, heated red-fire hot. Macedonius, Theodulus andSocra. Hiſt. l. 3. cap. 13. Tatianus were laid upon a Grid iron, and broiled to death. There were many Chriſtians together ſtopped up in Lakes or Caves,Mag. Cent. 4. cap. 3. Ex Theod…re…. artificially made cloſe; which Lakes or Ditches, were filled with a company of Dormiſe, kept hungry, to g…aw and feed upon the poor Chriſtians, they being all the while bound hand and …oot, that they could not keep of thoſe hunger-ſtarved creatures which were kept without meat alſo, purpoſely that they might faſten with the more eagerneſs upon the bodies of thoſe precious Chriſtians. They were deſtroyed with hunger, thirſt and cold. SuchEuſeb. …. Hiſt. l. 5. c. 1. l. 8. c. 6, 7, …. Ni…eph. l. 7. …. 11, 12. as were ſtiſtled in priſons, they caſt to dogs; ſetting Watch-men night and day, leſt any of them ſhould be buried: And ſuch remainders as were left both of Beaſts and Fire, in part torn, and in part burnt, together with the heads and bodies of others, they caſt out in like manner, unburied; and committed them ſome days to the cuſtody of Soldiers. Thus the Barbarous Cruelty ofSce…my Beauty of Holineſs. pag. 413 414, 415. Perſecutors, extended it ſelf as far as it could, beyond the temporal lives of the Martyrs. Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtories tell us that all the Apoſtles died violent deaths: Peter was crucified with his heels upwards, Chriſt was crucified with his head upwards; but Peter thought this was too great an honour, 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: And James, the Son of Zebedec, was ſlain by Herod with theAct 12. 2.Acts 12:2 Sword. And Philip was crucified at Hierapolis in Aſta: And while Bartholomew was preaching the glad Tydings of Salvation, multitudes ſell 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 Calununa in India: And Matthew 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 Fuller's club. Lebbeus was ſlain by Agbarus, King of …deſſa. And Paul was beheaded at Rome by Nero. And Simon the Canaanite was crucified in Egypt, ſay ſome; others ſay that he and Jude were ſlain in a tumult of the people. And Mattkias Rev. …. 9.was ſtoned to death. And John was baniſhed into Patmos; and afterwards, as ſome Hiſtories tell us, he was by that cruel Tyrant Domitian, caſt into a tub of ſcalding oyl, and yet delivered by a Miracle. Thus all theſe Worthies, of whom this world was notHeb. 11. 38.Heb 11:38 worthy, (except John) died violent deaths; and ſo through ſufferings, entred into Glory. To conclude; Lactantius ſaith, notLact. l. 5. c. 13. only the men among the Chriſtians, and thoſe of ſtronger years and hearts▪ but even our Women, and little Children (ſaith he) have endured all torments, and been too hard for their tormentors: No rack, no fire could fetch ſo much as a groan from them; which the ſtouteſt Thieves and Malefactors among their Perſecutors could not undergo; but they would roar and cry out through impatience, and diſability to endure them. I ſuppoſe that more cruel torments cannot be invented, than of old have been inflicted on Chriſtians: Perſecutors have acknowledged, that they wereE…ſ…b. Eccl. Hiſt. l. 5. cap. 1. overcome, and had no more to inflict. Such To…tures and Torments, ſo couragiouſly and manfully, have ſundry Chriſtians in all Ages ſuffered; as to them who only heard thereof, they ſeemed incredible; and to many who were eye-witneſſes thereof, they ſeemed ſo ſtrange, and beyond admiration, as they thought the Martyrs to be mad, witleſs and ſenſeleſs: But the Martyrs had peace, and reſt, and quiet within; and the favourable Preſence of God ſo ſhining upon their ſouls, that they were encouraged and enabled with a holy and heavenly bravery of Spirit, to bid defyance to their moſt cruel Perſecutors.

