194 S E R M ON S upon Serm. 2 . leave nothing but the Pride of Reafon. A Drunkard ftandeth upon lower ground, his Pra &ices cannot endure the Teft of the Light of Nature; but every erroneous Perron thinketh he ftandeth upon the upper Ground, becaufe of the height of his Pride, and the plaufiblenefs of his Notions. (2.) By the Providence of God. Preachers are like Gideon's Lamps in earthen Pit- chers; poffibly the Apoffle may allude to it, when he faith, We carry this Treafure in Earthen Veldt, 2 Cor. 4. 7. Now as when the Pitcher is dallied to pieces, the Lamp breaketh out to the amazement of the Adverfaries 5 fo the Sufferings of Minifters are a great Confirmation to their Do&rine. ZJfe r. Advice to us : I. To prepare for Sufferings. 2. When they come, do not count it ftrange. I. To prepare for Sufferings. It will do us no hurt to be prepared for Sufferings, It bath ever been the Lot of God's People, to be obnoxious to theWorld's hatred ; and we our felves cannot look for any Exemption. I (hall lay down feveral Probabilities, to (hew when God is about to bring Trouble on the Church. 1. Obferve; That after God bath laid in many fpiritual Comforts,there comes a time to lay them out again ; and after great Receipts, we are put upon great Expences. The Difciples firft enjoyed Chrilt's Pretence and Miniftry, and then were expofed to a dread- ful Perfecution. John r r. Chrift biddeth them moire sift of Light, becanfe Darlerefs was coming upon them. Never was the Gofpel powerfully preached, but Trials came. r TheJf. r. 5. For our Gap came not unto you in Word ony, but alfo in Power, and in the Holy- Ghofl, and in much AJfurance. And it follows, Verfe 6. re received the Word with much AfieIion. God will try how we can live upon the Comforts of the Gofpel. Cailles are firft vihtualled, and then befieged. lieb. so. 32.. ffter ye went illuminated, ye endured agreat Fight of Afflictions. The Churches of 4a had horrible Defolations, after a powerful Miniftry. The Germans, after a fufficient Promulgation of the Go- . fpel, fuffered many fad Years. 2. Obferve; After Trials and Reformations, there come Trials and Probations, that after we have fubmitted to the Ways of God, we may honour them with Sufferings. The Ten Perfecutions were after Chrift had let up the Ordinances of the Gofpel. The Marian and Bloody Days were after King Edward's Reformation. God will have eve- ry Truth honoured in its feafon. When the Witneffes had finifhed the Teftimony of their Prophecy, after a (bort time they were (lain. Rev. is. 3. Obferve 5 When Reformations flick in the Birth, God will promote them by Troubles ; he taketh his own Fan into his hand. Mat. 3. 12. Whofe Fan is in his hand, and be will throughly purge bis Floor. When Men cannot, or will not effel it, God will purge his Floor, and cleanfe the Church from prophane mixtures. Chrift came with his Whip to cleanfe the Temple, Joh.2.1 5. Groffbead prophelied,That the Church fhould not be reformed, but ore gladii cruentandi. God ufually tendreth a Reformation to the World with a Judgment in his hand ; and if the Reformation be obftru &ed, the Judgment will proceed Ezek. 24. 12 13. She bath wearied her felf with Lies, and her great Scum went not forth out of her; her Scum flitrt be in the Fire. In thy filthinefs is lewdnefs ; becaufe I have purged thee, and thou wall not purged, thou (halt not be purged from thy filthinefs any more, till I have caufed my Fury to refl upon thee. When the Pot is put over the Fire, if the Scum remaineth flill, he overturneth all. 4. Obferve ; When there are great Differences among God's own People, the End is bitter. We warp in the Sun thine. The Dog is let lode, that the Sheep may run together. A piece of Wax, when it is broken, put it together never fo often, it will not dole ; but put it into the Candle, and the Ends flick dole together. Ridley and Hooper could agree in a Prifon. A little before Diocletiian's Perfecution, the Church was rent and torn by intelline Broils, Pallor againft Paftor, and People againft People. Eafe begets Pride and Wantonnefs, and that maketh way for Contention. God may foder you in your own Blood, and effect Union, by making you Objefts of the fame Hatred and Perfecution. Naziamen was wont to call the Enemies of the Church, sooviss áinN, &KÏas, the turbulent Enemies many times prove the belt Reconcilers, and the Wolves bring the Sheep together. 5. Ob-
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