A Preparation for Martyrdom, Dialogue

A Preparation for Martyrdom · Dialogue

A PREPARATION For Martyrdom, A DISCOURSE about the Cauſe, the Temper, the Aſſiſtances and Rewards OF A MARTYR of JESUS CHRIST▪ IN A DIALOGUE Betwixt a Miniſter, and a Gentleman his Pariſhioner.

Matt. 5. 11,

Bleſſed are they which are perſecuted for righteouſneſs ſake: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

1 Pet. 4. 14.

If ye be reproached for the Name of Chriſt, happy are ye; for the Spirit of God and of Glory, reſteth upon you.

LONDON: Printed for Tho. Parkhurſt at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside, near Mercers-Chapel. 1681▪

p. 3A Preparation FOR Martyrdom, IN A DIALOGUE Betwixt a Miniſter, and a Gentleman his Pariſhioner.

Pariſh.

SIR, though I juſtly eſteem my ſelf, who am ſo great a ſinner, unworthy of the honour to ſuffer for the Name of Chriſt, yet I know it is my Duty to be prepared in Spirit for it, if God vouchſafe to call me to it. I requeſt therefore your Paſtoral aſſiſtance herein, that whether I live, I may live unto the Lord; or whether I die, I may die unto the Lord.

Min.

I bleſs God (Dear Sir) who inclines your heart to ſeek after ſuch holy diſpoſitions as are required in thoſe whom Chriſt will honour in calling them to ſuffer for his Name. But, I pray, tell me, Why you are at this time ſo ſollicitous to gather up your Spirit into that frame?

Pariſh.

There need no account be given of that, betwixt you and I, who have been fellow-ſufferers in the late times, for adhering to the cauſe of our Soveraign, and of the Proteſtant p. 4Church of England; and whoſe Perſons and Fortunes do yet wear the Scars of their Loyalty: and we are not ſecure, that we may not be called to ſuffer on the ſame account again.

And though neither of us have at any time (bleſſed be God) made any unkind returns to thoſe who then Perſecuted us, nor have ſince gained any thing by our Loyalty but our loſſes; yet if the like times ſhould return again, we are like to be in the firſt rank of Sufferers.

But I confeſs, that though the Cauſe we then undertook and ſuffered for, was as juſt a Cauſe as any could fall out in a Chriſtian Nation, yet I then both acted and ſuffered in another manner of Spirit, than I now ſee reaſon to deſire to be acted by. I did indeed think then, and do ſo ſtill, that I was bound in conſcience to do my utmoſt to ſecure the Perſon and Honour of my Soveraign, and to maintain the Laws both Civil and Eccleſiaſtical then in being, till they ſhould be orderly changed by the Conſent and Authority of my Soveraign in Parliament; yet I did (as I fear too many of our ſide did) eſpouſe an humour of Prophaneneſs, in oppoſition to that Profeſſion of Godlineſs, which I ununcharitably thought, that all on the other ſide did make only to drive on Rebellious Deſigns: which probably the great Artificers of our troubles did do. And certainly we Royaliſts, by the overſpreading of prophaneneſs amongſt us, ruined the beſt Cauſe that ever Loyal Subjects undertook to bear up upon the points of their Swords. But it is another manner of Spirit I deſire now to be baptiſed into; namely, that whereinto our ſuffering Lord and Saviour, and his Holy Apoſtles and Martyrs were baptiſed.

And to deal plainly, I do not think the next Tempeſt that will Aſſault us will come from that Quarter.

My chief fears therefore are, from the ſucceſs of Popiſh Arms abroad, (eſpecially under the Conduct of that Great Monarch who ſeems to have ſworn the utter extirpation of the Proteſtant Name) and the prevailing of Popiſh Arts at home to the breaking of us, with Diviſion upon Diviſion. Theſe, I ſay, with the loud crying ſins done and countenanced amongſt us, makes me expect a Storm, and I deſire to be prepared for it.

Min.

I hope God will bleſs the unwearied endeavours of our Gracious Soveraign, and his moſt Honourable Privy Council at preſent, and of the Engliſh Parliament, (when one ſhall by his p. 5Sacred Majeſty be called) to fruſtrate the Attempts of the Popiſh Adverſaries both at home and abroad.

Pariſh.

I thankfully acknowledg, that by the bleſſing of God on the Prudent Conduct of publick Affairs by his Sacred Majeſty, we yet enjoy Peace, when many of the neighbouring Nations round about us feel the ſad miſeries of War: ſo that if our ſins ſtood neuter, and did not ſtrike in with our Enemies, I would not fear either their Forces or Conſults: but alas! there can be no Fencing or Walling betwixt us and Heaven, to which our ſins cry aloud for vengeance.

Min.

It is very true, we are great ſinners, but not greater than other Nations whom God is pleaſed yet to reſpit; what ſins therefore of this Nation ſeem to you ſo ripe for vengeance.

Pariſh.

Truly there are many of them, and ſome of them ſeem eſpecially to call for Popery, as the only ſcammony ſtrong enough to purge them out: Such are the frequent and avowed Sinonaical Contracts betwixt ſome Patrons and their unworthy Clerks. Such alſo are the moſt unchriſtian practices of many of our Planters abroad, not only in the inhumane cruelties they exerciſe upon the poor Negroes,See Mr. Morgan Godwin's Negro's▪ Advocate. and other Heathen their Slaves, but eſpecially in their diſcouraging and oppoſing all endeavours for the Converſion of thoſe poor Infidels to Chriſtianity.

For have not the Mahumetan Prieſts travelled to the vaſt Plain of Tartary, and Mountains of Africa, to propagate their Superſtition? Yea, have not the Jeſuits, and other Romiſh Miſſionaries gone to the furtheſt Indies to ſpread that ſort of Chriſtianity which they profeſs? and probably they taught for the ſubſtance of it, the Goſpel of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, though they built Hay, Straw and Stubble on that Foundation. And their Converts in Japan and other where, ſuffering for the owning one God and one Mediator 'twixt God and Man (Chriſt Jeſus) are juſtly numbred in the Catalogue of Chriſtian Martyrs. Shall not theſe Romaniſts therefore riſe up in Judgment againſt us and other Proteſtants, who oppoſe the Converſion of our own Slaves? Nay, may not God juſtly ſay to them concerning us as he did once to Nebuchadnezzar, Ezek. 29. 20. That he gave him the Land of Aegypt as his hire for his labour wherewith he ſerved againſt Tyre. So may God ſay, He will give unto the Popiſh Emiſſaries thoſe Proteſtant Churches, (who are negligent in propagating p. 6the Faith) as their hire for that ſervice they have ſerved againſt Heatheniſme in the new found world.

And did not thoſe excellent Perſons who preached before the Lords and Commons on the Faſt-day Dec. 22. 1681. proclaime it in the Name of the Lord, That the vine bringing forth ſowre grapes, would cauſe God to pluck up the hedge and fence, and let in both the Wild-Beaſts and the Wild-Boars into his Vineyard?

This the Learned and pious Dr. Burnett with much integrity and freedom told the Honorable Houſe of Commons (as of other ſins of the Nation) ſo of the Drunkenneſs and Debauchery: Which, ſaith he, hath not only corrupted our common converſation, but vitiated the very vitals of our Government, by the Aſcendent it hath on ſo …ſpecial a Part of our ſecurity as are the Elections of this ſo great and honourable Aſſembly, (of Knights and Burgeſſes) in Parliament.

I remember to this day the ſharp and juſt reprehenſion, which the preſent moſt Pious, learned and right Reverend Father in God Dr John Pierſon Lord Biſhop of Cheſter gave to us debauched Cavaliers in his Sermon to General Gorings Army in the Weſt.

If, ſaid he, one Achan was enough to trouble a whole Army of Iſraelites, what trouble will an Army of Achans create to themſelves, and thoſe imbacked with them?

If therefore there ſhould by the miſcariages of ſome inferior Corporations (whoſe meaner Burghers are ready to ſell their Conſciences, their Religion, and their Souls for drink, and whoſe Richer Burghers are as ready to do the ſame for the cuſtom of a great Houſe) but two or three Achans (debauched Atheiſtical Hobbiſts) be ſhuffled with our Houſe of Commons, though conſiſting moſtly of faithful wiſe and Religious Patriots, is it not enough to cauſe God to blaſt the Seſſions wherein ſuch are mingled?

Nor can any good be expected from ſuch, though, as is pretended, their Eſtates cheifly conſiſting of Abby Lands, Impropriations, &c. they are high Zealots againſt Popery, for ſuch will compound underhand to ſave their own ſtakes. But beſides, as God declares, he hath no fellowſhip with Mammon, nor Chriſt w…th E…lial: ſo neither will he vouchſafe to uſe the help of either in the cauſe of his truth and Church.

p. 7Hath not alſo the moſt Pious, Learned, and Reverend Prelate (the beſt of Collegiate Governours) Dr. Fell, Lord Biſhop of Oxford, in his Sermon then before the Lords, ſet it out with the Zeal of a Prophet, how Luſt, and Uncleanneſs are Rampant amongſt us? For indeed Adultery hath not only taken the place, but Uſurps alſo the Title of Marriage. And Whoredom claims to be Honourable amongſt all Men.

So that he is eſteemed mean both in Purſe and Spirit, who keeps not his Brace of Miſſes, and hath alſo the repeated Marks of the Stews upon his Body.

Add to theſe, the loud crying Sin of Murder (Unrevenged Murder) committed in Duels, and Drunken Aſſaſſinating of Peaceable Men, without a Quarrel: Add the general prevailing of a Spirit of Prophaneſs amongſt us, (juſt as it did before the late Wars:) For I remember how then every man who was ſerious and orderly in his Converſation, and every Miniſter who was Diligent and Laborious in his Miniſtry, though they conformed as high as any (and many of them were afterwards as early and deep Sufferers for the King, as any of the Royal Party) yet were called Puritans▪ and uſed as ſuch, not only by us the Prophane Rabble, but even by ſome great Church-men and others; and is it not ſo in a great meaſure at this day? The Conforming Miniſters who are moſt Holy in their Lives, and Diligent in their Labours; and their moſt orderly Pariſhioners are Reproached as Phanaticks, for that very Reaſon, becauſe they are not Prophane. Yea, though thoſe Miniſters are as Regular Conformiſts as any, and have Writ and Diſputed for the Dioceſan, Epiſcopacy, and Conformity to the Legal Eccleſiastical Settlement, than any of their Neighbours:

So that if we eſtimate the Preſent Quarrel by the Practice of many, both of the looſeſt Layety and Clergy, who yet confidently call themſelves Sons of the Church; it is not Conformity and Epiſcopacy, but Profaneſs which ſeems to be the great Paliadium thoſe Men ſtrive to ſecure; and ſhall not God again Viſit for theſe things?

Add to theſe, the Common and Unrelented Perjuries of moſt Officers as Conſtables, Church-Wardens, &c. Beſides the Horrid Blaſphemies of the Wretched Dammees: With many other Sins.

p. 8So that I fear the removing of our Candleſtick from before the Lord and▪ Redeemer of the Church, who purchaſed it, and every part of it, to be Holy unto himſelf.

Miniſt.

I pray you (Sir) let us not make ſuch Deſperate Concluſions againſt our ſelves.

We have (Bleſſed be God) more than Fifty Righteous in every City, both Conformiſts and Nonconformiſts, who cry Night and Day for the Averting of Gods Wrath; the Reforming our Manners, the Healing our Diviſions, and the Continuance of the Publick Profeſſion of his truth amongſt us. And I hope he will in Mercy hear them.

Pariſh.

Amen! The Lord Merciful and Gracious, hear them and us! But I fear our Sins are more Vocal than our Prayers.

Minſt.

Beſides, I have not ſuch dreadful Apprehenſions of the Cruelty of the Engliſh Papiſts as you ſeem to have. For both you and I know ſome of that Profeſſion, who are as kind and obliging Neighbours as moſt about us.

Pariſh.