Now Chriſtians, if you compare your moſt cruel Sufferings with the Sufferings of the Saints of old, how eaſie and light will they be found to be? What are mole-hills to mountains, ſcratches upon the hand to ſlabs at the heart? no more are your greateſt Sufferings, to thoſe that the Saints have met with in former Ages And therefore, though men frown upon you, and threaten you with cenſures, Impriſonment, Baniſhment, Confiſcation, and all the evil Humane might and cruelty can do unto you, yet be not moved; but account your ſelves happy, that you have any1 Pet. 4. 14, 15.1 Pet 4:141 Pet 4:15 opportunity to do or ſuffer any thing, whereby you may teſtifie that Chriſt and his Concerns doe lie near your hearts; and whereby you may further his oppoſed Intereſt, and bear witneſs to his deſpiſed truth. But

Ninthly, Conſider that the Saints and Martyrs of old have made 9little reckoning or account of their Lives, Liberties, Relations or Eſtates, when they ſtood in competition with Chriſt, or his Truth, Worſhip. Ways, Ordinances, Intereſt; or with their Profeſſion of the Chriſtian Faith, witneſs that glorious TeſtimonyHeb. 11. 35. vide Ejtius.Heb 11:35 that the Apoſtle gives of them. They would not accept deliverance; he means deliverance from death, or preſervation of life; this, though offered, they would not accept, namely, on Perſecutors terms or conditions; wich was to deny the Truth of God, or renounce their Faith in him. They ſcorned deliverance upon baſe terms; and would rather die, than deny Chriſt or his Truth. This phraſe, not accepting deliverance, preſuppoſeth that deliverance was offered to them; otherwiſe, they could not have rejected it; for their not accepting, was a rejecting. Their Perſecutors offered them deliverance upon their compliance with their Wills, Luſts. Ways, Worſhip, &c. This is evident by that which Nebuchadnezzar ſaid to Daniel's three Champions, when they were accuſed for not worſhipping his Idol; which was this, If ye be ready to fall down and worſhip the Image; he thereby impliesDan. 3. 15.Dan 3:15 that they ſhould be ſpared; for he addeth, if you worſhip not, you ſhall be caſt into a fiery ſin nace: And this is further evident in thoſe to whom the Apoſtle hath reference, viz. the Maccabees. 2 Mac. 6. 18, to 312 Macc 6:18–31And this was the common practice of the perſecuting Emperours in the Ten Perſecutions; and after them, with the Antichriſtian Perſecutors; and more particularly, with the high Perſecutors in Qucen Mary's days: But the Chriſtians in thoſe ſeveral Ages, had ſuch a mighty preſence of God with them, that they choſe rather to ſuffer the worſt of deaths, than to preſerve their lives by complying with the Wills, Luſts, Ways and Worſhip of their Perſecutors. For ever remember this, that th… envy and malice of Perſecutors is more againſt the glorious Truth the Saints profeſs, than it is againſt their perſons; for let but Chriſtians relinquiſh the Truth, deny the Truth, reproach the Truth, or oppoſe the Truth, and preſently they ſhall be white Boys, great Favourites, good Sons of the Church, and what not. That the envy and malice of Perſecutors is more againſt the Truth, than the Profeſſors of it, is moſt evident, in that they perſecute ſtrangers whom they never knew before. It is ſaid of Paul, that if he found any ſuch, he brought them bound: All wasActs 9. 2.Acts 9:2 fiſh that was caught in his net. If Father or Mother, Brother or Siſter, Child or Couſin, profeſs the Truth, plead for the Truth, ſtand up for the Truth; men of perſecuting Spirits will proſecute and perſecute them to the death: (The Brother ſhall deliver up Mat. 10. 21. Luk. 21. 16.Matt 10:21Luke 21:16the brother to death, and the father the child; and the children ſha. riſe up againſt their parents, and cauſe them to be put to death.) Alphonſus Diarius delivered up his own Brother John at Neoberg, Sleiden lib. 1. 17. Act. and Men. F…l. 1112. Ibid. 1801.in Germany into his enemies hands. So Doctor London made Filmer the Martyr's own Brother witneſs againſt him by ſupplying of him with meat and money, and by telling of him he ſhould never want. So one Woodman was delivered by his own Brother, into his enemies hands. And in the Civil Wars of France (not to mentionHiſt. of C…une. of Trent, F…l. 647. that of England) The Sons fought againſt their Fathers, and Brothers againſt Brothers; and even Women took up Arms on both ſides, for defence of their Religion. And Philip, King of Spain, could frequently ſay, that he had rather have no Subjects, than Hereticks, as he called the Proteſtants: And out of a blind bloody zeal, he ſuffered his eldeſt Son Charles, to be murtheredHieron. by the cruel Inquiſition, becauſe he ſeemed to favour the Proteſtant ſide. Truth is a Glorious ſhining Light, that diſcovers the ignorance and darkneſs, the wickedneſs and baſeneſs, the unſoundneſs and hypocriſie, the ſuperſtition and vain converſation of Perſecutors; and therefore they cannot endure this light, they hate this light, and will do all they can to ſuppreſs this light, andJoh. 