tlJe Nature und Caufes ofit. manner, but it was fo with them. The invincible Reafons they have to fuffer f"',r him, taken from his Perfon, Love, Grace and Authority, from what he is in himfelf~ what he hath done for them, and what account of all things is to be given unto him, do continually prefent themfelves unto their minds. Wilderneues , Prifons , and Dungeons have been filled with thoughts of Chrifl and his Love. And ma– ny in former and latter Ages have given an Account of their Communion and holy Entercourfe with the Lord , Chrifl: under their reilraints and fufferings. And thofe. who at any time have made an entrance into juch a condition, will a1l of them give in the Tefrimony of their own experience in this matter. (2) Such perfons have deep and fixed apprehen– fions of the e!pecial Concernment which the Lord Chrifi hath in tht;m as unto their prefent condition; as alfo ofhis Power to fupport them, or to work out their deliverance. They know and confider, That in all their afjliffions; he is afjliCled, fuffers in all their fufferings, is perfecuted in all their perfe– cutions. Th1t in them all he is full of Love, Pity and un– fpeakable Compailion towards them; that his Grace is fuf– ficient for them, that his Power fl1all be perfeCted in their weaknefs,to carry them through all their fufferings unto his~ and their own Glory. In thefe circumfrances, it is impoilible for them who are under the conduct of his Spirit, not to make efpecial Applications continually unto him; for ·thofe Aids of Grace, for thofe Pledges of Love and Mercy, for thofe fupplies of Confolation and fpiritual Refrefl1ments which their condition calls for. Wherefore in this fiate, the Invocation of Chrijl, is . the Refuge and fl1eat Anchor of the fouls of them who truly believe in him. So it was unto all the holy Martyrs of old, and in latter Ages~ ' . This Doctrine and Duty is not for them who are at eaft: The affliCted, the tempted, the perfecuted, the fpiritually difS 2 confolate
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