Ver. the a7thCbapteróf St. jOHÑ: i9 to be in peril of falfe Brethren, as well as of open Enemies; nay, rather than fit out, the Devil can make ufe of one Saint to perfecute another: as ..ffà, a good Prince, put the Prophet in the Snicks, and Chrift calleth Peter; Satan. The Devil may abufe their Zeal, and this is (range, that. a Lamb fhould att the Wolves part. Ufually indeed he maketh ufe of the World ; it is the providence of God, that the Wicked hate Chrift, and his Meflcngers. Chrift Both ufüally reveal his Ways to the World, by the Quality of the Men that rife againft them ; it muff needs be good, what fuch Men hate; their 'very Refpeá would be a Sulpicion, and their Approbation a Contumely and Difgrace; a Man would have Come caufe to raped himfelf, if lie had their Favour. Thus you fee, Chri(tians, tho in a private Sphere, that would live godly in Chrift, mutt carped their (hare in the Worlds hatred. Now the Lord permits it, eis .myth Leo , far a Tefli- mo»y, for a Teffimony to his Servants, for a Teftinfony againft his Adverfaries, for a Teffimony to the Ways of God ; all there will be gatheredout of the fame Expreffion, as it is recited by feveral Evangelifs. Mark 53. 9. They flu!) deliver ye up to Councils, and Mlle Synagogues ye Atli be beaten ; and ye fsall be brought before Kings and Rulers for ney fake, for a Teftimonÿ againfi them, eis µeer:ri eor buTóis; that by your zealous Defence they may have a fufficient knowledg of the Ways of God, and fo be convinced or con- founded by them. Luke 2 I. 13. It fiall tarn to you for a Tefimony, it ropltop jÓµ v s popli? esv, that is, a Proof of your Loyalty. And, Mat. 24. 54. it is only eis I/A - ,rdejov, The Gofpel of the Kingdom fsall be preached in all the World, for a Witnefs implying, to the Truth. God chufeth his eminent Servants to be his Champions, that the World may know that there is fomewbat excellent in their Principles, worth the fuffering for. God will not have his Servants to go to Heaven without a Teftimony; nor his. Enemies to go to Hell without a Teftimony, and a Sting in their Confciences 5 nor any Age to país away without a Teftimony. 2. Mini(ters. This is ufually their Portion ; few of the Apofiles and Prophets came to a natural Death. As their Calling is eminent, fo are their Sufferings. James g. ro. Take, my Brethren, the `Prophets, who have fuffered in the Name of the Lord, for an Exam- ple of fuffering .efffluhion, and of Patience. He doth not fay, Take them for an Exam- ple of Holinefs, but of Suffering and Patience. They were the WOrthies of God, eminent for Holinefs, yet chiefly for Sufferings. The Prophets, that were God's own Mouth, flickered under the Buckler of their fpeciaf Commiflion, and the fingular In- nocency and Holinefs of their Lives, and yet they fuffered ; what Recompence did they receive for all their Pains, but Saws, and Swords, and Dungeons? Now the Mini- tiers of all Ages are muttered and enrolled for the fame War with the Prophets and rfpofiles ; We maintain the fame Caufe, too with left vigor and ftrengih, and we expek the fame Crown, why fhould we grudge to drink of the fame Cup ? In there latter Times, God bath referved the Miniftry for all theContempt and Scorn, that Villany and outrage can heap upon their Perfons. But why fhould we look for better Enter- tainment ? You would think the World fhould hate falfe Teachers, Curdy they have moft caufe ; but if they flight us, and negleít to provide for us, remember, it is a won- der that they do not perfecute us. But this falleth out, partly by the Malice of Men, partly by the Providence of God. (t.) By the Malice of' Men. To preach, is to bait the World : Predicare nihil aliud eft geùm derivare in fe fxrerem Mardi. We are to croft carnal Interefïs, to wreak with vile Affect ions, to pull the Beall out of Mens Hearts ; and we are like to be bruifed in the Conflict. r Cor. 55. 32. I have fought with Beafis at Ephefus ; molt probably the rude Multitude, that were ready to tear him in pieces, when he cried down the Worlhip of Diana. Carnal intereffs are very touchy, worfe than vile Affections. The Doctrine of the Gofpel cannot be preached in power, but it draweth hatred upon the Perron that prcacheth it. John 7.7. The World cannot hate yam, but nee it hateth, becaufe Jteflifs of it, that the Works thereof are evil. We are to conteft with Publick Mifcarri- ages ; Interefts and Powers air up the Malice and Rage of Men : Sore Eyes cannot endure the Light, nor a guilty Confcience the Word. John 3.20. For every one that doh evil, hateth the Light ; neither cometh be to the Light, left his Deedsfhould be reproved. The Ethiopians mitre the Sun. Rev. ro. r I. The two Witnejes tormented them that dwell on the Earth. This drouzy World would fain take a Nap, and fleep, were it not for fome bawling Preachers. Proud, covetous, carnal Men, Men wedded to their Interefts, will hate us, if we preach in good earneft ; as a good Threfher maketh the Straw to flie about his Ears. Nay, and Errors are more touchy than Sins ; a Drunkard is more patient of Conviction, than a Seducer. Errors take away the Light of Reafon, and Bbbb leave
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