3. 19.John 3:19 thoſe that hold out this light to the world. The … and Martyrs of old were as willing to die as to dine. Pliny writing to Trajan …. 10. Ep. 97. p. 316.the Emperour, declares to him that ſuch was their Zeal and courage in behalf of their God, that nothing could ſtir them from it; neither the Imperious checks of the potent Emperors, nor the ſoft language of the eloquent Orators, could draw them from the Faith; but they ſtedfaſtly owned it, and conſtantly perſevered in the defenſe of it, and were ready and willing to lay down their lives for it. When Ignatius was to ſuffer, 'tis better for me (ſaithIgnatius. he) to be a Martyr, than to be a Monarch. 'Twas a notable ſaying of a French Martyr, when the rope was about his fellow; Give me (ſaid he) that Golden Chain, and dub me Knight of that Noble Order. Let (ſaith Ignatius) Fire and Croſs, Invaſi…nEuſ…b H…ſt. E…cl. l. 3 c. 36. of Beaſts, breaking of bones, pulling aſunder of members, grinding of my whole body, and what elſe the Devil can inflict, come,Ibid. l. b. 4. c. 15. ſo I may hold Jeſus Chriſt. Lueius thanked him that brought him forth to ſu…er, and ſaid, that he ſhould be free from thoſe evil Maſters, and go to God, a good Father and King. Germanicus, when he was brought forth to be torn in pieces, and devo…ed by wild Beaſts; (The Governour perſwading him to be mindful of his Youth, that he might be ſpared) of his own accord, incited the Beaſts againſt himſelf. Sanctus being under Tortures for profeſſingEuſeb. Hiſt. Eccl. l. 5. c. 2.Sir 50:5 himſelf to be a Chriſtian, unto every queſtion propounded to him, he anſwered, I am a Chriſtian; whereby he occaſioned his Torments to be continued to death. Can we think that Saint Laurence would have accepted of deliverance; who, lying on a red hot Grid-iron, over burning Coals, with an invincible ſpirit, thus ſaid to the Tyrants; Turn the ſide broiled enough, and ſee what thy burning fire hath done: And being turned, and throughly broiled on the other ſide, ſaith thus again; Eat that which is broiled, and try whether raw or broiled be the ſweeter. Hyppolytus, when he was tied to wild Horſes to be pulled aſunder, thus prayed; Let them rend my limbs, do thou, O Chriſt, wrap up my ſoul. To omit other particulars of the Ancient Martyrs in the Primitive Times; with whoſe couragious ſpeeches manifeſting a contempt of death, of which Volumes might be filled; it is indefinitely recorded of many, who were famous for theirEuſ…b. Hiſt. Eccl. …. 8. cap. 9. Wealth, Nobility, Glory, Eloquence and Learning; that nevertheleſs, they preferred true Piety and Faith in our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, before all theſe: And though they were entreated by many of their Kindred and Friends otherwiſe; yea, and by others in great place, and by the Judge himſelf, that they would take pity of themſelves, their Wives, and Children: Yet would they not be induced and entreated by ſo many, and great ones, ſo to be a…ected with the love of this life, as to forbear the Confeſſion of our Saviour, and to ſet light by the denyal of him. Thus you ſee what little reckoning or account the Chriſtians of old have made of their Lives, Liberties and Eſtates, or whatever elſe was near or dear unto them, when theſe things ſtood in competition with Chriſt, his Truth, his Worſhip, his Ways, his Intereſt; or with their Profeſſion of the Chriſtian Faith.

Take a few Inſtances of a later date. John Huſs being at theJohn Huſs. ſtake, a Pardon was offered him if he would recant; to which he anſwered, I am here ready to ſuffer death So Hi…rom of Prague; Hierom of Pragueif I had feared the fire (ſaid he) I had not come hither. Francis Camba, a Martyr, in the Dioceſs of Millain, being much aſſailedFrancis Camba. by his Friends and terrified by his Foes, by no means could be overcome; but gave thanks to God, that he was accounted worthy to ſuffer a cruel death for the Teſtimony of his Son: And ſuch were his expreſſions of joy in his ſufferings, that his Perſecutors cauſed his tongue to be boared through, that he might ſpeak no more to the people. Another being offered the King's Pardon,Mrs. Anne Askew if ſhe would recant, gave this reſolute anſwer; I came not here to deny my Lord and Maſter: By that which ſhe with admirable courage and conſtancy endured, ſhe verified that which of old, Julitta ſpake concerning their Sex, viz. We women ought to be as conſtant as men in Chriſt's Cauſe. Another who ſuffered MartyrdomWalier Mille. in Scotland, being ſolicited to recant, made this reply; Ye ſhall know that I will not recant the Truth; for I am