The Fiery Trial No Strange Thing, Title page – To the reader
The Fiery Tryal no ſtrange thing; DELIVERED IN A SERMON Preached at CHARLSTOWN, FEBRUARY 15. 1681.
Being a Day of Humiliation: By SAMƲEL WILLARD Teacher of a Church in BOSTON in NEW ENGLAND.
Matth. 10. 24:
Think not that I am come to ſend peace on Earth: I came not to ſend peace, but a ſword.
Vel reſignemus Chriſtianam militiam. vel parati ſimus ad quasvis pro Chriſto tribulationes ferendas. Muſculus.
BOSTON In NEW-ENGLAND Printed for Samuel Sewall.
1682.
TO THE READER
Chriſtian Reader,
THere is nothing, more perplexeth a Believer in his race of Godlineſs, than to meet with, & be engaged in ſuch difficultyes as he allotted not upon: Thoſe that promiſed themſelves a fair, & eaſy way in the ſervice of Chriſt, when perſecutions ariſe, anon they are offended in Him: Our Saviour therefore adviſeth every man that will undertake to be a Chriſtian, firſt to ſit down, & count the C…ſt. The enſuing Diſcourſe will acquaint you with one of the hard Leſſons of Religion; and tell you what you may rationally propound to your ſelves, as likely to meet withall between this, & glory: Nor is this to diſcourage, and make you to repent, as of an hard bargain; (for an Eternal weight of glory, will more than compenſate all the tribulations you can go through, in the way to it) but to call you to preparation: that the newneſs of it may not amuſe you; nor the greatneſs of it affright you. How ſeaſonable ſuch a word is, let the Times ſpeake. If what is here ſpoken may in any wiſe help your Faith, it ſhall not be labour loſt; which that it may, I commend it, & you to the Grace of God, who am
your ſervant for Chriſt, SAMUEL WILLARD.