S 3o ' ts'crd of ufe to Pro feffors of Religion. Son, to be confo' mable to him-in his fufferings. Fifthly andLafuly, the Lord lutfcrs his people to be tinder perfecutrons in a way of righteous judgment againil the wicked and ungodly of this wo. ld,that they should be left to their own bate corruptions, and (tumble at this (fumbling (lone, and fo to perith for ever : I verily beleeve that it bath been an oceafon, of theeternal' defiruction of thoufand thou(ands, the fuf}erings . of gocly peof k. Many other holy ,ends we might speak of that God Both aime at in fettering of the Saints to be under periecution,but this is not the poynt I would inlarge my felf in. Now by way of t fe briefly. Let none that begins to take up any profeffion of Religion, ever make account of any retf in this world, never think of ir, thou art infinitely mittaken in the matter of the profellìon of Chriflian religion, in the 2 of M'cah it is Paid, Depart, here is not your ref, never bleffe your felves in the enjoyment of habi- tations, of comings in, of repute and effeeme, of liberty in the world, of credit and honour, depart, let your hearts be gone from thefe things, for certainly here is not your re(}, no, you are appoynted to perfecution, as Paul laid, when they would nor h. ve him goe up to ferufalem for fear of fuffeting, faith he, I know not what I (hall meet withal' at Jerufalem, but I know that wherefoever I am,perfecution,and 6onds,and of ittiens do at- tend me, I bave taken up this for a granted and fure principle, that wherefoever I am, bonds and afPiiCtions do attend me And therefore that's the fpeciall efe that concernes us all, to prepare before hand, and to lay up beforehand for fuck times, let us never think, why now we hope we (hall he dayes of peace and rofpet ity, and the like. I but is this a l:oynt that doth concern us now ?? I confefle I would hardly have chofen tech a Text_as this on purpofe, but only that it falls in my way,. therefore feein, that providence brings this Text tome, let me fay thus much, that there may be much evill in mens hearts that they do not know of,
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