Corn, I am no Chaff; I will not be blown away with the wind, nor burſt with the flail; but I will abide both. Another being the firſtMr. John Rogers. Martyr in Queen Mary's days, being ſolicited to recant, that ſo he might ſave his life; boldly replyed, that which I have preached I will ſeal with my blood. Another, when a Pardon was ſetHe…per Biſhop of Gloceſter. before him in Box; cryed out, If you love my ſoul, away with it; if you love my ſoul, away with it. Another, on the like occaſion,Mr. Tho. Hawks, a Gentleman in Eſſix. gave this reſolute anſwer; If I had a hundred bodies, I would ſuffer them all to be torn in pieces, rather than abjure or recant. So another ſpake to the like purpoſe; So long (ſaid he)Biſhop Ridley. as the breath is in my body, I will never deny my Lord Chriſt, and his known Truth. Another uſed ſuch a ſpeech to one that adviſedFather Latimer. him to ſpare himſelf, as Chriſt did to Peter on the like occaſion; Get thee behind me Satan. There are a world of other Inſtances of the like nature, but enough is as good as a Feaſt. By all theſe Inſtances, you may ſee that Bleſſed Word verified; (They loved not their lives unto the death.) They were willing toRev. 12. 11.Rev 12:11 lay down their lives for the Glory of Chriſt, and for the Truth of Chriſt: So that foreign, They loved not, is put for foreign, they neglected or contemned, their life; as Brightman hath well obſerved: They ſlighted, yea, deſpiſed their lives; and rather expoſed them to hazard and loſs, than to deny Chriſt, or their holy Profeſſion. It is a Paraphraſe of the conſtancy of their Faith, even unto Martyrdom for the name of Chriſt. But

Tenthly, Conſider, That God puts a great deal of honourPhil. 1. 29.Phil 1:29 upon ſuffering Saints, To ſuffer for Chriſt is honourable; God will not put this honour upon every one, he puts this honour only upon thoſe that are Veſſels of Honour; by Grace God makes men2 Tim. 2. 20, 21.2 Tim 2:202 Tim 2:21 Veſſels of Silver and Veſſels of Gold, and then caſts them into the fire, to melt and ſuffer for his name; and a higher Glory he cannot put upon them on this ſide Glory: The Crown of Martyrdom is a Crown, that the Bleſſed Angels, thoſe Princes of Glory, are not capable of winning or wearing: And O, who art thou? and what art thou, O man, that God ſhould ſet this Crown upon thy head? Mark at what a rate Peter ſpeaks; (If ye …e reproached 1 Pet. 4. 1…1 Pet 4:1for the name of Chriſt, happy are ye; for the ſpirit of …lory, and of God, reſteth upon you; on their part he is evil ſpoken of but on your part he i… 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 therefore they muſt needs be glorious, yea, very glorious, upon whom the ſpirit of Glory falls,Rom. 8. 9, 11. Dan. 3.Rom 8:9Rom 8:11Dan 3 and in whom the Spirit of Glory dwells. What a Glorious Mold and Mettal were the three Children made up of, that were caſt into the fiery Furnace; and what a deal of honour and glory did God put upon them in the eyes of all the world. The Apoſtles all along accounted their own ſufferings, and the ſufferings of the Saints for Chriſt; to be the higheſt honour and glory that God could put upon them in this world, as will be evident by our comparingHeb. 11. 36, 37, 38 2 Cor. 11. 23, to 28 Heb. 10. 32, to 26.Heb 11:36Heb 11:37Heb 11:382 Cor 11:23–28Heb 10:32 the Scriptures in the Margin together. To ſuffer for Chriſt is the greateſt honour and promotion that God gives in this world, ſaid old Father Latimer; and therefore, when ſentence was pronounced againſt him, he cryed out, I thank God moſt heartily for this great honour. So Saunders; I am the unmeeteſt man forAct. and M…n. 1361. Ibid. 1744. this high Office, that ever was appointed to it. So Careleſs the Martyr, this is ſuch an honour (ſaid he) as the greateſt Angel in Heaven, is not permitted to have; God forgive me mine unthankfulneſs, &c. John N…y…s took up a Faggot at the fire, and kiſſedJohn N…y…s. it; Saying, Bleſſed be the time that ever I was born, to come to this preferment. So when they had faſtned Alice Driver with aAlice Driver. chain to the ſtake to be burnt; Never (ſaid ſhe) did Neck-kerchief become me ſo well as this Chain. So Balilus the Martyr, whenBalilus. he was to die, requeſted this favour of his Perſecutors, …. That he might have his chains b…ed with him, as the Enſigns of his honour. What are we, poor worms, full of vanities and liesCalvin. (ſaid Calvin) that we ſhould be called to be maintainers of the Truth; for Su…erings for Chriſt are the Enſigns of Heavenly Nobility. To die for Chriſt is the greateſt promotion that GodPhilpot. can bring any in this Vale of Miſery unto, ſaid Mr. Philpot the Martyr. A French Soldier, for his zealous Profeſſion of the reformedThuan. Hiſt. l. 11. Anno 1553. Religion, was condemned to the fire with others, only he ſhould have the favour of going to the St…ke without a Wyth; but he deſired that he might wear ſuch a Chain as his fellows did, eſteeming this rebuke of Chriſt more glorious than the Enſigns of St Michael's Order. 