I do readily grant it, but then they are thoſe who have not known the depths of Satan, as they ſpeak, Rev. 2. 24. They acting therefore according to the Benevolent Principles of our Common Chriſtianity, and the ſweet Candor of their own Natural Temper, are very lovely, and I uſe to bleſs God when I obſerve any Papiſt to be ſuch an Heteroclyt, and to differ from the generally prevailing Frame of Fierceneſs, that moſt of them (their Regulars at leaſt) do evidence: And oh! What a Triumphant Day will it be both in Heaven and Earth, when all ſuch Holy, Meek, and Humble Papiſts ſhall flee out of Babylon! But alas, theſe very Perſons themſelves know not what they ſhall be, when Power is in their hand; at leaſt, when the Prieſt and Confeſſor ſhall get aſtride their Conſciences, and ſpur them on both ſides with the ſharp Rowels of theſe Popiſh Maxims. [No Faith to be kept with Hereticks.] And [He that Conceals an Heretick, is liable to the Inquiſition, as an Heretick.]

Queen Mary her ſelf, is reported, to have been a Princeſs of an excellent Temper, had not Gardener, Bonner, &c. preſſed her to thoſe Cruelties exerciſed under her, as the only Evidence ſhe could give her Holy Father the Pope, and her Holy Mother, the Romiſh Church; That ſhe was a Defender of the Catholick Roman Faith. And ſo in Ireland, the poor Proteſtants found, that their Popiſh Neighbours formerly obliged and obliging, by p. 9receiving and giving all Reciprocal Kindneſſes, were either forced by their Prieſts, or willing to be bitterly cruel to their Proteſtant Friends; and ſo I believe the poor French Proteſtants find it at this day.—But if any good natured Papiſt, either in Piedmont, Ireland, France, or otherwhere, have ever ſhewed any tenderneſs towards ſuffering Proteſtants in a day of Perſecution, I pray the God of all Mercies and Conſolation, to return that Mercy ſeven-fold into the Boſom of them and theirs, in the time of their need. But ſtill I fear: Be pleaſed therefore to lend me your direction and aſſiſtance how I may bear up againſt the Storm, if it come: The Prophet Iſaiah bids us hearken and hear for the time to come.Iſa. 42. 23.Isa 42:23 And Jeremiah taught the Jews whilſt they were in Judea, what they ſhould do and ſay when they came into Babylon.

Min.

I ſhall readily (as far as I am able) comply to your Pious deſire, not becauſe my fears keep equal pace with yours, for to me ſtill there is hope in Iſrael, as to this thing, but becauſe the conſiderations which ſuch a Subject will lead us to, will be a great advantage to us Living and Dying.

The Method I will obſerve in my Diſcourſe ſhall be this:

I. I will endeavour to ſhew you what ſort of Cauſe it is that will make a Martyr;Mat. 5. 10.Matt 5:10 namely, To ſuffer for Chriſts Name, and for Righteouſneſs ſake.1 Pet. 3. 14.1 Pet 3:14

II. I will ſhew how a Martyr muſt be qualified as to his Temper and Practice.

III. What promiſes God hath made both of Conſolations, and Supports here, and of rewards hereafter, to his Suffering Saints.

Pariſh.

Sir, I am glad we are come to this ſweet Theme, and ſhall attend diligently, praying to God to guide your Tongue for my Direction and Conſolation in the ways of the Goſpel.

Min.

Amen.—He therefore ſuffers for Chriſts Name, and for Righteouſnes ſake,

p. 10I. Who ſuffers, for refuſing to ſtrengthen the hands of Wicked Men in their Wickedneſs, by his Conſent or Example.

II. Who ſuffers, for Promoting the Churches Peace.

III. Who ſuffers, for the Exerciſe of warranted Religious Worſhip, or refuſal of Communion in Idolatrous and Sinful Worſhip.

IV. Who ſuffers, for contending for the Faith and Truth once delivered to the Saints.

Firſt, He Suffers as a Martyr, who Suffers, becauſe he will have no Fellowſhip in the unfruitful Works of Darkneſs, nor run to the ſame exceſs of Riot with others; who Suffers, becauſe he is ready when Sinners intice him, to anſwer with David,Pſal. 119. 115.Ps 119:115 Depart from me ye Evil doers; for I will keep the Commandements of my God; is Gods Martyr. For certainly if we Suffer on this account, becauſe we will by our profeſſed obedience to God's Law, give teſtimony to his Sovereignty, and to the Equity and Excellency of that Rule he hath appointed to his Rational Creatures, we may juſtly be ſtiled God's Martyrs. And in particular, if we Suffer, for Fearing God and the King, and not medling with thoſe who are given to change, but that in Conſcience towards God we retain our Loyalty to our Sovereign, it is a Suffering for Righteouſneſs ſake.

Pariſh.

But will the Suffering in the Cauſe of ſtrict Moralities, in title Chriſtians to Martyrdom?

Min.

Yes; For Morality or Conformity to the Moral Law in our Duty to God and Men (for God's ſake) is ſo great a part of the obedience of Faith given to the Rule or the New Creature, that he who Suffers, rather than he will offend againſt the Moral Law, In Conſcience that God who made him, and Chriſt who Redeem'd him, requires that he ſhould live by that Rule, in order to God's Glory, his own and others good, is God's and Chriſt's Martyr. And be aſſured of it, Good Men ſhall not want occaſion of Suffering on that account, eſpecially in ſuch days and places, wherein almoſt every thing is countenanced, but Piety and Virtue.

Next, If you Suffer for promoting the Peace of the Church, p. 11and oppoſing Schiſms and Diviſions amongſt Brethren, you Suffer for the Name of Chriſt: and you cannot want occaſion of Suffering if than be your deſign, ſo long as the Zeal for or againſt our Engliſh Littleiſmes, flames out at the top of every Chimney.

Pariſh.

Indeed it is eaſily obſervable, that thoſe good and moderate Men, who have endeavoured to remove the Fewel of our preſent Contentions, are as violently aſſaulted by the fierce Men (the Bigotts on both ſides) as if they were the declared Enemies of both the Contending Parties: however I reſolve, through the Grace of God, to follow your Example and Doctrine herein, both to pray and ſtrive for the Peace of Jeruſalem, by all lawful means. For I believe, if I ſhould dye at the Stake for the Profeſſion of the moſt precious Truths of the Goſpel, and yet be a divider of Chriſt's Church, I ſhould be condemned to be a Firebrand in Hell by the Prince of Peace.

Min.

But when I preſs you to contend for the Peace of the Church, I mean not only the Peace of the particular Society of Chriſtians amongſt whom your Reſidence and Cohabitation calls you to communicate in Publick Worſhip; But alſo to promote the Catholick Unity of the Catholick Church, by vertue of which it is, That every Baptized Chriſtian, Profeſſing Repentance towards God, and Faith towards our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and bringing ſufficient Evidence or Credentials of his Chriſtianity, may, as a Member of that one Body, under Chriſt the Head, Challenge the Priviledge of Communion in all the Ordinances of Chriſt with any Society of Chriſtianst or partionlar Church) where ever he happens to live, or occaſionally to come, For if any Society of Chriſtians ſhall impale themſelves by mutual Compacts, or by ſetting up other new and unneceſſary Terms of Communion with them, ſo as to exclude from their Communion other Chriſtians cohabiting with them, or coming to them, they are therein Schiſmatical; eſpecially if thoſe Terms be ſuch as the Neighbor or Stranger-Chriſtian cannot comply to without wrong to his own Conſcience.

I do indeed judge, that if the Terms of Communion required, though new and narrower then Chriſt hath required to make us Members of his Catholick Church, be ſuch as p. 12I can comply to wihout Sin, I ought not to diſturb the Peace of the particular Church where I am, by a ſtiff oppoſing of them, eſpecially if I have ſufficiently proteſted my Right and Priviledge as a Member of the Catholick Church, to have Communion allowed me without ſuch Impoſals: For my Chriſtian Liberty gives me a Latitude to become all things (not ſinful) to all men: And though a particular Church may be Schiſmatical in impoſing ſuch new and narrow Terms of Communion with her, as Chriſt never impoſed, to make us Members of his Catholick Church, yet if I ſeparate cauſleſly, (that is; where I can Communicate without Sin) I am Schiſmatical alſo; ſo that at the ſame time a Church may be Schiſmatical in impoſing uneceſſary Terms of Communion, and a particular Chriſtian may be Schiſmatical in refuſing Compliance to thoſe Terms, if he can comply to them without Sin.

Pariſh.

Sir, I thank you; for by this Information you have contributed not only to make eaſie to me my Compliance to juſt Eccleſiaſtical Laws, (which I did ſomething ſcruple, on conceit that my yielding betray'd my Chriſtian Liberty) but alſo to enlarge my ſpecial Brotherly Love to all Chriſtians as Members of the ſame Body with me under Chriſt our Head: and you have given my Conſcience a latitude, and my Heart a readineſs to join in worſhip with any Chriſtian, where ever I come, and may be admitted; and to receive readily, as much as in me lies, any Chriſtian to Communion with me, and with that Society of Chriſtians amongſt whom I Cohabit and Communicate.

Min.

Next, if you ſuffer for not complying to ſinful Worſhip, ſuch as is forbidden by God, as unworthy to be offered up to his Glorious Majeſty, you ſuffer for Righteouſneſs ſake, and the Commands of God, with the examples of the Saints in all Ages will juſtifie you herein. Nay further, if you ſuffer for exerciſing the true Worſhip of God, either ſingly, (as Daniel) or ſocially with other Devout Perſons fearing God (as the Primitive Chriſtians) did daily and weekly,Dan. 6. 10.Dan 6:10 not forſaking the aſſembling themſelves together, Heb. 10. 25. You ſuffer for Righteouſneſs ſake: For God is God, and is to be worſhiped, whether man will allow it or no.

p. 13I ſpeak not this, as if I thought it unlawful for the Civil Governor, when any of his Subjects ſhall Aſſemble in a conſiderable Number, to require ſecurity of them, that they will not under pretence of Divine Worſhip (like the Galileans, whoſe blood Pilate mingled with their Sacrifice) complot the Diſturbance of the Publick Peace.

Next, if you ſuffer for holding faſt, and contending for the Faith and Truth once, and at once, delivered to the Saints, you ſuffer for Righteouſneſs ſake.

And this hath been, and will be the moſt general cauſe of Suffering to the Saints of God: For they are Children of the Light, and of the Truth; and by Publiſhing and Profeſſing of the Truth, they not only turn others from darkneſs to light, but alſo from the power of Satan unto God; which makes him and his Inſtruments rage againſt it.

Firſt therefore, He ſuffers for Righteouſneſs, who ſuffers from Athieſts, for owning the belief of a God; that is, for profeſſing to believe, That there is a Glorious and Incomprehenſible Being eternally exiſting, unmade and diſtinct from all things that are made unmeaſurable in his Infinite Preſence, Infinitely, Powerful, Wiſe, Good, and All-knowing who made, preſerves, and Governs all things, and is to be Feared, Loved, Truſted in, and to be Submited to, Obeyed and Worſhiped by all Men and Angels, and to be deſired and choſen by them as their Portion and Happineſs.

Next, He Suffers on the ſame good account, who Suffers from Heathen and Polytheiſts, for profeſſing to believe there is One onelyonly God; and thus ſome amongſt the Jews, yea, and amongſt the Heathen (as Socrates) and thouſands of the Primitive Chriſtians Suffered, and are Martyres of God; yet they were by the Polytheiſts reputed Atheiſts, becauſe they denied their falſe Gods.

Next, He Suffers for Righteouſneſs Sake, who Suffers from Materialiſts or Hobbiſts, for profeſſing that God is a Glorious Spritual Being, free and unconſtrained by any natural or fatal neceſſity, who is every where intire, and not divided into parts, Working all Things according to his own Will. And indeed Hobbiſm (or Hylexiſm) is but a blanched and diſguiſed Atheiſm, and is the Pander to all ſenſual p. 14Luſts, and the Canker of Loyalty, and incourager of Rebellion.

Next, He is God's and Chriſt's Martyr, who Suffers for the Arrian or Socinian, for profeſſing to believe, according to the Revelation of God concerning himſelf, that the glorious Godhead, through its Infinite Perfection, ſubſiſts in Three, Father, Son, and Holy-Ghoſt; owning that Unity, and undividing Communion of Eſſence, do each of them imply Perfection, and are a way of Subſiſtence proper to the Godhead, and as incommunicable and unparallel'd in the Creatures, as his Eternity of duration, or the immenſity of his ſpiritual Preſence are.

