EP I ST. X. .A ir fclfe. Allearrhly rhing_sarenot fo vile to life,as life to truth; Life is rnomentarie, Trurhcternall; life is ours, the truth,Gods: Oh happy purchafe, eogiveour life for the truth. What can we fulfer roo much for Chrifl? he bath givenour life to us; he ba~h given his own li fe forus.Whatgreat thingis it,ifhe require "hat he bath given us, ifours for his? Yea, rather ifhe call for what heharh !emus; yet nor ro bereave, bur eo change it; giving us gold for cl'l)',glory for our corruption, &hold th:tt Saviour ofyoorsweeping,and bleeding,an'd dying for yon: alas ! our roulesare too flrait forhisforrows; we canbemadebur paineforhim; hewasmadefinneforus: we {u({ain, for him, bmrhe impotent anger ofmen; he l1rug!ed with the infinitewr"'h ofhis father for us.Oh,whocan endure enough for hirn,rhar bath paffed rhorowdeath and hell for his {oule? Think rhis,aod you fit all re{olvewirh David, IwiDheyet '"ore viltfor t!JeLord. The worl1 ofthe defpight ofmen,is but Death ;and rhat, ifthey ir~ B flict not,adi{ea{e will;or ifnot that,Age.Here is no impofirionofthat,which would norbe· bur abafr11ingof that which will be: an hafrning to yourgain. Forbehold, their violence !hall turn your neceflity inro virtueand profir. N ture hath made you morra!J: none buran enemy can make you aMartyr;youmufr die, though they will nor;you cannot die for Chrifr,bur by them.How could they e!{e devi{e to make you happy?fince the giver ofboth lifes harh{aid,He thatjhallofo hi1lifefor "'! fak!fh•lfave it. Lo,tbhalone islol1wirb keeping, and gained by loffc. Sayyouwere freed,upon the fafefrcondirions,and remrning: (as howwelcome !bould that news be;more ro yours,than to yourfelfe) perhaps, Dearh111ay me<ryou in the way, perbapsovertakeyou at home: neither place,nor time,can promife immunity from rhe common del1inieofmen: Tbofe that may abridge your houres, canootlengthefl them; and C while they lafi, cannot {ecure ~hem from vexation; )'ea, themfelves !hall follow you inro their dul1; and ca)lnot avoidwhat they cat: inflict;death !hall equally tyrannize by rhem,and over them : {o their favours are bur fruitle!fe,rheirmalice gainfull. For it fitall change yom Prifon into Heaven, your Fetters into a Crown, yourJaylorsto Angels, your mifety intoglory. Look up royour fururc eftat"-, and rejoyce in rhe -prefem: Behold,rheTree ofLife,the hiddenManna,rheSceprerofpower,rheMorning-Srarre,rhe white garment, rhenewname,rhe Crown, and Thorne ofHeaven, are addre!fed for yon. Overcomeand enjoy them: ohgloriouscondirion ofMartyrs! whomconformity in dearh, bathmade like their Saviour in blelfednolfe; who{ehonour is to attend himfor ever,whom they have joyed to imitate. Wh~t are thefoahich are araiedinlong wlute Ro~er, 6ndwbence <4n;e theJ I Tbefe are (13ies that heavenly Elder) th<1 ~Mchcame owt ofgreattrihulation,amlwajhedt!Jeir lo11g Rohu,a"dhavemade their Ro~tl white, ;,. thehloodofthe LafS'J~e. 0 Therefore tbeJare in the prefonceoft!JeThrone ofGod,•ndforve hifNdaJ & night in hi< Temple: a11dhe tbJt jittethon t!Je ThroNe, will dwetamong them,am/govern them,andle.d the111 unto the /ivelj Fo•ntainr ofwater~,•ndGodjhall rPipe allteanfrom thtir ')"I . All the eleCt have Seales in their fore· heads: bur Martyrs have Palmfs in their h•nds. All the elect have white R.obes;Martyrs,borh white and Iong:whire,for their glory ; long,lorthe largenelfeofrheir glory. Once red with theirown blood . now white with the blood ofrhe Lambe: there is nothing in our blood, bur weak ~~dience; nothingbur merit in the Lombesbloud;Behold, hismerit makesnur obedience glorious. Yoll doe bur fprinklehis feet with your blood; loe, he wa!hcs ynur Ion~ white Robes, wirh his. Every drop ofyour blood isanfwerrd wirh' fireamc ofhi'. and every drop ofhis worrh R.ivers ofours : Prtci•m :n the fght of!he Lordh th; de•tht~fhis St~ints:Preciousin prevention,precious in acceptation,prcciou"in rcmuE neration.Oh,givewillingly that whichyou cannot keep, roar you may receive whar you cannot leefe.The way is frcop, but now you bre3the towarrlsrhe rop.Ler nor rhe want offome few fleps, lo!e you an crernall refl. Pur to the frrengrh ofyour owne Fairh: The prayers ofGodsSaints !hall further your p2ce; and that gracioush•nd th1t (u({ainesheaven and earth. th,11l upho!d,and fweet!y dr3W yr'U (]p tOyonr glory. Goe on to credit the Gofpell wirh your perfevcrance: and fhe,v rhe falfe-hearr~d cli- <ntsofrhat Roman-Court, that rheTrurh yeeldsreall and hearry profelfors; fuch as I dare no le!fe fmarr, than fpeakefor her. _,______ ---------~-_;:_l...:i....;:.o__ Wirh"ll" 36i I _-, J I J
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