'Twas an excellent ſaying of Prudentius; Prudentius.Their names (ſaith he) that are written in red letters of Blood in the Churches Calendar, are written in Golden Letters in Chriſt's Regiſter, the Book of Life. The Paſſion-days of the Martyrs were anciently called the Natalitia ſalutis, the Birth-days of Salvation, the Day-break of Eternal Brightneſs. We count it a great honourIſa 9 6, 7. Dan. 3. 24, 25. Iſa. 43. 2. cap. 63. 9.Isa 9:6Isa 9:7Dan 3:24Dan 3:25Isa 43:2 to have Princes to be our Companions: Chriſt, the Prince of Peace; and the Angels, thoſe Princes of Glory, are our Companions in all our Sufferings: Such is the honour that God puts upon his Suffering Saints, that nothing ſhall hinder him from being their Companion in all their Sufferings, in all their afflictions, in all their Temptations; and this, believe it, is no ſmall honour. I have read, how that in the Primitive times, when ſomeEuſeb. Eccleſ. Hiſt l. 5. 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. And Luther writing to thoſe which were condemned to death, ſaith, the Lord will not do me that honour, after all that buſtle I have made in the world. In the Primitive times they were wont to call Martyrdom by the name of Corona Martyrii, the Crown of Martyrdom. We read of a Woman-martyr, who having her Child in her hand, gave it to another, and offered her ſelf to Martyrdom: Crowns (ſaid ſhe) are to be dealt out this day, and I mean to have one. You ſee what high and honourable thoughts the Saints had of their Sufferings in thoſe days; and O, that all ſuffering Saints would labour to write after that noble Copy that they have left upon Record. But

Eleventhly, Conſider that ſuffering Saints do put a great deal 11of Honour and Glory upon God, Chriſt, Religion, and upon God's Truth. Worſhip and Ways. What a ſpreading Fame and Glory of God did the Sufferings of the three Worthies ſcatter all the world over. God is acknowledged and adored by Nebuchadnezzar, a Decree is made, That Every People, Nation and Language Dan. 3. 28, 29.Dan 3:28Dan 3:29which ſpeak amiſs against the God of Shadrach, Meſhach and Abednego, ſhall be cut in pieces, and their houſes ſhall be made a Dunghill, &c. Here God's Glory wonderfully ſhines out of their Sufferings: Here this poor, blind, Idolatrous Heathen Prince is forced to confeſs, that there is no God like Iſrael's God. Baſil and Tertullian do well obſerve of the Primitive Martyrs; that divers of the Heathen ſeeing their zeal, courage and conſtancy, glorified God, and turned Chriſtians. Religion is that Phoenix which hath always revived and flouriſhed in the aſhes of holy men; and Truth hath never been ſo honoured: and gloriouſly diſperſed, as when it hath been ſealed by the blood of the Saints: This made Julian to forbear to perſecute; non ex clementia, ſed invidia, not out of piety, but envy; becauſe the Church grew ſo faſt, and multiplied as Nazianzen well obſerves. We read that ſome times the Sufferings of one Saint have begot many to the love of the Truth: We read that Cicilia, a poor Captive Virgin, by her gracious behaviour in her Martyrdom, was the means of converting four hundred to Chriſt. Justine Martyr was alſo converted by obſerving the chearful and gracious Carriage of the Saints in their Sufferings. And ſo Adrianus ſeeing the Martyrs ſuffer readily and joyfully ſuch grievous torments, asked, why they would endure ſuch miſery when they might (by retracting) free themſelves: Upon which, one of them cited that Text; Eye hath not 1. Cor. 2. 9.1 Cor 2:9ſeen, nor ear heard, neither have entred into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. Upon the naming of this Scripture, and ſeeing of them ſuffer ſo willingly, chearfully and reſolutely, ſuch a Divine Power took hold of his heart, that he was converted, and afterwards became a Martyr. Now God, and Chriſt, and Truth, and Religion are never more honoured, than when poor ſouls are ſoundly converted. Surely the Crown of Martyrdom, is a Glorious Crown; and every ſoul won over to God by a dying Martyr, will be as an Orient Pearl, and Precious Diamond in his Crown, of far more value than that Adamant found about Charles Duke of Burgundy, ſlain by the Switzers, at the Battel of Nantz, ſold for twenty thouſand Duckets; and placed, as it is ſaid, in the Pope's Tripple Crown. O,A &. 7. 