And Thouſands of Chriſtians thus Suffered of Old under the Arrians.

Next, He is a Martyr of Jeſus, who Suffers from Jew, Mahometan, Heathen, or any other Inſidel, for profeſſing to believe, That Jeſus conceived by the Holy Ghoſt, and born of the Virgin Mary at Bethlehem, in the time of Auguſtus Caeſar the Roman Emperor,Gen. 3. 15.Gen 3:15 brought up at Nazareth, and Crucifi'd under Pontius Pilate the Roman Governor in Judea at Jeruſalem, Gen. 4. 1.Gen 4:1was the Promiſed Seed of the Woman, Gen. 5. 29.Gen 5:29the Man from the Lord, Gen. 22. 18.Gen 22:18the ſame that ſhould comfort Mankind againſt the Curſe,Gen. 49. 10.Gen 49:10 the Seed of Abraham, the Shiloh of Juduh, the Rod and Branch of the Root of Jeſſe, the Son of David, and he of whom the Tradition was to the Fathers of Old, that he ſhould Break the Serpents Head, and overthrow the deſign of Satan for man's deſtruction, and of whom the Prophets prophecied, That in him all Nations ſhould be Bleſſed, and he ſhould be a Covenant to all People, and bear our Sins, and have the Chaſtiſements of our Peace laid on him; that is, that he ſhould, as a Mediator betwixt God and Man, Seal a new Covenant for us in his Blood, wherein God promiſeth pardon to the Penitent Believer, and grace to the humble Suppliant, and peace to the Contrito, and glory to the perſevering in Faith and Holineſs, and that his Death is the onelyonly Propitiation for our Sins, and that he accordingly dyed for our Sins, and confirmed thereby the Covenant, and roſe again the third day, and aſcended into Heaven, and ſitteth on the right hand of God, being exalted even in his Humane Nature above the higheſt p. 15Angels, and that he is God, the Word and Wiſdom of the Father Incarnate, and is appointed to be the Judge of the quick and the Dead; and that there neither is, nor was, nor ſhall be any other Name under Heaven by which Sinners may be ſaved, but the Name of Jeſus Chriſt.

A Chriſtian may meet with Sufferings alſo from other Sects, but the main Sect and Hereſie againſt which I perceive you deſire to be fortified, is that of the Papiſts, from whom ten thouſand times ten thouſand of the Saints of God have ſuffered, for owning the Faith once delivered to the Saints; and that Whore ſitting on the Scarlet Beaſt, hath made her ſelf drunk with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jeſus; Rev. 17. 6.Rev 17:6though (as I ſaid before) I belive many of our Engliſh Papiſts to be of a more debonaire temper at preſent.

Par.

It is indeed my chief deſire to be fortified in ſuffering in oppoſition to Popiſh Errors, though your accounts about other Sects redound alſo to my Advantage.

Min.

You ſuffer therefore as a Martyr of Jeſus, if you ſuffer becauſe you own that God ſince the writing of the Scriptures hath appointed them to thoſe who have them as an intire rule of Faith in all things, which God hath by Revelation made known concerning the way in which he will carry on Sinner; to Salvation, and that it is the Code or Body of all the Laws and Inſtitutions of Chriſt to his Church: But if you pleaſe, I will ſpeak of this a little more largely.

Pariſh.

Yea Sir, I deſire you would, becauſe I find that it is pleaded, that once the Faith of the Patriarchs, and ſo alſo of the firſt Chriſtians was built upon Oral Tradiſion and Catechetical Inſtitution.The Patriarchal Sabbath was our Sunday changed to Saturday to the Jews, on occaſion of the ſending Quails and Manna.

Min.

You ſay right, the Patriarchs Doctrine of Faith, about the Creation of the World, about the Fall of Man, about the promiſed Seed, and about Sacrifices Tythes, the Patriarchal Sabbath, and Marriage, was at firſt delivered by Oral Tradition, and derived by Catechiſing from Father to Son: But after that the Nations had corrupted the true Doctrine, and Adulterated the Tradition, it pleaſed God to inſpire Moſes to write all that Tradition Doctrine common to all Mankind, and alſo what was peculiar to Abreham's Poſterity, ſo that no part of the Traditional Doctrine neceſſary p. 16to Salvation was left unwritten: And the Prophet afterwards having more particular Revelations about the time, place, and other circumſtances of the Conception, Birth, Preaching, Miracles, Death, Reſurrection, and Aſcenſion of the promiſed Seed penned them likewiſe: So that the great Tradition that the Jewiſh Church was to derive down from Generation to Generation, was the writings of Moſes and the other divinely inſpired Penmen as the intire Rule of their Faith in the Meſſiah to come. So alſo what was neceſſary to be believed of what our Lord Jeſus Chriſt (come in the Fleſh) Taught and ordained, did and ſuffered, is intively collected in the Scriptures of the New Teſtament, and no Doctrine of Chriſt neceſſary to be believed, nor Inſtitution of Chriſt neceſſary to be obeyed, is left out of the ſaid Holy Writings to be derived down by Oral Tradition, and therefore it is an intollerable injury done to Chriſtians; to deny them the liberty of Reading the Scriptures in their own Tongue.

And an abominable Cheat is put upon the Chriſtian world, in pretending that Part of the Rule of Faith, is left to be derived down by the Churches Tradition; yea ſo, that what Doctrine was not defined by the Church (that is, the Pope or Council or both) to be de ſide, and part of the Tradition to day, may yet be ſo to morrow, and ſo be made then neceſſary to Salvation, which was not neceſſary before.

Pariſh.

I apprehend now the good warrant we have to ſtick to the Scriptures as the only and intire Rule of Faith, and I hope, by the grace of God, I ſhall not forſake that ſure Word: But (Sir) ſtill if we yield (what the Romaniſts claim) that there is appointed by God an Infallible Judge of the ſenſe of the Scriptures, to whoſe definitions all are bound to conſent, our Rule would be no Rule to us, without the concurrent judgment of ſuch an Authentick Interpreter.

Min.

But it can never be proved, that Chriſt hath appointed ſuch an Authentick Interpreter of Scripture, and infallible Judg of Controverſies: And beſides, the ridiculous perverting of Scripture by Popes, to bolſter up this and their other pretenſions is ſufficient evidence to any man that will uſe his eyes and his reaſon, that the Pope is no ſuch Judge.

p. 17And indeed if Gods Spirit cannot ſpeak plain in his Word but he muſt need an Interpreter, how can the Pope or Church ſpeak ſo, but they muſt alſo need an Interpreter, and that Inpreter muſt need another Interpreter, and ſo on in Inſinitum.

Therefore we believe the infinitely Gracious God hath ſo made known his mind about Mans Salvation, in his word, that no man who prays to God, earneſtly and humbly for the aſſiſtance of his Spirit, and uſeth ſerious attention and pondering of the Scripture, comparing Scripture with Scripture, and applies himſelf to the help of learned and pious Men and Miniſters, when he needs the ſame, can dangerouſly err in neceſſary points of Faith, and yet learned Men and Miniſters convince him of the ſence of Scripture who ſeeks their aſſiſtance not in the ſtrength of their Authority and Infallibility, but in ſtrength of that Light in which they are inabled. by God to repreſent the Truth. But I muſt not inlarge upon this Head, I refer you, if you need farther ſatiſfaction, to what the Reverend and Learned Dr. Stillingſleet, Dr. Tillotſon, or Mr. Poole, in his Nullity of the Roman Faith, Mr. Baxter and others have writ upon this Subject.

Pariſh.

I am well ſatisfied, I pray you proceed.

Miniſt.

Next, you are warranted to bear Teſtimony, even unto Blood, againſt the Popes Supremacy, challenged over the whole Church: nay, in a manner over the whole World. And that you may be ſatisfied that ſo you ought to do, conſider that the Pope claims no leſs than theſe Prerogatives following.

Firſt, That he, as Saint Peters Succeſſour and Chriſts Vicar, is the Head of the Catholick Church on Earth, and the firſt Subject of all Eccleſiaſtical power: So that whatſoever Power of Order or Juriſdiction any Biſhop, Presbyter, Lay-Chancellour; or other Official doth exerciſe, is derived (ſay the Romaniſts) from the Pope. That he can diſpence with Vows and Oaths, grant Pardons and Indulgences: yea, if he decree Vertue to be Vice, or contrarily, none are to queſtion it, nor doth any Appeal lye from him. Nor can any Prince or State, or Church, conſtitute any Order, or reform any abuſe in matters Eccleſiaſtical, but by delegation from the Pope.

p. 18That he as Chriſts Vicar (who is King of Kings) may depoſe Kings for Hereſy, or for favouring Hereticks, or for any Male-Adminiſtration or other pretended unfitneſs of the Perſon to Govern. That he can abſolve Subjects from their Oaths of Allegiance, and give to whom he will the Empires and Kingdoms of the Earth, and the Glory of them, as the Divel, Matth. 4. ſaid he could do. For thus Popes have practiſed in this part of the old world oft, and in the new alſo, Pope Alexander 6th, Giving Peru and Mexico to the Kings of Spain and Portugal.

Pariſh.

If this be his claim, then every one is warranted to oppoſe it unto death; it being ſuch an abominable uſurpation of an Authority that Chriſt never gave, and a moſt unſufferable inchroachment on both the Civil and Religious Rights, both of Princes and private men, both Chriſtians and Heathen; And he is a Traytor to Chriſt, and a betrayer of his own and others Rights who yeilds to it; and methinks there is nothing in Popery of more dangerous conſequence to be yeilded, and yet nothing more groundleſly challenged; nor that can more prejudice unconverted Heathen Princes againſt Chriſtianity than this Doctrine, That they who before were Supreme, muſt be Subordinate to the Pope when they turn Chriſtians. For firſt, It can never be proved that Chriſt gave any ſuch power to St. Peter, or if he had, it cannot be proved that St. Peter's perſonal priviledges are derivative to his Succeſſours; nor yet that the Pope of Roma is his Succeſſour, rather than the Biſhop of Antioch or Jeruſalem; no, nor yet can it be proved that the preſent Pope is the rightful Biſhop of Rome by uninterrupted Succeſs, when from St. Peter, as they claim, there having been ſo many Heretical, wicked, Schiſmatical, and Simonaical Perſons who have poſſeſſed that Seat.

This and more I remember you told me was ſaid againſt it by the very humble, learned and pious Dr. Barrow, late Maſter of Trinity Colledg in Cambridg; in his abſolute and incomparable diſcourſe on this Subject. But I pray you give me a reaſon why all the Kings of the Earth do not riſe up againſt the Pope in defence of their own and their Subjects Right.

p. 19Miniſt.

The Scripture tells us, Rev. 17. 2. They are made drunk with the Wine of the fornications of the great Whore, and intoxicated with the pompouſneſs of her ſuperſtitious Worſhip, and the looſneſs of the Doctrines that indulge both their Luſts, Ambition, and Cruelties. But beſides, the Popiſh Princes make uſe of the Popes Authority, ſometimes for quelling their Rebellious Popiſh Subjects, ſometimes to palliate their inceſtuous Marriages, ſometimes for fleecing of their Clergy whom they have ſuffered firſt to ſleece their People; ſometimes for confiſcating the Eſtates of whole Orders (as of the Knights Templers) and ſeizing the Revenues of Monaſteries and Abbeys; wherein the Pope always is a ſharer, and ſometimes to countenance by his Bulls, their Invading and Uſurping others Kingdoms. But I will proceed, there are abundance of other Popiſh errours, for oppoſal of which a Chriſtian may warrantably ſuffer; ſuch is that Schiſmatical Doctrine, that there is no Salvation but to thoſe that are of the Romiſh Communion; ſuch alſo is their praying to Saints and Angels, and worſhipping Images; ſuch alſo is their Doctrine of Merit, Purgatory, Pardons, and Indulgencies: But no one Doctrine is fuller of errours and abſurdities than their Doctrine of Tranſubſtantiation; for denial of which many thouſand precious Servants of God here in England, and other where, have ſuffered death: And how can any aſſent to the Doctrine of Tranſubſtantiation, as the Doctrine of the Goſpel, who underſtand the meaning of it? Which is, that the ſubſtance of the Bread and Wine in the Sacrament, is turned into the very ſubſtance of the Body and Blood of our Bleſſed Saviour, which then the Prieſt offers up to God, as a propitiation for the ſins of the Quick and Dead.

