Esre Is that god hath in fuf erina hi S/dogs to be perfecuteci. meetly in refpeec to me, faith he The Lord Chrifl may fay fq, he harp thoufand thoufands of his Saints, that if it be his will that they finall go through fire and water, and furfer the lofle of their goods, liberties, lieds; they will do it : Now the Lord takes a great deal of delight in the exercife of the grace of love, and faith, and patience, and humility , Never was the Church more fruitful, then when it was warred with it's own blood, when the Church was as a Vine warred with her owne blood, then it grew more fruitfully,. the Role is never fo Tweet upon the (talk as when it is caft into the Stil,then it finds more fweet then it cloth when it grows in all it's beauty upon the buth : The exercife of grace it is a greater good then the in- joyment of any comfort in this world': O that we were right- ly principled in this one greatmyflery of C;odlineffe : whether do you account the exercife of a grace to be a greater good un- to you, then the injoyment of a world, or of any comforts in this world ? Oh if we did, we would not think our condition tube fo hard when we are under affii6tions and troubles, thou thinkell it a F.ne and brave thing to live at eafe, to have thy houfeand fho ,and comings in, and cloaths, and provifions for thy family and for thy children, and leaving great portions, . and rich matches, and,thefe things are brave things to the eye of flefh : But now canfl thou account the exercife of the grace of humility, the exercife, of the grace of faith, of the grace of patience, to be a greater happinefle to thee, then 'the enjoy- ment of all thefe good things ? Certainly this, were and argument indeed of a fpiritual heart,; of a heart that is acquainted with the wayes of God, that is inaruìed from Heaven; The Lord takes from me thefe outward com- forts, refpe& and honour and efleem in the world, and my eflateand liberty, and it may be layes heavie things upon my body too, but I blefle his name I find I have more exercife of grace then ever I had ; I never knew what the exercife of g race was fo as me thinks I find it now , I never knew what the exercife of patience and humility was, furelÿ if I had not been brought into this low elate, I fhould never have had the 'exercife of thefe graces ; and I bletfe God I fee more exxcceel -" 527
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