55, 56, 57. what fore…aſts of Glory, what raviſhments of Soul, have many of the Bleſſed Martyrs had in their ſufferings for Chriſt. Holy Lord, ſtay thy hand, I can bear no more, ſaid one of the Martyrs; like weak eyes, that cannot bear too great a light. Is it not a high honour to a King to have ſuch Captains and Champions, as will not yield to their Sovereign's enemies, but ſtand it out to the uttermoſt, till they get the Victory, though it coſt them their lives to get it: yet no mortal King can (as Chriſt doth) put ſpirit, courage and ſtrength into a Subject; only we may well conceive and conclude, that ſuch Valourous Soldiers, as are ready to hazard their lives for their Sovereign, ſerve a good Maſter. Thus do ſuffering Chriſtians and Martyrs give Perſecutors to underſtand, that they ſerve a good Maſter, and that they highly prize him; who hath done more, and ſuffered more for them, than their deareſt Blood is worth; and who enables them with courage, conſtancy and comfort, to endure whatſoever, for his names ſake, can beRom. 8. 37.Rom 8:37 inflicted on them; and therein to be foreign, More than Conquerors, or above Conquerors. How can that be, can a man get more than the Victory? The meaning is, we do over overcome, ſuper ſuperanus; that is, triumph or overcome before we fight; we are famous and renowned Conquerors, we eaſily conquer, we2 Cor. 2. 14.2 Cor 2:14 conquer by thoſe things which are uſed to conquer us, we beat our enemies with their own Swords, as Julian ſometime ſaid, being confuted by Heathen Learning. Martyr and Piſcator expound it thus, we do more than overcome; that is, we obtain a Noble, a famous Victory: And is not this a great honour to Chriſt, theHeb. 2. 10.Heb 2:10 Captain of our Salvation The invincible courage of ſuffering Chriſtians puts life and ſpirit into others. In an Army valorous Leaders much animate the reſt of the Soldiers, and embolden them to follow their Leaders. Now, you know the Church is an Army with Banners; and ſuffering Miniſters, and ſuffering SaintsCant. 6. 4.Song 6:4 are as Leaders; they couragiouſly and victoriouſly make the onſet; and other Chriſtians, by their pious examples are pricked on to follow them ſo far as they are followers of the Lamb. But

Twelfthly, Conſider. That all the Sufferings and Perſecutions 12that you meet with on earth, ſhall advance your Glory in Heaven;Quiſquis volens detrahit famae meae nolens addit mercedi meae, ſaith Augustine: The more we ſuffer with and for Chriſt, the more Glory we ſhall have with and from Chriſt. Rom. 2. 6.Rom 2:6 the more Saints are perſecuted on earth, the greater ſhall be their reward in heaven. Look, as Perſecutions do encreaſe a Chriſtian's Grace, ſo they do advance a Chriſtian's Glory; in Heaven, the Martyrs ſhall have the higheſt Degree of Glory; for though God doth not reward men ſimply for their Works, namely for the merit of them, yet he rewards according to their Works; and proportions the degree or meaſure thereof, according to the kind of work which on earth is done▪ and according to the meaſure of Grace whereby he enables men to do it. Now, Martyrdom is the moſt difficult, the moſt honourable, and the moſt acceptable Work that on earth can be done; and therefore in heaven Martyrdom ſhall be crowned with the higheſt degree of Glory; on this ground, they who ſet down the different degrees of Celeſtial Glory, by the different Fruits which the good Ground brought forth, ſome thirty, ſome ſixty, and ſome a hundredMat. 13. 8.Matt 13:8 fold; apply the hundred fold, which is the higheſt andMat. 19. 27, 28, 29 Keep your eye upon the recompence of reward, as Moſes did, Heb. 11. 26. and as Chriſt did, cap. 12 2. as Paul did, Rom. 8. 18. This will work you, 1. To walk more holily, humbly thankfully. 2. To live more chearfully and comfortably. 3. To ſuffer more patiently, freely, reſolutely. 4. To fight againſt the world, the fleſh and the devil more ſtoutly and valiantly. 5. To withſtand Temptations more ſtedfaſtly & ſtrongly. 6. To be contented with a little. 7. To leave the world, Relations and friends more willingly. 8. And to embrace death more joyfully.Matt 19:27Matt 19:28Matt 19:29Heb 11:26Rom 8:18 greateſt Degree of Glory, to Martyrdom: Doubtleſs, God's ſuffering Servants; and amongſt them, eſpecially his Martyrs, ſhall ſit down in the chiefeſt Manſions, and in the higheſt Rooms in the Kingdom of Glory: According to the Degrees of our ſufferings for Chriſt, will be the degrees of our Glory: What ſhall we have, ſays Peter, (that have ſuffered ſo many great and grievo… …ngs for thy name) that have forſaken all, and followed thee? Veri…y, ſays our Saviour, every one that hath forſaken houſes, &c. ſhall receive a hundred fold, and ſhall inherit everlaſting life: But ye ſhall ſit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve Tribes of Iſrael. A Chriſtian will never repent of all the hard things that he has ſuffered for Chriſt or his Truth, when as every one of his ſufferings ſhall be a ſparkling Jewel to give a luſtre to his Crown of Glory. Suffering for Chriſt and Religion is the moſt gainful kind of Merchandize. Chriſt is ſo well pleaſed with the ſufferings of his Saints, that he has engaged himſelf to make up whatever they loſe upon his account; yea, to repay all with Intereſt upon Intereſt, to a hundred times over. Oh, who would not then turn Spiritual Purchaſer. Chriſt is a noble, a liberal Paymaſter; and no ſmall things can fall from ſo great a hand as his is: Mat. 5. 