acing thus tried and proved to be true, isfund to Praife, and and Glory ; as in that preceeding Verfe. And then, Thefe Trials are of- further Benefit to true Religion ; they not only manifeft the Truth of it, but they make it's genuine Beauty and llmiablenefs remarkably to appear. True Vertue never appears fo lovely, as when it is, molt. oppreffed : And the divine Ex- cellency of real Chrifiianity, is never exhibited with fuch Advantage, as when under the greateft Trials : Then it is that true Faith appears much more precious than Gold ; and upon this Account, is found is .Praifc, and Honoúr, and Glory. And again, Another Benefit that fuch Trials are of to true Reli- gion, is, that they purify and increafe it. They not only manifeft it to he true, but allo tend to refine it, and deliver it from thofe Mix- tures of that which is falle, which incumber and impede it ; that no- thing may be left but that which is true. They tend to caufe the Amiablenefs of true Religion to appear to the belt Advantage, as was before obferved; and not only fo, but they tend to increafe it's. Beauty, by eftablifhing and confirming it, and making it more lively and vigourous, and purifying it from thofe Things that obfcured it's I uftre and Glory. As Gold that is tried in the Fire, is purged from it's Alloy, ar)d.all Remainders of Drofs, and comes forth more folid and beautiful ; fo true Faith being tried as Gold is tried in the Fire, becomes more precious ; and thus allo, is found unto Praife, and Ho nour, and Glory. The Apoftle feems to have Refpe& to each of thefe Benefits, that Perfecutions are of to true Religion, in the Verfe pre- ceeding the Text. And in the Text, the Apoftle obferves how true Religion operated in the C hriftians he wrote to, under their Perfecutions,. whereby theft Benefits of Perfecution appeared in them ; or what manner of Operation of true Religion, in them, it was, whereby their Religion, under Perfecution, was manifefted to be true Religion, and eminent- ly appeared in the genuine Beauty and fmiablenef , of true Religion, and alto appeared to be increafed and purified, and fo was'like to be f únd unto laraife, and Honour, and Glory, at the flppearing of yefus, chrd. And there were two Kinds of Operation, or Exercife of true Religion, in th, m, under their Sufferings, that the Apoftle takes No- tice of in the Text, wherein thefe Benefits appeared. a. Love to Chrj/l ; I!l%hom,having not feen, ye love. The World teas ready to wonder, what ftrange Principle it was, that influenc'd there to expofe - themfelves to fo great Sufferings, to forfake the Thd gs that were Peen, and renounce all that was dear and pleafant,, 'eh euafi the Obi,a of Seale : They feem'd to the Men of. World b;)ut them, as though they were betide theanfelves¢- and
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=