Polhill - Houston-Packer Collection BT770 .P7 1675

jpgetioUo gait). 273 for the Gofpel is not sneer fitffering : In tem- poral boffes, there may be eternal gain ; in re- proaches, a fpirit of glory ; in outward racks, inward joys. In the Burning -bufh God may dwell; and death may open a door to life ever - batting. Hence come the famous Triumphs of Martyrs ; the Apoftle rejoyced that they were counted worthy to fuf fer fhame fOr Chrift, Ad. 5. 41 : In the Original it is, ¿Tt xa7nVdOncav dT1124.17,mo That they were honoured to be difho- noured for Chrift. Others have Riled their Pri- fons a Paradife; and their-Iron-Chains a good- ly Neck- kercher; and at lait have kiffed the Stake, and thanked the Executioner, accoun- ting Suffering the only eligible thing in the World. Thus Faith deftroys all Sins eligibili- ties; and in fo doing, as the Apoftle fpeaks, overcomes the World, which is the pureft of Vitories. The great ones, who captivated the World outwardly and martially, were them - !'elves captivated by it, in one luit or other ; Not unlike Amaziah, who fubdued the Edo- mites, and was himfelf taken with their gods: But Faith,which overcomes inwardly and Spi- ritually, fubdues the lufts themfèlves. Further, yet Faith doth not only ftrike at the love of Sin, by deftroying its eligibilities, but by furrendring the Heart to a better Ob- jeo`{; whileft the love and joy, and delight is in Sin, it lives as a body with a fpirit in it ; but when there are furrendred up to God and Chrift, and Heavenly things, it becomes ina- nimate as a dead Carcafe. This was notably T de-

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