10, 11, 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 caſt out your name as evil, for the Son of man's 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 Excommunicated and Anathematized, as notorious, ſhameful, and abominable offenders; 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 multiplied upon them in this world, the greater ſhall be their recompence in another world. The Original words (foreign) in Matthew, and (foreign) in Luke, ſignifie 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.Act. and Mon. Fol. 613. A Dutch Martyr feeling the flame to come to his beard; ſaid he, what a ſmall pain is this, to be compared to the Glory to come. Hellin Stirk, a Scotch woman, when her Husband wasIbid. 1154. at the place of Execution, ſhe ſaid to him, Husband rejoyce, for we have lived together many joyful days; but this day, in which we muſt die, ought to be moſt joyful to us both, becauſe we muſt bave joy for ever; therefore I will not bid you good night, for we ſhall ſuddenly meet within the Kingdom of Heaven. The ſubſcription of Mrs. Anne Askew to her Confeſſion, was this;Ibid. 1130. written by me Anne Askew, that neither wiſheth for death, nor feareth his Might; and as merry as one that is bound toward … ven. Oh how my heart leapeth for joy (ſaid Mr. Philpot) that IIbid. 1670. am ſo near the apprehenſion of eternal life! God forgive me mine unthankfulneſs and unworthineſs of ſo great Glory; I have ſo much joy of the reward prepared for me moſt wretched ſinner, that though I be in a place of darkneſs and mourning, yet I cannot lament; but, both night and day, am ſo joyful, as though under no Croſs at all; yea, in all the days of my life, I was never ſo merry, the name of the Lord be praiſed therefore for ever and ever. The ſame Author, in a Letter to the Congregation, ſaith,Ibid. 1663. Though I tell you that I am in Hell in the judgment of this world, yet aſſuredly, I feel in the ſame the Conſolation of Heaven; and this loathſome and horrible Priſon, is as pleaſant to me, as the Walks in the Garden in the King's Bench. Thus you ſee, that1 Pet. 1. 8.1 Pet 1:8 ſuffering Saints have had a Heaven before hand; they have had an exuberancy of joy, ſuch as no good could match, nor no evil overmatch. Bernard ſpeaking of Perſecutors, ſaith, that they areBernard. but his Father's Gold-ſmiths, who are working to add Pearls to the Saints Crown. It is to my loſs, ſaith Gordius the Martyr, ifGordius. you abate me any thing of my preſent Sufferings. Sufferings for Chriſt are the Saints greateſt Glory (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 allChryſoſtom. the ſorrows of all the Saints in the world, yet are they not worth one hours glory in heaven. By the conſent of the School-men,The School-men. 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 holy courage, that what here they endured in the behalf of their Saviour, may be there an addition to their glory. O Chriſtians, all your Sufferings will certainly encreaſe 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 for2 Cor. 4. 16, 17, 182 Cor 4:162 Cor 4:172 Cor 4:18 every tear, for every ſigh, for every groan, for every hazard, and for every hardſhip that you have met in the way of your duty. For light Afflictions, you ſhall have a weight of Glory; and for a few Afflictions, you ſhall have as many joys, pleaſures, de lights 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 plentiful you ſow in tears;Pſal. 126. 5, 6.Ps 126:5Ps 126:6 the more abundant will be your Harveſt of Glory. Chriſt our General, the Captain of our Salvation, promiſes a Crown, (Rev 2. 10) and a Throne, (cap. 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 ſ…ake, that he was going to a place, where he ſhould be for ever a receiving of Wages for a little work. But

