196 SE R M ON S upon Serie.2 , are put to Hardlhips, it may be their Revenues ftraitned, fcanted, why fhould we think it firange ? The Apotties had not fo much; `Paul was put to a hard ihi& for his living, to make Tents. Obadiah fed the PrdQhets, by fifty and fifty in a Cave, with Bread and Water. Your Means are fhort and ftraitned by the malice of Men; the Apoltles had no ftanding Revenues, and were put to hard fhifts for a livelihood ; Therefore do not think it ftrange, it is the bounty of God that it is no worfe. Vfe a. Of Caution. n. Before you chufe any way, donot judg of things by the World's Hatred or Ap pleufe. Why ? I have given them thy Word, therefore the World hateth them. A Philo- fopher could fay, 'Mr/pram tam bene agitur cum rebus humanes; ut meliora placeant pluri- bus : It was never fo well with the World, that the belt things could pleafe the molt ; therefore the World may appear againft the Ways of God. Be not fwayed by their Opinion, in taking up the count of thy Profeffion. 2. If thou art convinced, do not defer Profeffion till the Times are more quiet. This is the deceit of Mens Hearts ; alas! when will the Ways of God be exempted from Perfecution ? you may expelt it a long time : Will Satan ever be at an Agree- ment with God ? Do you ever think to hear of a Jefus.without a Crofts? As the Huf- bandmanffands expelling till the River be drawn dry; - and (till it runs with a cotiftant ftream ; fo you may expea till the Times be more quiet, and the Ways of God ex, empted from trouble ; but the Children of God mutt conftantly expert trouble in the World. The Devil hath a potent and powerful Fathon in the World. 3. If thou daft profefs the Ways of God, take heed of giving Chrift a fhort al- lowance; but firft fit down and count the Charges, come what will come, here I will flick. Luke r.4.'26, 27. If any Man come to me, and hate not his Father and Mother, and Wife and Children, and Brethren and Sifters, yea, and his own Life a f he cannot be my Difciple. And whofoever doth not bear his Croft, and'come after me,cannot be my Difciple For which of you intending to build aTower, ftteth not down fìrfri and counteth the Cof7, whether he have fufcient to finifh it ? &c. Thus fbould you refolve upon fufftcient Evi- dence and Demonftration. When a Man hath let apart fach a Sum of Mony for Building, he fpends willingly and freely while that lafts; but after that is gone, every Penny goes from him with grudging. So fit down and count the Charges, and give Chrift a large Allowance. 4. If thou dolt profefs, do not allay the World's Hatred by any Carnal Means, by abating one jot of your Zeal, or by any fond Compliance ; for Honour or Dilhonour, for Efteem or Difefteern, put it into the Hands of God. Prov. 16. 7. When a Man's Ways pleafe the Lord, he maketh his Enemies to be at peace with him ; as he made :acob find favour with Efau, the three Children in Babylon in the Eyes of the Prince. God bath the Key of every Man's Heart and Refped, we muttnot break open the Door by carnal Compliance. God hath a Golden Key, and he can open it; you mutt_ not force Confcience, that your Intereft may be favoured. 5. When you are aûually burdened with the World's hatred in the Court of your Profeffion, be not difmayed. When ever this is thy Cafe, thou art an Objeft of Chri &'s Prayers. When Chrift was to go to Heaven, he remembers all that are hated for his fake; Chrift maketh the World's Hatred an Argument, and we may conceive thence a ground of Hope; it is a lingular Confolation, a fign you belong to God, and have an Intereft in his Care ; if their hatred be for Righteoufnefs fake, and your being zealous in the Ways of God, then you may know God will keep you ; for that is the main Requeft, Keep them through thine own Name :. And why ? Becaufe I have given them thy word, therefore the World hates them. The more they are our Enemies for God's fake, the greater help will God afford us. Men ufe to fend relief there, where the Battei is (harp and hotteft ; fo when the Battel is tharpeft and hotteft, thou haft au Intereft in God's Protehtion. 2. Point. The World hateth them, becaufe they are not of the World ; becaufe of their flrihnefs and holinefs, they live contrary to their Interefts and Lufts, this is the very Caùfe. Obferve ; There is frich a Sin as Antipathy again( the Power of Godlinefi, or hatred of others, becaufe of their 'irk -limit in the Service of God, and diligence in 'Heavenly Things. Here, . I. I
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