SE C T. V. of tic New Creature. 275 oily ? Learrsingcannot be obtained without great pains andRudy : Sudavit ß,ál_ fit , faithhe s If therefore this newcreature befo difficult and rare,fo hardly tobe obtained , then thouhaft the greater resion to preffe themore about it. Thou art tofeat the way thou walke(t in is too broad a way : Thou mull be a j<acob wreft- ling, before thou canft be an Ifrael prevailing : You muff run in a race, ere you can obtain a Crown : and indeedthat Crown of glory is fo rich and glorious, that thefe are butfiliqua laboris,ase/Aufiin called them, the husks of labour in refpea of that Mannahereafter. 3. Thou complaineffoflaboar andpaines,ifthou daft obrerveit, every man takes morepains togo to hell. A fervant tofin is a far greater {Lave and drudge ,, then a fetvanttorighteoufnefs, Take the Adulterer , How doth he watch for the t wi- light ? How full of fearsand hopes to accomplifh his luau : Take the Ambitious man , HowBoth he breakhisfleep, toil his rnind,and confumethhimfclf toaccom- plifhhis defigne ? Take che covetous earthly man, How is his foul pierced through with many cares? Andhow doth he drownhim felfin thoughts and fears about his eflate? So that thy fervice in thewayes of Godlinefs wouldbe far more comfor- table , quiet, and profitable, then thofe of fin and Satan. It is a known (tory of Tomb*, who feeinga (trumpet takingpains about the dreffrng her fellto pleafeher Mate, cryed outand faid,He couldnot take at much pains to pleafeGod; and this will appear true; men take morepains, are more turmoiled ingoing tohell , then they may be ingoing toheaven. The loft impedimentI {hailinfr(t upon is, The repreacb,coutempt,and perfecution Object. that dotbfollow thisnew creature,even asJharp pricks attend the(meet rotes. Now to Anfwer this. n. Our Saviour faith, Neffedit he that ienet offendedatme,M;t. 11.6. Thevery Anfw. Dollrine ofChrift, and the Chriftian faith is fubje& to all manner of flanders to theenemies thereof Yet forall that thou art not a(hamed of the Gofpel, or the Proteftant religion : To believe ina crucified God, What matter ofreproach was it ? What nameswere given Chriftians by way ofcontempt ? And if the faith of Chrift be fubjelt to perfecueion, yet thoudarei notApoflatize from that, Why then from the power ofGodlineffe, though fubje&to troubles? How often doth the Scripture forwarn us in this refpeet ? That me are not to tbink the fiery tryall (dsange, n Pet.+ t 2. -mdwe are ro know that we are appointedto all afflilIions and troubles in this world, r Thef. 3. ;. This demonftrateth the excellency of a New Creature e l oe if it were of the world , the world would love it as his own, John 15. 19. 2. There troubles and perfecution are not a mifery, ifrightly apprehended, bat are a blefjrnp. Blefledareye when men 'peak all manner of evil again# you Sr my names f ke.,Mae. 5. to, r I. And thus the Apoftles when they were per famed , went away rejoycing that they were accounted worthy to Wet any thing for Chrifts fake: they are feveral wales a blcfling; for firft,The more they areaffl wed, themoreofGods Grace and fupport is vouchfafed unto them. The fpirit of Glo- ryrefis on them , 1 Pet. 4 14. If they be uponMount Calvary, they (hall alto be upon the Mount ofTransfiguration. Nihilcrusfentitindigno quando animus of in Ctelo, Paid Tertullian. Again they are a ble{frng, for they have a bleff::doperation. This fire ismore precious then that which tryethGold : this is the file to get off the tuft : the winnowing toblow awaytheir chaff : And lally,they are a biding in the event, for they work an everlafting weight ofglory, fo that chefs troubles Ihould not bedifcouragements to thee. Ufe ofExhortation, Not to hearken to anyof t hole cavils, orprejudices thy heart Vfe. may hefilledfall with,agalop this NewCreature. Say , It is no longer difputing : (hallI become a New creature? Is it wifdome to change my former life ? But fol- low the Scripture, and doas that dire&s thee. Oh if there were nothing but the peace and joy that accompanieth thislife, that were enough to fet thy heart on edge after it. It will béno griefofheart to thee to think ofthy prayers often, thy N n a fie.
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