Which abſurd Doctrine, Firſt, is contrary to our Sences of both Seeing, Feeling, Smelling and Taſting, (and conſequently takes away the credit of all Gods true Miracles) for ſtill we ſee and feel, and taſte, and ſmell Bread and Wine; nay, If my Sences may be deceived, What ſecurity have I that I read in the Scriptures theſe words, This is my Body; next, it contradicts our Reaſon, that our Saviours Body ſhould be in ſo many hundred places at once, as there are p. 20Maſſes Celebrated at the ſame time in all parts of the world; Nay, and as many Bodies of Chriſt in the ſame Church, Chancel, or Parlor, as there are Minute and ſmall ſeparated Pieces and Particles of the Species of Bread and Wine; for ſo the litter Romaniſts teach, that every piece broken off is an entire Body of Chriſt: Though the firſt Inventers of Tranſubstantiation in the 9th Century, and ſo onward, for almoſt three hundred Years, taught, that the whole Loaf Conſecrated was turned into one Body of Chriſt, part of which Holy Body was broken off, when part of the appearances of the Conſecrated Elements was broken off from the reſt, as the Learned Doctor Burnet well obſerves in his Faſt Sermon, Decemb. 22. 1680. page 22.

And it is a Doctrine contrary to Scripture alſo, which affirms, Chriſt's Body to be in Heaven, and is alſo oppoſite to the very deſign of Chriſt's Inſtitution of that Sacrament, as the Scriptures give us an account of it.

For Chriſt's declared intention of that inſtitution, was to bring his Death to our remembrance thereby, and to ſhew the Lords Death till he came; and by that remembrance of it, to ſtir up in us the ſame Affections and Reſolutions, and the Exerciſe of the ſame Graces which would have been ſit for a pious believing Penitent to have taken up and exerciſed; If he had ſtood by Chriſts Croſs when he ſuffered, and ſeen the wounds made in his moſt precious body, to redeem us from the curſe due to our ſins; namely, Sorrow and Humiliation for ſin, Faith in Gods Mercy in Jeſus Chriſt, devout love and thankfulneſs to him that redeemed us with his Death, with ſolemn renewal of our Baptiſmal vow to live to him and his Glory, who bought us with the price of his Sons Blood; and by receiving of that Symbol of the Unity of Chriſts myſtical Body, (for we being many are one Bread and one Body) we proteſt our Unity and Love to and with all the members of Chriſt.

Now, How contrary the Doctrine of Tranſubſtantiation and its appendages are, to this inſtitution of Chriſt, and the deſign of it, will eaſily appear to any that conſiders it. Beſides, what reaſon have we to think that God would put it into the power of an ignorant or wicked Prieſt to work p. 21with four words**Hoc eſt corpus meum., ſpeaking ſuch a Miracle as the like is not Recorded in Scripture; Namely, to turn a multitude of little Wafers into ſo many Bodies of Chriſt, and at the ſame time to deceive four of our Sences, which no true Miracle ever did. Nay, obſerve there never was a Miracle mentioned in Scripture to be wrought to bring a matter of Fact to remembrance, (as the deſign of the Sacrament is remembrance) except we will call a Lot a Miracle. But obſerve yet further; what an horrid thing the Papiſts ſuppoſe of our Saviour himſelf; namely, that he at his laſt Supper did Crucify and Break his own Body; nay, break it into twelve ſeveral Bodies, (ſuppoſing the Communicants were ſo many) and that many hours before, his Crucifiers did nail it to the Croſs.

Pariſh.

You have ſufficently convinced me, that I ought to bear Teſtimony, even unto the Death, againſt the errours and Idolatry of the Maſſe, and Tranſubſtantiation therein pretended; and I hope if it ſhould be my Lot in a Popiſh Countrey to meet in the Streets their Breaden Idol, I ſhould by the Grace of God, not fall down and Worſhip it, though I knew the Idolatrous Rabble would beat out my Brains. Indeed I think I ought, if I have the warning of their Sacred Tingtang, to turn out of the way of their unbloody Sacrifice, their Holy Hoſt, (as they call it) not out of fear, but becauſe I will not Provoke the Idolaters to make a Bloody Sacrifice of me, and ſo draw the Guilt of innocent Blood upon their own Heads.

Miniſt.

You ſay well, for we are not to provoke Perſecutors to ſin, though we muſt couragiouſly ſuffer, rather than comply to their ſin and Idolatry.

There is one other Popiſh Principle that we ought to bear teſtimony againſt, even unto ſufferings, and it is this, That the Church hath a power to impoſe upon mens Conſciences what ſhe pleaſeth, and her Children are bound to obey her; not from the Evidence of the expediency, or neceſſity of the thing commanded, but from the Authority forſooth of the Church commanding, which is a Uſurping upon the Prerogative of God himſelf, to whom alone it belongs to command indiſputable obedience. I may indeed, for peace ſake, p. 22or for fear of wrath comply to the commands, which to me bona ſide, ſeem neither neceſſary nor expedient; provided they do not appear ſinful. But for the Church to command obedience (blind obedience) meerly pro imperio, is to ſeat it ſelf in the place of God.

And indeed, this is the maſter vein of Popery, running through not only the main Body of Papiſts; but alſo every religious Order and Society amongſt them; To whom it is as ſacred to obey what their Church or Superiour commands without diſputing, as to obey God and Chriſt in what he commands. This therefore is another piece of their Idolatry, ſetting up their Church or Superiours in the place of God.

Pariſh.

Sir, I ſhall not call you to more inſtances, being aſſured that in every ſuffering of the Martyrs of Jeſus under the Whore of Babylon; one of theſe, or all theſe are the Ingredients in their Accuſation, that they deny the Churches Traditions, and Infallibility, and Authority, and the Popes Supremacy, and Tranſubſtantiation, which they call the real preſence ignorantly, and ſlanderouſly imputing to us that we deny the real preſence of the Body and Blood of Chriſt, becauſe we deny their ſenſleſs fiction of Tranſubſtantiation.

But I long to hear you diſcourſe of thoſe other two excellent Heads; Namely, of the qualifications of a Martyr, and of the ſupports and rewards he may expect.

Miniſt.

Indeed (Sir) I longed to come to them my ſelf, as knowing they are ſpeculation, yeilding ten times more ſweetneſs than the controverſal part of the diſcourſe: becauſe we could not treat on that without reflexion on others wickedneſs or errour; which is no pleaſing proſpect to humble and charitable Perſons: But the reſt of our way will be all beſet with the fragrant Graces of Gods Spirit, and the Fruit-bearing Trees of his rich and precious promiſes; I ſhall proceed therefore,

1. He is very ignorant of the nature of God, who thinks God ſtands in need of a vile and profligate wretch (living yet in the practiſe of known ſins) to aſſert the cauſe of his holy truth, for his praiſe is in the Congregation of his holy p. 23ones, and dear in his ſight is the death only of his Saints. But he putteth away the wicked of the Earth like droſs.

Firſt,Pſal. 149. 1.Ps 149:1 Therefore none are fitted to be Martyrs but ſincere Mourners for their former ſins. When thunders and Storms are without,Pſal. 116. 15.Ps 116:15 and ſwelling Winds are in the Bowels of the Earth, there muſt needs be a terrible Earth-quake; So he, that is called to ſuffer for the truth,Pſal. 119. 119.Ps 119:119 and hath the Enemies of truth raging and menacing without him, and conſcience accuſing him within; that he is not only an high tranſgreſſor, but a careleſs neglecter of ſeeking his peace with God, can never confidently dye in the beſt Cauſe. When the Philiſtines were coming upon Saul, 1 Sam. 13. the careleſs man then is awakened by his own terrours, and cries out verſe 12. the Philiſtines will now come down upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made Supplication to the Lord; ſo will Conſcience ſay to the impenitently careleſs; how dareſt thou venture thy Life in the cauſe of that truth thou haſt neglected to obey, never ſeriouſly ſearching thy heart and ways, never ſincerely mourning for thy ſins, never applying thy ſelf by earneſt prayer to the mercy of God in Chriſt. I do not deny, that a man who is under great fears and doubts, having for ſome conſiderable time been earneſtly ſeeking Gods favour in Chriſt, prizing his loving kindneſs more than life, may make a couragious Martyr; for ſuch an ones thoughts will work at this rate, Lord thou knoweſt how I have longed for thy Salvation; though therefore I yet walk in darkneſs and ſee no light (only a little dawning of hope appears) I will not ſet my Comforts at a greater diſtance from me by a cowardly betraying of thy Cauſe, whether therefore thou pleaſe to lift up the light of thy countenance upon me or no, yet will I truſt in thee, and live and dye to thy to thy Glory, knowing that duty is my work and muſt be my care, and comfort is thy free gift, and it coming at any time or in any degree, is both more and ſooner than I deſerve, as ſaid the three Children, Dan. 3. 17. we know our God can deliver us, but if he will not, be it known unto thee we will not ſerve thy Gods, nor worſhip the Golden Image which thou haſt ſet up, ſo ſaith the humble penitent; God can make the bones which he hath broken to rejoyce, but p. 24however I will not depart from him, nor betray that truth he calls me to own. This is one of the Greaves or Bootes mentioned,Epheſ. 6. 14, 15, 16, &c.Eph 6:14Eph 6:15Eph 6:16 Epheſ. 6. 15. For amongſt other parts of the Spiritual Armour, the Apoſtle exhorts to have their feet ſhod with the prepraration of the Goſpel of peace,Is chiefly referred to in collection of the qualifications of a Mar… the preparation of it according to the Doctrine of Saint John Baptiſt, Chriſts forerunner, is Repentance, Matth. 3. 2. Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand: But he that is yet a careleſs impenitent, hath no Boots or Greaves on, but his naked Feet are ſubject to be wounded with the Gall-traps of his Enemies: when Conſcience tells him, that according to the Tenor of the Goſpel, he is in no capacity for peace or for pardon, and his Enemies without (ſuppoſe Heathen) tell him he ſhall periſh here and hereafter as an Enemy to the gods, or Popiſh perſecutors curſe him ſolemnly with Bell, Book, and Candle, to the Fire of Hell, as well as to the Flames here, and forbid the people to pray for them, (as they did in Queen Marys days prohibit all to aſſiſt the Martyrs ſo much as by a prayer for them) how can ſuch a one dye couragiouſly? But ſtill I muſt take heed of diſcouraging any ſincere, though late penitent; for I do not queſtion, but as our Saviour received the penitent Thief upon the Croſs, ſo ſome have entred profane wretches into Priſon, who yet have had ſuch conviction of the preciouſneſs of the truth they were urged to renounce, that they durſt not deny it, and have come out to Execution ſincere penitents; nay, it may be, rejoycing through hope, and have died happily; yea, comfortably in the Lord: But ſerious repentance, and ſorrow founded in ſerious ſearch of our ways and heart, ſooner or later, is a neceſſary qualification for a Martyr of Jeſus.

Secondly, So alſo is mortification neceſſary, that is, that the Martyr hath endeavoured faithfully to ſubdue every luſt in himſelf, and to cleanſe himſelf from all defilements of Fleſh and Spirit, perfecting holineſs in the fear and love of God; for God will not receive a polluted Sacrifice, though offered with the Fire of his own Altar; nor can ſuch expect the aſſiſtances of Gods Spirit, who have grieved that good Spirit, by wilful allowance of themſelves in known ſins, not denying their luſts.

p. 25One living luſt is like a potent oppoſite party in a Garriſon that will weaken the hands of the Defenders, the Conſcience of being under the power of one ruling Sin, will cut the Sinews of our courage, and God will ſay to ſuch, as Pſal. 50. Why takeſt thou my Law into thy Mouth, ſeeing thou hateſt to be reformed? Why offereſt thou to fight my battels againſt the adverſaries of my truth, ſeeing thou fighteſt againſt my fear, obeying the adverſaries of my honour, thy luſts?

