Preparatìorr' for fuffering, and feif- opinion, and felf -will, and felf- lufts, we nina learn to deny our [elves, and to be as nothing in our felves : What is it for us to be willing to futfer any thing,that are wretched,curfed creatures in our selves, when as any man or woman can come to fee themfelves as.vild, as nothing, wo fe then nothing, as a fire-brand, of hell, I might have fuffered the eternal! tomtits of hell, I might have been fuel( for the anger of God to burihe upon to all eternity, and what is it for me to be call'd upon to fuffer for his names fake,this one meditation hash as much pow - er as any one I know, both to prepare men for futfering, and to help them in their fufferings, when they can but think thus,' Lord what evills can men infli& upon me that shall any way b2, like to thofe evils that I might have fuffered from the wra h God for my fin ? I might have been a fire-brand of hell, an been-under thofe eternal( torments in thoae everlafiing flamcs of hell roaring and crying with Divils and damned fpirits to ail eternity, what is it to fuffer a nick name, to fuffer dpriron, and the lofle of my of }ate, or to be frown'd upon by great men, o let us labour to be emptyed of our felves, and let us conclude thus, that it is better,to loofe for God then to enjoy for our felves; principle your felves in that principle, Abundance. of other fuch means might be named, but I would gladly have made force entrance into the other poynt : Melted are they that fuffer perfecution for righreoufnefie fake, Why if men fuller perfecution for their wickednefle, then they are cuffed, but when they fuffer perfecution for righteoufnefíe, then they are bleffed. You will fav,for righteoufneffe, how may men fuffer perfe- cution for righteoufnefle ? I inthe opening of the poynt,the raft day (hewed you forme - thing about it : nut, Firft, I (hall thew yon that all fufferings of men for matters ofReligion,is not flittering perfecution. Buttien Secondly, That many men may be perfecuted of o- thers for righteoufnefs fake, & yet lirtle think of it themfelves. Thefe two things I efpecially intended in the opening of this . poynt, For
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