inContribíng '" an'O3ac tntptíon; 4z1 the Divinity of the Chriffian Doctrine, that it made Chap. z i the Profeffors of it Divine in their converfations. The Creation of Grace was like the Creation of Nature, when trees (prang up in an inffant laden with fruits; fo in the converted,all the bleffed fruits of the Spirit, Love, oy, Peace, Long-fufering, Gentlenefs,Goodnefs, Faith, Meeknefs, Temperance abounded. This teflimony even ÉI>;t} liib. I°. a Pagan Perfecutor gives the common fort ofChriui- ans, Thatthey affembled to fing Hymns to Chrift, that they obliged themfelves folemnly to injure no Perfon;. to deceive none, to preferve faithfully what was com- mitted to them, to be always true. And as in obedi- ence to the Gofpel, they gave a divorce to all the fin ful delights ofS-,4 ; fo,which was incomparably more difficult they embraced thofe things which Nature doth molt abhor,. No Religion in theWorld ever expofed its followers to fuch Sufferings, nor infpired them with fuch refolution to fuffain them: All other Religions were produlions ofthe flefh,and being allyed' together,. if any time jealoufy caufeda difcord between them, yet anopen Perfecution was unufual. But when Chriffi- anity firíf appeared, they all turned their Hatred and Violenceagainff it, as a foreigner of a different extra- .mpianwrote. &tion. How many livingMartyrs were Exiles for thed feeribes é to' F.aith,and deprived ofall humane confolation r- yet they variety efror- effeemed themfelves morebleffed in their Miferies than Cr# others in their Pleafures. Howmany thoufands were (uffered. Ti put to Death for the honour of our Redeemer r yet 'n`azt f°rfiean raz'ogladium the leaf( thing is the number, in comparifonof the man- graven,& n g they cru er of their Sufferings. If had fuffereda mild Be- Martyrdom,an eafie and fudden Death,wherein theCom- flua i n,, & bate and Victory had been finifht at a Blow, their Love fu "'m. _' "g"i- and Courage had not been fo admirable : bet they en- <.mre Carmñ- cisiugei.zun dured torments fo various and terrible, that had they in °rm °zcis, not beenprafifed upon them by. their enemies it were Teri' "Ma; Mdr -.. incre-
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