This is the other Boot or Greave of the preparation of the Goſpel of Peace, which according to St. John Bapiſts Doctrine is prepared for by reformation of our hearts and lives. Luke 3. 5. Let every valley be ſilled, and every mountain be brought low, and the crooked be made ſtraight, & the rough ways be made ſmooth; let the low groveling, worldling, and filthy ſenſual fill up the Valley, ſetting his affections on things above, and every Proud and Ambitious perſon bring his thoughts low, minding Gods glory not his own, and every crooked cunning deceiver get a ſtrait Spirit in ſimplicity and godly ſincerity, and every angry and revengful perſon make the rough ways ſmooth by endeavoring to obtain a Spirit of meeltneſs and kindneſs; and then both feet are ſhod with the preparation of the Goſpel of peace, and God will both receive and aſſiſt ſuch in the conflict for his truth and glory: And as Rom. 12. 1. They can confidently preſent their bodles a living holy Sacrifice acceptable to God, which is their reaſonable (rational) ſervice; whereas an unmortified perſon in whom brutiſh luſts do yet raign, if he dyed in a good cauſe, yet offered up a brutiſh unreaſonable Sacrifice, no way acceptable unto God.

Thirdly, The Chriſtian muſt take the ſheild of Faith, that is confidence in Gods promiſes of aſſiſtance and ſupports in the day of his Tryal, Epheſ. 6. 16. He muſt be aſſured that Gods goodneſs and faithfulneſs will never ſuffer him to fail who flyes for refuge to his grace and mercy.Pſal. 41. 12.Ps 41:12 Thus ſaith David, By this I know that thou favoreſt my righteous cauſe, ſeeing mine enemy doth not Triumph over me, and as for me thou preſerveſt me in mine integrity. Thus ſaith St. Paul, 1 Cor. 1 8, 9. Chriſt will confirm you unto the end, and keep you blameleſs to the day of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, or in the day of p. 26Chriſt, that is emphatically the day of ſuffering for Chriſt, and will confirm you unto the end. The Chriſtian Matron falling in Travel of Child-birth in the Priſon, cryed out in her ſtrong pains, and was thus aſſaulted by the Jaylor: If, ſaith he, you cannot bear thoſe pains without ſuch outcrys, how will you be able to bear the torments provided for you? She anſwered, Theſe pains I ſuffer as the burden lay'd upon our Sex for the ſin of our firſt Mother; but in that conflict I ſhall have the aſſiſtance of his grace, which is able to preſerve me through faith againſt every evil work, and his grace ſhall be ſufficient for me. Thus the Victory by which we overcome the world is our faith.

Fourthly, Who ever will be a couragious Martyr muſt have full aſſurance of the goodneſs of his Cauſe, that it is the truth and way of God and Chriſt, (for which he ſuffers) and worthy of all his ſuffering for it. This is that girdle of Truth, Epheſ. 6. 14. As a girdle or belt not only ſtrengthens the loins, but by compacting and compreſſing the Muſcles of the back, gives an advantage and tightneſs to the cords or ſinews of even the hands and feet alſo; ſo the aſſurance that it is the cauſe of God for which we ſtand, will make us confident that we ſhall not be confounded: whereas but to doubt of our cauſe, looſeneth all our powers of ſpirit and courage. Thus the Apoſtle prays for his Coloſſians: Col. 2. 2, 3, 4.Col 2:2Col 2:3Col 2:4Col. 2. 2, 3, 4. That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full aſſurance of underſtanding, to the acknowledgment of the myſtery of God, and of the Father, and of Chriſt; in whom are hid all the treaſures of wiſdom and knowledge.

The great cauſe maintained by the Apoſtolical Chriſtians againſt the Jews, was the Myſtery of God, and of the Father, and of Chriſt; that is, that the infinite goodneſs and wiſdom of God of old had carried on the Salvation of the Ancient Fathers of the world, in the ſame way of Repentance and Faith in his mercy, through the mediation of the promiſed Seed, that ours is now carried on ſince Chriſts coming in the Fleſh.

Now had any doubted whether this way of Salvation Preached by the Apoſtles, and received by the Churches, was p. 27the truth of God, or queſtioned whether it was all of a piece with the old method of bringing Sinners to glory, how could they have ſuffered confidently in the cauſe? For ſtaggering betwixt two opinions, whether the Moſaical Law, or Repentance towards God and Faith toward our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, was the way to juſtification, they would have been unſtable in all their ways. But being aſſured that there was but one name and way of life, Jeſus Chriſt the ſame to day, yeſterday, and for ever; they had a full aſſurance of underſtanding, which is the Girdle of Truth, neceſſary to gird up the loins of the Martyrs mind.

I do not ſay a Chriſtian muſt be able to anſwer all the ſubtle Fallacies and Sophiſms of the Adverſaries of the Truth, but he muſt be aſſured that notwithſtanding all their Cavils, it is the truth of God for which he appears: And that he is aſſured of, becauſe he finds it works effectually in him believing it, purifying his heart by the faith of it, incouraging his hope and increaſing his love to God and Chriſt and all good Men (yea to all Men) for Chriſts ſake; and what works ſo, cannot, he is aſſured, be other than the Truth of God.

A mean-bred man who ſhould hear a Sceptick diſpute whether the ſnow was white, arguing that the water from whence it comes is black, and therefore the effect muſt be as is the cauſe, yet would not however be brought to disbelieve his eyes: but would continue confident the ſnow was white, as his ſight repreſented it, for he found the effect of that whiteneſs in diſperſing his viſual Rayes and Spirits. Such an aſſurance muſt every ſuffering Chriſtian have of the Truth for which he ſuffers, and that it is the true grace of God wherein he ſtands, and for which he ſtands, and therefore an ignorant unſtudied Chriſtian can hardly make a Martyr.

Fifthly, Whoever will be a Martyr muſt have his heart ingaged in a ſincere deſign to promote Gods glory both by doing and ſuffering. This is that Breaſt-plate of Righteouſneſs and Sincerity, Epheſ. 6. 14. which gives courage to a ſuffering Saint: For if there be any Hypocritical deſign of ſeeking Reputation to our ſelves, or bringing credit to an p. 28eſpouſed Faction or Party, it flats our courage: but the ſingle eye makes the body full of light and heat alſo.

On this account it was that the Primitive Chriſtians in times of Perſecution received the Euchariſt ſo frequently, (in St. Cyprians time, in the Decian Perfecution, they took it daily) thereby renewing their Baptiſmal vow to live and die to Gods glory, if called to it; As when ſome great Battel was expected, the Roman Generals uſed to renew the Sacramentum Militare, the Souldiers. Oath, That they would not diſobey, nor forſake their General, their Imperator: So that who ever hath not frequently and ſeriouſly Conſecrated himſelf to God, to live and die to him, will hardly make a Martyr; that being an ingagement he never devoted himſelf unto.

Sixthly, A Martyr muſt have right apprehenſions of the Wiſdom, Goodneſs, Juſtice, and mercy of God, in ſuffering the rod of the wicked to light upon the Lot of the Righteous, there being ſome Chaff to be winnowed away; ſome miſcarriages even amongſt the Profeſſors of the Truth, that ſtand in need of reforming. And therefore judgment begins at the Houſe of God, 1 Pet. 4. 17. He that would be a couragious ſufferer, muſt be throughly perſwaded that God doth all things wiſely and graciouſly, that therefore there is ſome ſcandalous ſin or ſome diviſions which is to be pruged out.

Thus when the Sheep are apt to run into low and miry places, or to ſtraggle at a diſtance from one another, or to puſh and ſmite one another, the Shepherd ſends in the Dog, and rectifies all preſently. So when Chriſtians ſtray into ways of ſenſuality, or cauſeleſly ſeparate from one another, or perſecute and vex one another for little differences, it is both Juſtice and Mercy in God to let in a common Enemy upon them, to teach them to live better and love one another; and when this purifying is accompliſhed by Gods refining fire, the Martyr is confident that God will give their cauſe (the Righteous cauſe of Truth) to have dominion in the morning: He therefore who queſtions either the wiſdom or Juſtice or goodneſs of God in permitting perſecution, or that can think that God remits of his care of the Church, ſo as to let p. 29the gates of Hell prevail againſt it, will not be a couragious Martyr. Thus the excellent Biſhop Jewel ſaid in Queen Mary's days, It is but a ſtorm it may wet our Coats through, but it will waſh them alſo and will ſoon be over.

King Edward the ſixth's Reformation of the Doctrine and Worſhip of the Church of England is juſt matter of praiſe and Thankſ giving to God even to this day: But ſtill the Primitive▪ Church Diſcipline, under the management of the Dioceſan Biſhops with their Aſſiſtant Colledges of Presbyters, in the preſence of the Chriſtian People (the Brethren) to remove ſcandals out of the Church, was not reſtored, as our Church complains in the preface to the Commination. So that God did not miſtake the ſtate of his Church, in ſending Queen Mary's perſecutions to refine the Spirit of the Engliſh Proteſtants. And that the ſame may ſtand yet in need of further winnowing by Gods fan will hardly be denied by any pious and conſiderate Perſon; though ſtill I hope God will not let us fall into the hands of the Men of his indignation, but ſtir up the Spirit of our Governours to take effectual courſe for the Reformation of our Lives and Manners.

Seventhly, A Martyr muſt be one enabled to prefer the glory of God, and the cauſe of his Truth before all Concernment for Friends and Relations.

Many a Man can more eaſily die to himſelf, than to his dear Wife, and Children, and Friends.

Our Saviour therefore proteſts, Matth. 10. 37. He that loveth Father and Mother more then me, is not worthy of me: Nay he aſſerts, Luke 14. 26. that if he do not hate Father and Mother, &c. he cannot be his Diſciple. Not that Religion makes us unnatural but as the Sun puts out the ſhining of the Stars by its overpowering light, ſo the fervent love of God in … Chriſtian prevails ſo intirely over natural affections, that the ſame ſeem in compariſon to be quite extinguiſhed. Thus that reſolute Chriſtian of old expreſſed himſelf: If my Father (ſaid he) who begot me,Per calcatam irem Patrem, per calcatam Matrem. and my Mother who bare me, lay proſrate on the threſhold of the Priſon, to beſeeeh me to deny Chriſt, rather than leave them in their old Age, to an unkind and churliſh World; I would tread on the Loins that begot …, and the Womb that bare me, and go out unto Chriſt p. 30bearing his reproach, Heb. 13. 13. The Devil and wicked Men know that natural affection is a tender part, and they will pinch us there, and if our hearts be not fortified with the Breaſt-plate of Faith and Love, they will prevail againſt us. But when we can truſt God with our Friends, and love God above them, then we are fitted to be Chriſts Souldiers.

An Heroick example of this we have in the Mother, and ſeven Brothers ſuffering under Antiochus, 2 Mac: 7. 29. What a couragious expreſſion is that of the Mother to her youngeſt Son, Fear not the Tormentors, but being worthy of thy Brethren, take thy death, that I may receive thee again in mercy with thy Brethren.

Eighthly, A Martyr muſt be one who hath not himſelf been a Perſecutor of any of the ſervants of God; or if he have ſo been, he muſt be a ſerious Penitent, and profeſs his Repentance for it before the Church and the World. Now a M… may be a Perſecutor of the Saints out of ignorance, and miſtaken zeal, thinking therein to do God good ſervice, reckoning the Religion of the Perſecuted to be Hereſy; and thus did St. Paul, and this I Charitably believe do ſome ignorant and zealous Papiſts. But then obſerve ſuch Perſecutor are very regular in other regards, and can profeſs as St. Paul did, Acts 23. 1. I have lived in all good Conſcience before God until this day. And ſuch Perſecutors have found mercy, and been converted, and owned their Repentance for that furio… zeal, ſo contrary to the Spirit of Chriſt, who came to ſave not to deſtroy Mens lives; yea ſome of them have been honoured by God, to be called to ſuffer for the Truth which once they perſecuted.

