Ch. I I . The Fruits ofFaith. Heb ftitute, afilided, tormented : 36, 37. And by believing the promifed un- feen Reward, othersendued the tryal ofcruel Mockings, and fcornful Reproach, and to be whipe as Rogues, and bound and laid in Gaols as Malefa¿tors; force were {toned, force fawn slander, others try'd by hot Irons and other fiery torments; Tome flain with the Sword, others, like contemned Vagabonds, wander'd in bate clothing of Sheepskins and Goat-skins, deftitute of Outward things, allotted and tor- mented. 38. Of whom the world was not worthy : they wandred in defarts,and in mountains, and in dens, and caves of theearth. 38. All there were accounted and tired as bad men, unworthy to live as others, peace- ably in the World. But were they fuch in- deed ? No, but fuch ofwhom the World was not worthy. And many ofthem retired from the Convene of theWorld, intoDens, Caves and Mounrai Note. Oh, the difference between God's judgment ofa ,Saint and Man's ! The World is not worthyofchofe feotned, perfecuted Saints, whom their Perfecutors call Rogues, unworthy to live. They are not worthy of their Com- pany, Example, Counfel, or ocher benefits: for they know not what a Saint is, nor the worth ofa Saint, nor how to ufe him; yea, they hate him, and drive fuch away as they do the Of- fers ofChrift and Grace. 39. And thefe all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promife : 4o. God having pro- vided force better thing for us, that they without us fhould not be made perfeft. 39, 40. And all there true Believers were juftifiedby God's ownTeftimony, left on Re- cord to their praise. But [till it was things senfeen and future which they believ'd, and for which they fufler'd all this martyrdom and pain : And though God gave them their Re- ward in Heaven, they liv'd not to fee the In- carnate Saviour, and the Kingdom ofthe Mef- fab, the Catholick Church advanced by the pourinos out of the Spirit of Chrift, which were the promifed bleffings which God had told them he would give in the fulnefs of time. For God had provided there greater Blehings, of the Kingdom of Chrift in its more perfedì Rate, and the fulnefs ofthat Spi- rit, for this Age of the World in which. we live, and would not let them, in thofe former Ages before our time, partake of this more pettedChurch-frate : Even as we now believe Chrift's glorious Coming, and wait, and Cutler rews. Exhortation to Faith. Ch.r2. Perfecution in Hope, and yet muff not live on Earth to fee it, as the talc Age will do, but mull die firft, and be railed to enjoy thar fight. CHAP.XII. t. VY Herefore feting we alfo are compaffed about with fo great a cloud of witneffes, let us lay afide every weight, and thefin which doth fo eafily befet us, and let us run with patience the race that is fet be- fore us. a. Seeing then we that are now called out to Tryal, havebefore as the Initances.of all the Faithful that have been before us, who have conquer'd all the Impediments of their Salvation, by theeffeáual beliefofGod's Pro. mile of unfeen things, let as suit our (elves like men, and, as Runners in a Race, let us be to far from turning tothe World, as to calf off all worldly Incumbrances which would hinder us, and to avoid all fin, in which, without great care, we !hall be entangled, and let as run with patience and perfeverance the Race, in which, by God and our Covenant, we are en- gaged, (for it is for our Salvation) 2. Looking unto jefus the author and finilher of our fifth, who for the joy that was let before him, endured the cross, defpifing the flame, and is fet down at the right hand of the throneofGod. 2. Let as fix our Eyes onjefas, the Author and Leaderofour ChriftianFaith and Courfe, and the Perfecter of it, who lath by his Do- ¿trine and Example propoled it to us in that perfeh form which he will own and crown, who himfelfwas movedby the future propofed Joy, which was to be the Reward of all his Mediatorial Works, forwhich he endued the pain ofhis Cross and Sufferings, and defpifea the Shame and Reproach that attended ir, in comparifon of the defined End, which he bath now attained,and islet down inTriumpli and Glory, next the Throne ofGod. 3. For confider him that endured fuch contradi Lion of (inners againft himfelf, left ye be wearied, and faint inyour minds. 3. Ifyou will well Rudy Chrift, and confi. der how and why he endued fuch Oppofition and Contradicion ofwicked men, who by fin fairly accufed him of fin, it will greatly ftreng then you against weary Tirednefs, or faintin Cowardif ' g 4. Ye
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=