Thirteenthly and Laſtly, Afflictions, Sufferings, Perſecutions, 13will diſcover what mettal men are made of. All is not Gold thatMat. 13. 2 Tim. 1. 15, 16. 1 Tim. 1. 19, 20. 2 Tim. 4. 10, 14, 15, 16. Mat. 13. 20, 21.Matt 132 Tim 1:152 Tim 1:161 Tim 1:191 Tim 1:202 Tim 4:102 Tim 4:142 Tim 4:152 Tim 4:16Matt 13:20Matt 13:21 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 Chriſtian more worth than the Gold of Ophyr, who remains Gold when under fiery Tryals. The ſtony ground did gliſter and ſhine very gloriouſly, for it received the Word with joy for a ſeaſon; but when the Sun of Perſecution aroſe upon it, it fell away. Men that in times of Liberty and Proſperity embrace the Word, will in times of Perſecution diſtruſt the Word, reject the Word, and turn their backs upon the Word, if it be not rooted in their Underſtandings, Judgments, Wills, Affections and Conſciences: Men may court the Word, and complement the Word, and applaud the Word, and ſeemingly rejoyce in the Word; but they will never ſuffer Perſecution for the Word, if it be only received into their heads, and not faſt rooted in their hearts: The houſe built upon the Sands was as lovely, as comely, as goodly andMat. 7. 26, 27.Matt 7:26Matt 7:27 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 the 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 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 tryals come; no heart but a ſound heart, will hold out bravely when Su…ferings come; no heart but a ſincere heart, will bear the brunt of Perſecution.Dan. 3. 17, 18.Dan 3:17Dan 3:18 The three Worthies, Shadrach, Meſh…h and Abednego, would rather burn than bow, they would rather ſuffer than ſin, which was a… evident proof of their ſincerity and ingenuity; they would be Non-conformiſts, though Court, City and Countrey cryed up Conformity, which was a ſure argument of their integrity. Hypocrites have heart enough for themſelves, but none for God. If they ſee their Names, Eſtates or Carnal Intereſt any way touched, they are all on fire, and ready to be burnt up with the flames of their own zeal; but they can ſee the Name, Truth and Intereſt of God aſſaulted and torn in pieces, and never ſtir: in their own Concerns, they are as if they were all heart; but in the cauſe ofHoſ. 7. 11.Hos 7:11 God, they are as if (with Ephraim) they had no heart at all. O, its ſad that men ſhould have a heart for themſelves, and none for God; that they ſhould have courage in their own cauſe, and none in his. As the ſoul is the glory of the body, ſo integrity is the glory of the ſoul. A ſincere Chriſtian, with Job, will rather letJob 27. 5.Job 27:5 all go, than let his integrity go; he will ſooner let the blood b… preſſed out of his veins, and his ſoul out of his body, than his integrity out of his ſoul. O, how bravely did the Primitive ChriſtiansEpiſt. 97. p. 316. carry themſelves as to this Matter. Pliny writing to Trajan, declares to him that ſuch was their zeal and courage in the behalf of their God, that nothing could ſtir them from it; neither the Imperious checks of the Potent Emperours, nor the ſoft language of the eloquent Orators, could draw them from the Faith; but they ſtedfaſtly owned it, and conſtantly perſevered in the defence of it: But now baſe unſound hearts will exceedingly ſhuffle and ſhif… to ſhake off Perſecution; witneſs thoſe falſe Teachers, 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, they conſtrain you to be circumciſed; only leſt they ſhould ſuffer Perſecution for the Croſs of Chriſt. Mark, 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 preſſed Circumciſion upon the Galatians, but not out of any true affection or zeal that they did bear to the Law; but only 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 would ſeem to be very earneſt for Judaiſm, but not for Chriſtianiſm, 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. The Samaritans, ſo long asJoſeph. Hiſt. lib. 13 the Jewiſh Religion flouriſhed, and was in honour, cauſed a Temple to be built on Mount Garazin, that therein they might not be inferiour 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 leſt they ſhould be handled in the like manner, they changed both their Coat and their Note; affirming that they were not Iſraelites, but Sidonians; and that they had built their Temple not unto God, but unto Jupiter. Thus you ſee that times of Affliction and Perſecution will diſtinguiſh the Precious from theJer. 15. 19.Jer 15:19 Vile; 'twill difference the counterfeit Profeſſor, from the true. Perſecution is a Chriſtian's Touch-ſtone; 'tis a Lapis Lydius, that will try what mettal men are made of, whether they be ſilver or Tin, Gold or Droſs, Wheat or Chaff, ſhadow or ſubſtance, carnal or ſpiritual, ſincere or hypocritical. Nothing ſpeaks out more ſoundneſs and uprightneſs than keeping cloſe to Chriſt, his Worſhip, Truth and Ways, in a day of warm Perſecution. To ſtand cloſe and faſt to God and his Intereſt in fiery tryals, argues much integrity within. Theſe thirteen Particulars are ſo great Truths written with the beams of the Sun, that no man nor Devil can deny; and therefore I ſhall make no Apology to the Perſecutors of the day, to execuſe my writing of this General Epiſtle; but ſhall beg hard of God, that it may be ſo own'd, and crown'd, and bleſſed from on high, that it may really and fully anſwer to all thoſe holy and gracious aims and ends that the Author had in his eye, and upon his heart, when he writ it. And thus much for this General Epiſtle.