But all Perſecutors are not acted by that principle, ſome directly out of a ſpirit of prophaneſs have perſecuted goo… Men: And ſuch Perſecutors are all Vitious, Dehauched Drunken Dammee's, who ſeldom pretend to any thing of ze… for God (for he is not in all their thoughts, nor in the mouths, further than their Oaths and Curſes come to) but zeal for the Law of the Land, or the Conſtitutions of the Church forſooth; when really they regard no Law of th… Land, or Conſtitution of the Church, but only pretend th… ſame, in order to the Vailing the bitterneſs; and Malignity … their ſpirits againſt all ſerious Piety.

p. 31Others there are who, perſecute goodmen, out of a worldly, and covetous humour, that they may gain by Informations, Plunder, &c.

Now I dare not limit the Eſſicacy of the grace of God, but I have not to my rememberance, either heard or read of any ſuch Perſecutors of a prophane, or Worldly Temper, who have been converted, and honoured with the Crown of Martyrdome.

But as I ſaid before, if ever you have perſecuted good Men, though out of a miſtaken zeal for God, be ſure you repent and own your Repentance, or expect not an aſſiſtance in your own day of Tryal. The ſtory is remarkable about the Controverſy, in King Edward the ſixths days, about Biſhops and Prieſts garments, Holy Biſhop Hooper and Holy Mr. Rogers ſcrupled conformity therein, the ſecret Popiſh Biſhops inflame the Conteſt, and Holy and Learned Biſhop Ridly is ingaged hotly to diſpute the matter againſt Hooper; and Hooper is impriſoned, as a wilful and obſtinate Perſon, who would not receive Information. But when Ridly and Hooper were both impriſoned for Religion in Queen Mary's days, with what lowlineſs of Spirit did Holy Ridly confeſs his too zealous efforts in that Controverſy. The Letter is extant in Mr. Fox's Acts and Monuments.

My dear Brother (ſaith he) I underſtand we throughly agree,Bp. Ridleys Letter, to Bp. Hooper and wholly conſent together, in the ſubſtantial points of our Religion, againſt which the World now ſo furiouſly rageth; however in time paſt in certain circumſtances of Religion, your wiſdom, and my ſimplicity have a little jarred. Now be aſſured that even with my whole heart, (God is my witneſs) in the bowels of Chriſt I love you in the Truth, &c.

O, what a beauteous luſtre and lovelineſs hath this profound humility and fervent Brotherly love, above all the ſharpneſs of wit and cloſeneſs of arguing, that any can ſhew in theſe Petit Controverſies! If therefore you have harmed your Brother, who holds the Foundation with your ſelf, for ſuch mean ſuperſtructures, kiſs the wounds you have made, own your Repentance to your injured Brother and to the p. 32Church of God, as ever you expect ſupport in the day of your ſufferings.

Ninthly, Therefore it is neceſſary that the Martyr be rooted, and grounded in love and charity, which implies love to God and to his Church, and to the Martyrs very Enemies.

Obſerve that I do not make love and charity, any part of the Spiritual Armor, for it is indeed the very life and ſpirit of the new Man: So that as the beſt Armor in the World put upon a Coward, would not inable him to attempt a Combat, or overcome therein, ſo if it was poſſible that a man ſhould be aſſured of the Truth and Goodneſs of his cauſe, and thereby had his loins girt with Truth, and was expert and nimble at the weilding the Sword of the Spirit, (the word of God) yet if he had not love and charity to fill all the Nerves of the inward man, and to give Spiritual ſtrength and vigor, he could never make a Martyr. Therefore, 1 Cor, 13. it is made ſo neceſſary, that giving our body to be burned without it, is reckoned nothing.

Firſt, Therefore the Martyr muſt love God with all his Soul, for this love only is ſtronger than Death, and neither Perſecution nor diſtreſs nor Sword can overcome it. This I have ſpoken of before, and unqueſtionably if Gods Spirit (who alone knows Mens hearts) ſhould write the Univerſal Hiſtory of all the Martyrs, from the Righteous Abel to this preſent, there would not one be mentioned as ſuch, but would have this Teſtimony, that the Love of God and concernment for his glory, was the ruling affection in his Soul.

The ſecond branch of Charity, is love to Gods Church, or an affectionate concernment for the eſtabliſhment of our Brethren in the Faith. Thus, Phil. 1. 14. St. Paul rejoyced that his bonds and impriſonment at Rome gave confidence to the Saints there, ſo that they were much more bold to ſpeak the word without fear. On the ſame account he ſaith, Col. 1. 24. I rejoyce in my ſufferings for the Brethren, and fill up that which is behind, of the afflictions of Chriſt in my fleſh, for his bodies ſake which is the Church; the [Huſteramata] that which is behind, ſignifies the empty ſpaces of a Seal, which the wax p. 33filling up receiveth the impreſſion; ſo that the Praiſe of filling up, what is behind of the afflictions of Chriſt, is far from ſignifying any merits of the ſufferings of the Martyrs added to the merits of Chriſts ſufferings for his Church; and imports no more then Paul's being conformed to the ſufferings of Chriſt, as a Copy is conformed to the Original, or the impreſs of the Wax to the carving of the Seal. A Martyr therefore goes forth as David againſt Goliah, to ſtrengthen the hands of the Armies of Iſrael, the Armies of the living God; And though a Chriſtian be Murdered ſecretly in a Priſon, or a Dungeon (as undoubtedly many are in the Covents of the Italian, and Spaniſh Monks, and other-where) yet they deſigned the ſtrengthening of others, (If God had permitted the Example of their Courage, and Faith, and Patience to have been ſhewed openly) their death is Precious, and their purpoſe acceptable in the ſight of God.

The third branch of the Martyrs Charity, extends to all men, even their Perſecutors, whoſe Converſion they pray for, and that their blood may be the ſeed of Gods Truth; and therefore he is not a Diſciple and Martyr of Chriſt, who hinders the Converſion of his Adverſaries by his Rayling, and Reviling, and rendring evil for evil: ſo that to ſuffer in the beſt cauſe in the World, and not to be Baptized into the Spirit of meekneſs and kindneſs, ſo as to pray for Enemies, and bleſs them that curſe us, and ſtrive to overcome their evil with good, is not to ſuffer as a Diſciple and Martyr of Chriſt; who reviled not again, and was dumb as a Sheep before the Shearers, ſave when he prayed for his Crucifiers, [Father forgive them] and ſo alſo did Saint Steven; ſaying, Lord lay not this Sin to their Charge: By this patience and meekneſs of the Saints, Chriſtianity prevailed to the ejection of Heathen Idolatry out of the Roman Empire, and Popiſh Superſtitions and Errors out of England and other reformed Churches.

10. The next qualification of a Martyr is, he muſt be one very converſant in the Scriptures, nimble at weilding the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, Epheſ. 6. 17. For thence is he to fetch his directions, even from the Patterns and Precepts there, and his ſupports from the Promiſes there recorded, p. 34and thence muſt he be furniſhed with Arguments to put to ſilence his Adverſaries; Our Saviour himſelf by this, foiled the Tempter thrice: ſo that a ſtranger to the Scriptures, (to the reading and meditating of them) is very unfit for a Martyr, both becauſe he knows not whence to fetch directions or ſupports for himſelf, nor how to confute and ſilence gainſayers; But he that is mighty in the Scriptures (as 'tis reported of Apollos, Acts 18. verſe 24. 28.) will both mightily confute and confound his Adverſaries, and will through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures be ſtrengthened in hope Rom. 15. 4.

11. Next, The Martyr muſt put on the Helmet of Salvation, Epheſ. 6. 17. or, as Saint Paul Phraſeth it, 1 Theſ. 5. for an Helmet the hope of Salvation; that is, he muſt be begotten by the Goſpel to a lively hope of an Inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, that fadeth not away, reſerved in the Heavens For us, 1 Pet. 1. 4. He that hath not his Treaſure out of his Enemies reach, will be afraid to provoke him; and beſides, no enjoyment on Earth can compenſate or equal the ſufferings that the perſecuted Saints may be ſubjected to, they may endure cruel Mockings, Scourgings, Impriſonments in loathſome Dungeons, they may be ſawn aſunder, torn Limb from Limb, Roaſted on Gridirons, Tympanized, forced to take in ſtinking water till their Belly and Skin is ready to burſt, and what other ways of Torment the Devil and his wicked Inſtruments can invent, and nothing but Heaven can ſurmount ſuch Sufferings and Death, (painful Death) by them; But Faith, which is the ſubſtance and ſubſiſtance of things hoped for, the Evidence of things not ſeen, (giving as full and firm aſſurance to the Soul of thoſe Rich and Pretious Promiſes, as Light doth to the Eye of the Colour or Figure of the things it ſeeth) can overcome all the Terrors and Torments levelled againſt it; for what would not a Chriſtian ſuffer that hoped after a few hours of ſuffering, to come to the viſion and enjoyment of the Glorious God, and our Saviour the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and to the Communion of the Church of the firſt born of God, the Spirits of juſt men made perfect, and to an innumerable Company of Angels, and thereby to be above all ſin and miſery, and fear of loſing or p. 35loathing what they enjoy? Indeed the ſufferings of this life are not worthy to be compared with the Glory that ſhall he revealed.

12. Laſtly, The Martyr muſt be abundant in Prayer, he muſt have the Spirit of Prayer and Supplication poured out upon him, Praying always with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perſeverance and ſupplication for all Saints, Epheſ. 6. 18. For Prayer is the Chriſtiane Artillery-Yard, wherein he exerciſeth his Arms, and puts all his Graces of godly ſorrow, reſolutions for holineſs, devotedneſs to Gods Glory, love to God, and love to Men, in practiſe, till he is active and nimble in the uſe of them.

Pariſh.

Oh, (dear Sir) My Ear hath been ſo chained to your Tongue, that it tyed up my Mouth, I could not interrupt you in the current of your Diſcourſe about the qualifications of the Martyr; For you have firſt preſented your Martyr as a Man of Courage, going forth in his great ſtrength, whoſe every Vein, and Sinew, and Artery, is filled with the love of God and of his Church; Yea, of his very Enemies. Next, you have Armed him Cap-a-pe; Firſt, with the Greaves and Boots of ſorrow for Sin paſt, and mortification of reigning Luſts, which is the preparation of the Goſpel of Peace in his own Soul, and with his Loins Girt with the Girdle of Truth, and full aſſurance that his Cauſe is the Cauſe of God, and that Truth is great and will prevail by the Power of God; giving it Victory over the Gates of Hell; And then with the Breſt-plate of Righteouſneſs, and Sincerity, and Love, aiming at the Glory of God his Saviour, and preferring that before all concernments for his deareſt Relations, and ſingly deſigning to promote Gods Service in the confirmation of his Brethren, and the converſion of his Enemies, and holding before him the Sheild of Faith, and full aſſurance that God will preſerve him to his Heavenly Kingdom, againſt all the Powers of Darkneſs, by the ſufficiency of his Grace, and having on the Helmet of the Hope of everlaſting Salvation, and expert in the uſe of all his Arms, by the Exerciſe of all his Graces in Prayer and Supplication: And ſure ſuch ſuch a Champion is a Spectacle worthy the ſight of Men and Angels in his conflict. I pray you therefore proceed to the performance p. 36of the third Part of your promiſe, in informing me what aſſiſtances and comforts in my ſufferings, and what rewards after them I may warrantably expect.

Miniſt.

I ſhall do it to the beſt of my Ability, and in this Method; Firſt, I ſhall ſhew what aſſiſtances a Chriſtian may expect to enable him to give a reaſon of the Faith and Hope that is in him.

Secondly, I ſhall ſhew what ſweet Comforts the very Graces that a Chriſtian doth then Exerciſe, will bring into his Soul.

Thirdly, I ſhall ſhew what warrant a Chriſtian hath to expect more immediate Illapſes and Communications of the comforts of Gods Spirit, and of joy in the Holy-Ghoſt, in his ſufferings, then ever before.

Fourthly, I ſhall ſhew what rewards a ſuffering Saint may expect hereafter.

