andfollowing /:is Example. 222 us tm 'Example, that we Jhould follow his fleps, who when he was revilecl, reviled not again, when heJuffered, he threatned not, 1 Pet.2. 21,22,_23· Hencearewecalled to look unto Jefus, the Author andjznifoer ofour Faith, whofor the Jqy thr!f wasJet 6efore him, endur;d the Croft, a~ddejpifld the Jhame. . For we are to confider htm, who enduredfuch contracliClion of jinners in himfelf, that wefaint not, Heb. 12. 2, 3· Blefied be · God for this Example ; for the Glory of the Condefcenfion, Patience, Faith and Endurance ofJefus Chrifr in the extremi– ty of all forts of fufferings. This hath been the polefiar of the Church in all its {l:ormes ; the Guide, the Comfort, Sup– portment andEnco~ragement of all thofe holy fouls, '\vho in their feveral Gene~;ations, have in various degrees under– gone Perfecution for Righteoufnefs fake, arid yet continueth fo ' to be unto themwho are in the fame condition. And I mufr fay, as I have done on fame other occafions in · the handling ofthis fubjeet, that a difcourfe on this one In– fiance of the t~fe of Chrifl in Religion, from the confideration of the Perfon who fuffered and fet us this Example, of the Principle from whence, and the end for which he did it; of the variety of evils of all forts he had to confliCt withal, of his invincible patiend; under them alJ, and immoveablenefs of Love and Compaffion unto Mankind, even his Perfecu– tors, the dolorous affliCtive circumfl:ances of his fufferings from God and men, the bleffed efficacious workings of his , Faith and Trufr in God unto the uttermofl:, with th.e glorious I11ue of the whole, and the inf1uence of all thefe confidera· tions unto the confolation and fupport~ent of the Church, would take up more room and time, than what,is allotted unto t !,e whole of that, whereof it is here the leafr part I 1l1all leave the whole under the 1l1ade of that ble.l1ed Pro– mife, Iffo !Je that we f'uffer with him, we jhall alfo be 'f.lorifiecl together; For I reckon that the J~fferings rf tbis p'/ejent time 3
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