224 Laving Chr a /jove all. SE R M. as fufferings by their hands are peculiarly IX. bitter. But that friendfhip is not to be purchafed, nor the fufferings avoided at fo great an expence, as abandoning the caufe of religion : And whofoever will at that part, let him not pretend, that he loves Chrift. His praftice is an irrefragable de- monftration of the contrary. If the frowns of a father, the hatred of a brother, and the danger of his life, are prevented at the expence of an indignity to Chrift, can he deny, that he loves them more than him ? Men may attribute their fainting in the time of trial, and relinquithing their duty through fear of perfecution to a pitiable weaknefs, while they flatter themfelves, they have Rill a fincere affe kion to the good caufe they defert: But according to the judgment of our Saviour, it muff be other= wife. And we may every one be con- vinced of it, if we deliberately attend to the reafon cf the cafe. For can there be any fincere affe &ion to God, to our Saviour, and to his caufe of pure religion and virtue, if it be not a prevailing affedtion, ftronger than any other, which oppofes it in the heart ? But that it is not fo, by the fuppo- fition is manifeft. Who can fay he has a greater
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