The firſt expectation, namely of Aſſiſtances to give a reaſon of his Faith and Hope, I think is ſufficiently warranted from Matt. 10. 19. When they deliver you up, take no thought how or what you ſhall ſpeak, for it ſhall be given you in that ſame hour what you ſhall ſpeak, for it is not you that ſpeak, but the Spirit of your Father that ſpeaketh in you; Firſt, It is plain this promiſe hath no relation at all to the publick adminiſtrations in Worſhip, to warrant inconſiderate effuſions of words then, where Men have not got an Oratorical habit of expreſſing themſelves aptly, ſo as to ſtir up and lead the affections of thoſe to whom they Adminiſter in Holy Worſhip; which habit is got by ſtudying and reading the Scriptures, and frequent exerciſe of our gifts in Holy Worſhip, in private or in fellowſhip with others; all which endeavours God uſually bleſſeth to thoſe that are ſincere for his Glory and the Service of his Church; ſo that according to the foundation of natural parts, on which they build, they may attain a competent gift, who will ſet themſelves about it, as every publick Miniſter of the Church certainly ought to do. But though as to this gift, for adminiſtration of publick Worſhip, we warrantably expect the bleſſing of God upon our Meditation, reading, and ſtirring up the natural Abilities and Gifts that are in us, ſo that we may attain to this habit of Sacred Oratory, yet it is p. 37obſervable that there are differences of this habit in ſeveral pious Perſons, according to the difference of their natural quickneſs of Fancy and Invention, and volubility of tongue, and complexional heat and fervor, wherein there may be at ſome times ſomething like an Enthuſiaſtical Energy, but yet under the manage and conduct of Chriſtian Prudence; and withal, he that moſt reads the Scriptures, and meditates of them, and exerciſeth himſelf in Religious Worſhip, Praying to God for his Bleſſing upon himſelf; ſuch a one ſhall grow more ready as to the languaging of what he is to ſpeak before the people, than another who wants the advantage of thoſe natural endowments before mentioned, or doth not uſe the means of reading, meditation and exerciſe, with humble dependance on God for his Bleſſing on them: and hence it comes to paſs that the greateſt Schollars are not always the beſt Preachers, nor the readieſt in Prayer, becauſe their natural partslye not ſo right for this ſacred Oratory: but many times a natural coldneſs and baſhfulneſs and heſitancy of tongue, and ungratefulneſs of voice and accent, and ſlowneſs of fancy hinders them: And beſides too many great Schollars neglect the ſtirring up of their gifts by exerciſe, and ſo their Delphian Sword ruſts in the Scabbard.

But I only ſpeak this by the by, to ſhew you that the promiſe to the Martyr for ſupply of abilities to juſtiſie his Faith and Hope, doth not extend to warrant ſudden extempore venturing on expreſſions in holy Worſhip, where men have not got an habit of expreſſing themſelves decently and affectively.

Pariſ.

However I thank you (Sir) For you have herein prevented a miſtake I was apt to have fallen into.

Miniſ.

The promiſe therefore of (Is ſhall be given you in that hour) relates to the Saints aſſiſtances in a time of being queſtioned about their Faith and Hope by their Perſecutors; and a Chriſtian may then warrantably expect that he ſhall be enabled to ſet forth the reaſonableneſs of his Belief, the preciouſneſs of his Faith, the excellency of his Hope, and the purity of the commands his Religion obligeth him to obſerve, ſo that his adverſaries ſhall not be able to reſiſt the wiſdom by which he ſpeaketh: Of the promiſe thus made p. 38good we have Scripture examples in Saint Peter and Saint John Acts 4. 43. So that the Jewiſh Rulers marvelled at the foreign the freedom of ſpeech which God had given to thoſe unlearned Perſons. Saint Stephen is another example, Acts 6. 10. whoſe adverſaries were not able to reſiſt the wiſdom and ſpirit by which he ſpake: And a further evidence of his enlargements in this gift we have in his diſcourſe before the Rulers, Acts 7. And the Church-Martyrology gives abundance of inſtances of this, not only in the learned Philoſophical perſons of the firſt ages, the Perſecutions under Rome-Heathen, ſuch as Juſtin Martyr, &c. but even in the common Chriſtians: and ſo afterwards under Rome-Papal, not only Cranmer, Ridley, Philpot; but common perſons, yea, women, as Mrs. Jane Askew, &c. have been enabled to give ſuch clear accounts of the truth of the Doctrine for which they ſuffered, as hath put their learned Adverſaries to ſilence, and driven them to uſe rage and threatnings where they wanted Arguments. But obſerve, firſt, I will not hence warrant any unlearned Perſon to expect Ability to anſwer all the Sophiſms and Fallacious ways of Arguing, which their adverſaries may by the advantage of Art caſt before them, though they ſhall be ſecured not to be ſhaken by ſuch windy Doctrine. Nay further, In points diſputable amongſt good men, (who have nothing of the Seed of the Serpent, of the perſecuting humour in them) and which may be held either way without danger of Damnation, if the Diſputants do foreign ſpeak what they think to be the truth in love, ſuch Aſſiſtances to judge and diſcourſe is not promiſed, becauſe the fixing the aſſent either way is without danger to the Soul.

Secondly, I will not from hence warrant unlearned, weakparted Perſons ſuffering for the truth, to ſpeak ſo cleerly, ſo convindingly as the learned Chriſtians; becauſe, though both ſpeak by the ſame Spirit, the Spirit of God uſeth to modifie his own gifts according to the natural or acquired Abilities of the Subject he imploys, as we ſee in the different ſtiles of the different Pelimen of Holy Scriptures, which though all were dictated by the energy of the ſame Spirit, yet did they receive a Tincture from the Channel of the Prophets natural Parts, or acquired, through which they paſſed.

p. 39But this in the name of Chriſt I dare promiſe, that a ſuffering Saint diſpoſed, as I have before deſcribed, ſhall without previous meditation and ſtudy be aſſiſted by Gods Spirit, with an ability to juſtifie the Truth and Excellency of the neceſſary and fundamental Doctrines of Chriſtianity, for which he ſuffers, and ſo put to ſilence fooliſh and ungodly, (though learned) men.

Pariſh.

That is enough, thanks be to God for his glorifying himſelf in his Saints, Pſal. 8. 2.Ps 8:2who out of the mouths of Babes and Sucklings hath ordained ſtrength, and perfected praiſe becauſe of his Enemies, that he might ſtill the Enemy and the Avenger. I pray you proceed.

Miniſt.

I ſhall endeavour to ſhew you next, what ſweet comforts the Graces which a ſuffering Chriſtian exerciſeth in his ſufferings doth then aſſord him.

Every Grace carries a pleaſure and comfort in the exerciſe of it, but ſome more than others, and ſome of them at ſome time more than at other times. Now as it is in ſweet Herbs and Trees, the very Leaves and Roots of them have a refreſhing ſmell, but the Flowers and Fruits when they are in their ripeneſs and perfection, have a far greater fragrancy, ſo the time of ſuffering for Chriſt is the time of the Harveſt and full ripeneſs of the Chriſtians Graces, and like the Sheep in the Canticles coming up from the waſhing,Cant. 4.2…Song 4:2 every one of them bear twins of comfort and conſolations. The Graces I ſhall inſtance in, are. 1. Simplicity or plainneſs of Spirit, 2. Love to God. 3. Love to his Church. 4. Compaſſion to Enemies. 5. Faith in Gods promiſes. 6. Heavenly mindedneſs.

The firſt is ſimplicity and plainneſs of Spirit, this is ſo clean and ſavory a Grace, that it always yeilds comfort to the Chriſtian in the exerciſe of it; as Saint Paul witneſſeth, Our rejoycing is this, the teſtimony of our conſcience, that in ſimplicity and godly ſincerity we have had our converſation in the world; 2 Cor. 1. 122 Cor 1:12when therefore a Chriſtian ſuffers in plainneſs and fredom, without double dealing and diſſimulation, aiming at Gods Glory, and not gratifying a vain glorious humour in himſelf, or deſigning to credit a party & faction, how well pleaſed is he that God gives him without fear or a worldly mind, p. 40to approve himſelf to God, and to be made manifeſt even to the consciences of both Friends and Enemies:2 Cor. 5. 11.2 Cor 5:11 This was the frame our Lord and Saviour ſuffered in, there was no guile found in his mouth, thus a Chriſtian, as Job 2. 1 5. Holdeth faſt his Integrity,1 Pet. 2. 22.1 Pet 2:22 and will not let it go till he dye; this is that Grace that gives Serenity and Clearneſs, even to the Chriſtians countenance, as it is ſaid of Saint Stephen, that theybeheld his Face as it had been the Face of an Angel, Acts 6. 15. This wiſdom from above, that is without Hypocriſie, maketh his Face to ſhine, and the boldneſs of his Face ſhall be changed; Eccleſ. 8. 1.Eccl 8:1And if there be ſuch a luſtre in the Circumference, what exceeding comfort and glory muſt there be in the Centre of his ſincere and upright heart, out of which that vertue goeth that adorneth his countenance? Thus holy and plain Mr. Latimer, who before was ſeemingly of a deſpicable preſence, when he was ſtript for burning in Q. M. days, appeared one of the comlieſt Perſons of his age that the company had beheld.

The ſecond Grace then exerciſed is love to God, this at all times carries comfort in it, but eſpecially in a day of ſuffering for God and Jeſus Chriſt, for then it goeth forth like the Sun in its ſtrength; ſo that we may ſuppoſe the three Children, Dan. 3. as they had the Furnace heated ſeven times hotter than it uſed to be, to terrify them, ſo had they then their love heated ſeven times more than at other times, to ſtrenthen them; and as the Beams of the Sun will put out a Fire, ſo the frevent love of God in them morally extinguiſhed the painful burnings of the Furnace, and bound the Flames to the Peace, even before Gods Power did the ſame miraculouſly: Thus the Apoſtles went away rejoycing, that they were counted worthy to ſuffer for the name of Chriſt, their love then burſt out into tranſports of joy and thankfulneſs that God would vouchſafe to uſe them to bring Glory to his Name. The Apoſtle ſaith, If there be any conſolation in love, Phil. 2. Intimating that there is no conſolation without it; and by how much more excellent the perſon loved is for whom we ſuffer, ſo much larger breaſts of conſolations hath our love; ſo that if to ſuffer for the love of a deſired Spouſe (as when Jacob ſerved an hard Service for Raehel) carry p. 41a joy and delight to the Party loving, or if to die for a Friend, a good Man, or a good Prince, whom we love, be ſo ſatisfactory to the ſufferer, (as men declare that it is) how much more to ſuffer for God and Chriſt! It as far excelleth all other ſufferings on the motives of the ſenſual Love, yea or Friendſhip, or Loyalty, as the benevolent warmth of the Sun beams in the Spring is more invigorating and comforting to Plants, and living Creatures, than the chokey heat of a Stove or Furnance; nay it is indeed a glory the Saints have above the Angels, that they are called to ſuffer for God, which the others impaſſibility denyes them to do.

So that the love of God in ſuffering Saints gives that exceeding comfort and ſatisfaction that is at no other time felt, becauſe there never was that full exerciſe of it before; it is that breaking the box of Spicknard, that finelleth more ſweet by its diffuſion.

The third Grace is Love to the Church; which yields exceeding; ſatisfaction when it carries us to act for the good of our Brethren, that we can willingly ſpend & be ſpent for them; but the …ower and top of it, is, to fill up in our bodies what is behind of the ſufferings of Chriſt for his Churches ſake.

When a ſuffering Chriſtian thinks thus, theſe ſufferings of mine may be a ſtrengthning of the Faith of all the Chriſtians that hear of them, and ſee them, nay it may be an eſtabliſhment to ſome Chriſtian an hundred years hence, what a ſweet and comforting reflection muſt it needs be▪ What delight may we imagine have ſome Gallant Heathens taken to die devotedly for their Country, as did Coarus the Athenian, and Deoius and Curtius the Romans? but how much ſweeter is it to the Martyr, to think that by his ſufferings the Church of Chriſt, the Houſhold of Faith, thoſe who ſhall hereafter be fellow Citizens with the Angels, ſhall be confirmed and ſtrengthened?

