Spiritual peace and Comfort. 247 is that few (hall be faded l Even this one point oftrue Mortification, and felf-denial, is a ftranger among the molt of Profeffors. Oh how fad a teitimonyo it are the a&ions ofthere late times,wherein fomuch bath been done for fell, and fafety, and carnal inte refts, and fo little för Chris ! yea,and that after the deepeft engagements of Mercies and Vows that ever lay on a people in the world:Infornuch that through the juft judgement ofCod ,they are nowgiven up to doubt, whether it be the duty of Rulers todo any thing as Rulers for Chrift, or no ? or whether they Mould not let Chrift alone to do it himfelf?Well,this which is fuch a myfterie to the unregenerate world, is a thing that every genuine Chriftian is acquainted with : for they that are Chrifts have crucified the flefh, with the affe&ions and lufts thereof; and the world is dead tothem,& they to the world,Çal.6. i i. Take this counfel therefore in all the leveral cafes mentioned in the Dire&ion : z . In your preventing fin,and maintainingyour In- nocency, ifyou cannot do it without denying your credit, and expofing your felftodifgrace;or without the lofs of friends, or a breach inyour eftate, do it neverthelefs : Yea, if it wouldcolt youyour utter ru- ine in theworld, thank God that put fuch anoppor- tunity into your hand for extraordinary confolati- ons : For ordinarily the Martyrs comforts exceed other merisas much ai their burthen ofduty and fuf- fering loth. Cyprian isMain towritefor the comfort of Tome Chriffans in his times, that at death were troubled that they miff of their hopes of Martyr- dom, So allo if you cannot mortifie any loft with- out much pinching the flefh, do it chearfully; for the T '4 dearer
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