The fourth Grace is love to Enemies and Perſecutors; at any time to forgive an Enemy, is both more glorious and more comfortable than to overcome him. David had more honour when he diſmiſſed Saul alive, than when he brought away the Head of Goliah in his hand, and undoubtedly he had more inward comfort and ſatisfaction alſo; for the Victory p. 42of Goliah was juſtly attributed to the Providence of God directing the ſtone to the mark, but the diſmiſſing and Pardoning his Enemy, was the Fruit of the Grace of God in his Heart… but to ſuffer with the deſigning the good of our Enemies (even of their Converſion and Eternal welfare) is much more ſweet and affecting.

If St. Steven had (as in all likelihood he had) an hope that his ſufferings might Convert ſome of his Perſecutors, what joy did that thought bring into his holy Soul! if there be joy in Heaven amongſt the Angels for the Converſion of a ſinner, when yet they contribute nothing to it, what joys muſt be to Martyrs, that die in hope and deſires for the Converſion of Chriſts Enemies, and theirs? For a Martyr tyed to the Stake to think with himſelf, Some of the ring of this gazing Multitude that look on me, nay ſome of the Officers that is humanely butcher me, may come to have their hearts melted by my flames, and of Lions become Lambs, and followers of the Lord Jeſus; what a ſweet and comfortable thought muſt that be to the ſuffering Saint and Martyr of Jeſus?

A fifth Grace that then yields its Fragrancy is our Faith it the promiſes of ſufficient Grace and Support; this is our Victory whereby we overcome the world,Joh. 5. 4.John 5:4 even our Faith; and who is it that overcometh the world; but he that believer that Jeſus is the Chriſt, of whoſe fulneſs we are to receive Grace, and Grace for Grace? We have now the comfort of Faith in the aſſurance from Gods Word that he will never fail us nor forſake us; but in a time of ſuffering, Faith girls up its Loins, and makes his boaſt in the name of the Lord, crying, The Lord is our Refuge and Strength,Pſal. 46. …, 2.Ps 46 a very preſent help in trouble, therefore will not we fear though the Earth be removed: and ſo Pſal. 21. 1. The Lord is my ſtrength and my Salvation, whom ſhall I fear? the Lord is the ſtrength of my life, of whom then ſhall I be afraid? And alſo Pſal. 144. 12. He expreſſeth his confidence in abundance of words, The Lord is my ſtrength, my goodneſs, my fortreſs, my high Tower, and deliverer, my ſhield, and he in whom I truſt; Thus Paul, 1 Tim. 1 12. I know whom I have believed, and am perſwaded that he is able to keep that committed to him againſt that day: This Faith in Gods aſſiſtance triumphs in the name p. 43of the Lord, and deſpiſeth all the power of the Adverſary.

The next Grace yielding its ſweetneſs to a ſuffering Saint, is his hope and heavenly mindedneſs; it muſt needs be a pleaſant proſpect to go up to the top of Piſgah, and view the Promiſed Land by Holy Meditation: to think, (as far as our dark Glaſs will give us leave to ſee) what is the Peace and Joy, and what is the Purity and Holineſs of the Glorified Saints; but when we come to ſuffer for the Hope of Iſrael, then our Hope grows more lively, more ſtrong, and vigorous, and fixed upon that Glory that ſhall be revealed. Thus St. Steven Act. 7. (when his enemies, verſe 45. gnaſhed upon him with their teeth) being full of the Holy Ghoſt, looked up ſtedfaſtly into Heaven, and ſaw the Glory of God, and Jeſus ſtanding on the Right Hand of God: thus our hope, by how much the nearer it comes to injoyment, grows the ſtronger, and makes the dying Chriſtian ſay as it were to himſelf, Egredere anima mea, egredere, quid times? Go forth my Soul, go forth, reach forward to lay hold on that Crown of Righteouſneſs, which now thou art not far from, think with thy ſelf what it is to have all Tears wiped away, all Graces perfected, and to be filled with the Love and Communion of God and Chriſt, at whoſe Right Hand is fulneſs of Joy, and Pleaſures for evermore. Thus theſe conſolatory Graces, of ſincere Love to God, to his Church, and our Eenemies, with firm Faith and Heavenly Hope, yielding their ſtrength in the hour of ſuffering, more than ever before, do abundantly recompence the ſufferings of the Martyrs. But beſides theſe Comforts, which the exerciſe of theſe Graces then yields (giving their influence chiefly by way of Reaſoning or Diſcourſe in our ſelves) the Martyr may expect immediate Illapſes and Incomes of Comfort, God ſealing then to his Soul the aſſurance of his unchangeable Love in Chriſt: For it is ſuitable to the Fatherly Goodneſs of God than to unvail his Love and Mercy, and lift up the Light of his Countenance on his ſuffering Servant, that as St. Paul ſaid 2 Cor. 1. 4. As the ſufferings of Chriſt do abound in them, ſo their Conſolations alſo do abound by Chriſt: This Joy has it that toned the Song of Paul and Silas in the Dungeon, and hath enabled many a Martyr to ſing in the Plaines: Thus p. 44the Conſolations of the Martyrs are looked upon by the Ancients, as being of a larger ſize than any other Saints enjoyed on Earth, like the Portion of the Heir, or Firſt Born, which is double to his Brethren, like Eliah's double Meal that muſt ſtrenghthen him for travelling over an howling Wilderneſs.1 King. 19. 8.1 Kgs 19:8

Such are the joys and extaſies of the ſuffering Saints, even like the confines of Heaven it ſelf: as there is a greater and pleaſanter light in the dawning of the Day, than the Moon and Stars could give; thus it is to the dying Martyr, his ſoul is juſt entring upon that Eternal day of Glory that ſhall never decay: So that we may apply to their ſtate that of the Prophet Iſaiah, The light of the Moon ſhall be as the light of the Sun, and the light of the Sun ſhall be ſeven fold, as the light of ſeven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the ſtroake of their wound.

Next,Iſa. 30. 26.Isa 30:26 God then Communicates to a ſuffering Chriſtian, Patience and Strength, far ſurmounting all the Courage and Fortitude that ever was given to any other of the Sons of men, for as a Chriſtian then wreſtles not with fleſh and blood only, but alſo with Devils and damned Spirits, who poſſeſs and enrage their Perſecutors, ſo may they warrantably expect a ſupply of ſtrength, coming near to the impaſſibility of the Angels, that what they feel ſhall not afflict them; thus how compoſedly, and in a manner unconcernedly have the Saints born their Torments, and ſo by Patience have Triumphed over the Devil and his Inſtruments;Tantum poena in membris tanta tranquillitas in verbit tanquam alius tarquereretur alius loqueretur. and thus it hath been to many Saints of old, I will inſtance but in one; St. Auſtine reports of Vincentius the Martyr, that when he was Tormented, he ſpake with that Meekneſs and Compoſedneſs, that a Stander by would have thought it was one man that ſuffered, and another that ſpake. The Tyrants raged and roared, and ſtamped, and gnaſhed their Teeth for indignation that they could not break the courage of the Holy Martyr, they tear and rend his Body and Members with a rage above that of Wild Beaſts, while the Martyr in meekneſs was ſtill compoſed, and himſelf in Patience poſſeſſing his own ſoul: ſo that indeed the Tormenters were Tormented, and the Tortured did Conquer and Triumph over Satan and evil Angels in the Croſs of Chriſt, and made a ſhew of them p. 45openly: Oh what a glorious ſight is this! a ſpectaclo worthy of the Theatre of Heaven and Earth! who would not clap their hands, and lift up their ſhouts in applauding the Grace of God Conquering in his Saints! Such ſtrength may an humble Chriſtian warrantably promiſe himſelf to be Communicated to him from God, when he is called to ſuffer for him.

Pariſh.

Oh Sir! How have you filled me with an Holy Emulation and deſire to be alſo partaker of the ſufferings of Chriſt! But I will not interrupt you, I pray you proceed.

Minis.

The laſt thing I propounded for your ſupport, was the conſideration of the Reward to come, the Glory that ſhall be revealed.

It is very true that ſometimes that promiſe of Chriſt, Mark 10. 29, 30. is literally expreſſed, He that forſakes houſes, or parents, or wife or brethren, or children for Chriſts ſake and the Goſpels, receives an hundred fold; now in this time Houſes, and Brethren, and Mothers, and Siſters, and Children, and Lands, with Perſecutions, becauſe God makes all the Saints near him, to ſerve him with their Perſons and Eſtates, ſo that he hath an hundred Brethren, and Siſters, and Nurſes, and Houſes for one that he forſook.

Thus Davids Croſs led him to a Temporal Crown: and the Faithful Chriſtians in Conſtantius Clorus's Court, who forſook their Offices and Preferments, rather than they would forſake their Religion, were received back to greater Favour and Higher Places; the Emperor wiſely concluding that they would be moſt faithful to their Emperor, who were moſt true to their God and Saviour.

But this is a ſmall part of that promiſe which Chriſt hath made unto his Martyrs, for Matth. 5. 10, 12. he not only promiſeth them Heaven, but a great reward in Heaven, even greater than to other Saints, who did not paſs through that Red Sea of blood to the Promiſed Land. Some Pious and Learned men ſuppoſe that the Reſurrection of the Martyrs in their bodies before other Saints, being the firſt Reſurrection, and their Raign with Chriſt a thouſand years, is warrantably expected from Rev. 20. 4, 5, 6. This opinion is far from the Peſtilent and Seditious perſuaſion of the Fifth Monarchy men; but whether this ſhall be ſo or no, p. 46we muſt leave to God to make evident (for events page missing the ſureſt Interpreters of Prophecies) but this we are page missing ſured of, that thoſe who come out of great Tribulation page missing and have waſhed their Robes, and made them White page missing the blood of the Lamb, Rev. 7. 14. that is in ſuffering page missing Chriſt, and after his example, ſhall have Crowns of Rigpage missing teouſs of the brighteſt luſtre: for if God hath provided page missing the beauty and qualities of all Creatures to gratifie page missing ſences of our bodies, ſure he hath provided ſome page missing things for our immortal ſouls. Thoſe Saints who page missing ſouls God doth as it were ſuck by a Kiſs out of page missing bodies, (as the Jews ſay of Moſes) dying quietly in page missing Beds, enter into Joys unſpeakable and full of Glory page missing how much more abundant ſhall be the Portion of page missing Martyrs? To be ſure to them that overcome ſhall page missing given to Eat of the Tree Life, which is in the midſt page missing the Paradiſe of God, the Heart and Centre of Joy: page missing to Feaſt with hidden Manna, Rev. 2. 7. 17. 28.Rev 2:7Rev 2:17Rev 2:28and to have a White page missing (a Symbal of Gods Approbation and ſpecial Love) and page missing it a new name Written,Rev. 3. 12. 21.Rev 3:12Rev 3:21 which none can Read but page missing that hath it, and to receive the Morning Star (the page missing Fruits of Glory) and to be Clothed in White Raymepage missing and follow the Lamb as his Favorite-Courtiers, and to page missing made Pillars of the Temple of God, (the principla page missing of it) on whom Chriſt will write his own Name, and page missing Fathers Name, and the Name of the City of God, page missing New Jeruſalem, (as thoſe who have done ſpecial page missing to, and therefore receive ſpecial Favour from God a Chriſt, and his Church) and to ſit with Chriſt on page missing Throne, and to be Kings and Prieſts to God for ever and page missing

To him that loved us and waſhed us from our ſins in page missing own Blood, and Conſecrates us by our ſufferings with hpage missing to Raign with him in Glory. To him with the Father, a page missing the bleſſed Spirit, be Hononr, and Glory, and Dominic page missing for ever and ever: Amen. Pariſh. Amen, and Amen.

FINIS.

ERRATA. Page 6. line 24. read Imbarked, p. 7. l. 30. put in more, l. 32. r. looſer, p. page missing l. 241 r. Chriſtiant, p. 14. l. 3, … from, p. 16. l. 11. r. intirely, p. r 8 l. 29, r. ſucceſſion page missing l. 30. blot out when, p. 25. l. 15. r. ſenſualiſt. The Reader is deſired to Correct the laſt page missing Sheets, (if any faults have eſcaped) the Author not having the peruſal of them at the Preſpage missing

End of the text · Zachary Cawdrey, A Preparation for Martyrdom (1681)